Language Immersion Courses in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is a place to learn both Chinese and English. Chinese and English are the city's two official languages, and English is widely used in government and in the legal, professional and business sectors. In daily life, Cantonese dominates: in the 2021 census, 88.2% of residents aged five and over usually spoke Cantonese, 2.3% Putonghua (Mandarin) and 4.6% English. School policy aims to make students biliterate in Chinese and English and trilingual in Cantonese, Putonghua and English.

For a language student, this mix means a choice. Q Language, a school in our directory, advises that Cantonese opens more doors for daily life and work in Hong Kong, while Mandarin is the better investment for business with mainland China and the wider Chinese-speaking world. Private language schools also teach English to local and international learners.

What language schools in Hong Kong offer

Besides the universities, private language schools offer short and intensive courses. Our directory lists one example, Q Language, a school in the Central district of Hong Kong Island, next to an MTR station. It was established in 1999 and teaches English, Mandarin, Cantonese and Korean to local and international students. Typical course formats at schools of this kind include:

• intensive general or business English
• intensive Mandarin or Cantonese courses of 15 or 24 hours per week
• semi-intensive and weekend courses
• small-group and one-to-one classes
• exam preparation and corporate training

At Q Language, group classes have a maximum of eight students, and new courses start at the beginning of any month. The school also helps with accommodation, from homestays with a local family to shared housing and studios.

Visas for language courses

Unless you have the right of abode or the right to land in Hong Kong, you need a visa or entry permit to study there, and Study in Hong Kong states that all non-local students need one. The Immigration Department can consider an application from a student admitted to a private school registered under the Education Ordinance (Cap. 279). The student must have an acceptance letter and be able to pay the course fees and living costs without working and without public funds. The arrangement does not apply to some nationalities, so check the Immigration Department's page before you apply.

Students on courses other than full-time locally accredited post-secondary programmes are normally granted a stay of 12 months or the length of the course, whichever is shorter. Q Language says that a full-time course generally means 15 hours or more per week, and it offers a free visa service for students on its Intensive 15 and Intensive 24 courses. In general, non-local students may not take up any employment, paid or unpaid, so a language course cannot be funded by working in Hong Kong.

Costs

Course fees depend on intensity. As an example, Q Language lists intensive Mandarin or Cantonese from HK$7,565 per month for 15 hours a week and from HK$12,100 per month for 24 hours a week, and private lessons from HK$390 per hour. Accommodation is the largest extra cost: Study in Hong Kong advises that off-campus housing costs about HK$5,000 to HK$15,000 per month, plus HK$30,000 to HK$50,000 a year for food, transport and other living costs. Public transport is cheap: an MTR trip from Central to Causeway Bay costs HK$5.90 with an Octopus card.

How to choose a language school

• Language: Cantonese for life in Hong Kong, Mandarin for the Chinese Mainland and beyond, or English
• Intensity: at least 15 hours per week if you need a student visa
• Registration: ask whether the school can sponsor a study visa
• Class size and format: small group, one-to-one or weekend classes
• Start dates: fixed intakes or monthly starts
• Housing: homestay, shared flat or studio, and the total monthly budget

Frequently asked questions

Should I learn Cantonese or Mandarin in Hong Kong?

Cantonese is the usual spoken language of 88.2% of Hong Kong residents, so it is more useful for daily life in the city. Mandarin (Putonghua) is the better choice for the Chinese Mainland and the wider Chinese-speaking world.

Do I need a student visa for a language course in Hong Kong?

Yes, unless you have the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong. The school must be a registered private school, and students normally need a full-time course and proof that they can cover fees and living costs.

How much does a Chinese course in Hong Kong cost?

Fees vary by school. At Q Language, intensive Mandarin or Cantonese starts from HK$7,565 per month for 15 hours a week, before accommodation and living costs.

Can I work while studying a language in Hong Kong?

In general, non-local students may not take up any employment, whether paid or unpaid. The exceptions for part-time work apply to students on full-time locally accredited programmes at undergraduate level or above.