Study and find schools in Hong Kong

Studying in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a Special Administrative Region of China and one of Asia's main financial centres. It had about 7.50 million inhabitants in mid-2025, according to the Hong Kong government. Chinese and English are both official languages: most people speak Cantonese at home, while English is widely used in government, the professions and tertiary institutions. For international students this means university programmes taught in English, in a city that is a gateway to mainland China and the rest of Asia.

Hong Kong has 22 higher education institutions with local degree-awarding power, according to Study in Hong Kong, the Education Bureau's official portal. Our directory lists seven schools here: two degree-awarding institutions, several language schools and an international primary school.

The education system

Children start primary school at about six, followed by six years of secondary school that end with the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination. After that, students can go straight to a bachelor's degree or take a sub-degree programme first and then a top-up degree (the "2 + 2" route).

Higher education has two sectors. Of the 22 degree-awarding institutions, 9 are publicly funded and 13 are self-financing. Since 2012, bachelor's degrees take four years rather than three. Besides the universities, 22 post-secondary institutions offer locally accredited sub-degree programmes, and the Vocational Training Council (VTC) provides around 250,000 vocational training places a year through its 14 member institutions. There are also 739 courses run in Hong Kong by universities from outside Hong Kong; check whether a course of this kind leads to a qualification you can use at home.

Programmes at self-financing institutions are accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) and listed under the Qualifications Framework; Hong Kong Chu Hai College, for example, has its bachelor's and master's programmes accredited by this body. A typical academic year has a fall semester from early September to late December and a spring semester from mid-January to May.

Admission and recognition

Hong Kong institutions set their own admission rules, so requirements vary by institution and programme. In general you need:

• a completed secondary education with satisfactory results in your country's school-leaving or aptitude exams (for example A levels, the International Baccalaureate or the SAT)
• a TOEFL, IELTS or equivalent score if English is not your first language
• in some cases, an interview

Application deadlines differ by institution and even by programme, from as early as December of the year before entry to as late as May of the year you start. If you plan to use a Hong Kong degree in Spain or Latin America, check your own country's recognition procedure before you enrol.

Student visa

All non-local students need a student visa or entry permit once they have been accepted, whether they come for a full degree or an exchange. The Immigration Department processes the application, usually through the institution as local sponsor. You submit form ID995A, the letter of acceptance and proof of your financial support; applicants living abroad can also hand in their application at the nearest Chinese diplomatic or consular mission. Processing normally takes six weeks after all documents are received. You must be able to pay your fees and living costs without working and without public funds. Students on full-time locally accredited post-secondary programmes are normally allowed to stay for the length of their programme, up to six years.

Costs

Study in Hong Kong gives these yearly ranges for non-local students:

• tuition fees: HK$90,000 to HK$265,000 (about US$11,500 to US$34,000)
• student hostel: HK$15,000 to HK$45,000
• a one-bedroom flat: HK$96,000 to HK$180,000
• living expenses: about HK$50,000

Public transport is cheap: an MTR trip from Central to Causeway Bay costs HK$5.90 with an Octopus card. The government's Scholarship for Outstanding Performance pays HK$80,000 a year to non-local degree students at the publicly funded universities, and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme pays an annual stipend of HK$344,400 in 2026-27.

Where to study

Hong Kong is compact, and all of its institutions are within one urban area. Hong Kong Island, with its business district in Central, is home to many language schools, such as Q Language, which teaches English, Chinese and Korean and offers a student visa service, and International Language Centre, founded in 2006, which teaches Mandarin, Cantonese and English as well as other languages, including Spanish. Kowloon and Wan Chai have further language and Cantonese course providers.

The New Territories host several campuses. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), founded in 1963, has a 138.4-hectare campus overlooking Tolo Harbour and a system of nine colleges, and describes its education as bilingual. Hong Kong Chu Hai College, approved to award degrees for its accredited programmes in October 2004, has its campus at Castle Peak Bay in Tuen Mun. Families with young children will find international schools such as the Norwegian International School in Tai Po.

Culture and practical life

• Climate: subtropical. Hong Kong Observatory normals (1991-2020) give a mean of 16.5 °C in January and 28.9 °C in July; tropical cyclones usually occur between June and October
• Health insurance: not compulsory for students, but some institutions require accident, hospital and medical cover; Study in Hong Kong strongly advises insurance for your whole stay
• Working while studying: non-local full-time undergraduate and postgraduate students may work part time on campus up to 20 hours a week and in the summer from 1 June to 31 August. Since 1 November 2024 these students have been temporarily exempted from the employment restrictions; exchange students are excluded
• After graduation: the Immigration Arrangement for Non-local Graduates (IANG) lets graduates stay 24 months to look for work

Frequently asked questions

Can I study in English in Hong Kong?

Yes. English is an official language and is widely used in tertiary institutions. If English is not your first language, you will usually need a TOEFL, IELTS or equivalent score.

How much does it cost to study in Hong Kong?

Tuition for non-local students ranges from about HK$90,000 to HK$265,000 a year, according to Study in Hong Kong. Add hostel or rent and about HK$50,000 a year for living expenses.

How long does a student visa for Hong Kong take?

Processing normally takes six weeks after the Immigration Department has received all documents, so apply as soon as you have your letter of acceptance.

Can international students work in Hong Kong?

Full-time non-local students on degree programmes may work part time, and since November 2024 they have been temporarily exempted from the employment restrictions. After graduation, the IANG scheme allows 24 months to look for a job.

How long is a bachelor's degree in Hong Kong?

Four years. Hong Kong moved from three-year to four-year bachelor's degrees in 2012.