Study in Hong Kong

Hong Kong’s higher education includes eight public universities funded by the University Grants Committee (UGC) — the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Lingnan University and the Education University of Hong Kong — plus self-financing universities such as Hong Kong Metropolitan University and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. • Bachelor’s: usually 4 years; 5–6 years for medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine. • Taught master’s: 1–2 years, mostly self-financed. • Research master’s (MPhil): 2 years; PhD: 3–4 years. Most full-time research students receive a monthly studentship (about HK$229,000 a year in 2027–28). English is the main language of instruction, and Cantonese or Mandarin is not required for most programmes. The academic year starts in late August or early September (for example, 30 August 2027 at CityU), with two semesters and a summer term.

1) International students apply directly to each university through its own portal (the non-JUPAS route), with an application fee of HK$600–780 (HK$600 at CityU, HK$780 at HKU). National secondary diplomas, IB, A-levels and SAT are accepted, usually with proof of English (IELTS or TOEFL). 2) Deadlines for 2027 entry (applications are assessed as they arrive, so applying early helps): • University of Hong Kong: first round by 25 November 2026 (noon HKT), closing 25 August 2027. • HKUST: priority round by 25 November 2026, closing 30 June 2027. • City University of Hong Kong: early deadline 15 November 2026, regular deadline 15 January 2027. • Education University of Hong Kong: 16 November 2026, 6 January 2027 and 7 May 2027. 3) Research postgraduates apply to the university’s PhD programme; to compete for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship you must also register on the Research Grants Council portal by 1 December 2026. 4) After accepting an offer, non-local students pay a deposit (HK$20,000 at HKU), and the university then acts as their sponsor for the student visa.

Undergraduate tuition for non-local students (2027–28, HK$ per year): • University of Hong Kong: 250,000 for non-STEM, 280,000 for STEM and 590,000 for medicine and dentistry. • HKUST: 260,000. • PolyU, CityU and Hong Kong Baptist University: 240,000 (CityU veterinary medicine 400,000). • Chinese University of Hong Kong: 230,000 as reported in October 2026 (214,000 in 2026–27). • Education University of Hong Kong: 210,000, the lowest among the public universities. PhD: tuition is about HK$47,000–49,500 a year and is usually covered by scholarships or waivers. Living costs: university housing costs HK$17,000–51,000 per academic year, private housing HK$4,500–18,000 a month, and personal expenses HK$50,000–65,000 a year according to university estimates. The Hong Kong dollar is pegged to the US dollar (about HK$7.8 to US$1).

Most foreign students need a visa or entry permit for study from the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD): 1) Sponsor: you need a local sponsor, which is normally the university itself once you accept your offer. 2) Application: online or by post with form ID 995A (yours) and form ID 995B (the sponsor’s), plus a photo, a copy of your passport, the acceptance letter, proof of financial support (bank statements) when the university is the sponsor, and certified Chinese or English translations of any document in another language. 3) Money: you must show you can pay tuition, living costs and accommodation without working and without recourse to public funds. 4) Timing: processing normally takes six weeks after all documents arrive, and universities advise allowing 8–10 weeks. Once approved, you pay the fee online and download your e-Visa. 5) Stay: you are granted the length of your programme, up to six years, and can apply for an extension within four weeks before your limit of stay expires. 6) Nationality limits: this route does not apply to nationals of Afghanistan, Cuba and North Korea; nationals of Laos, Nepal and Vietnam may study only in publicly funded undergraduate or higher programmes at the eight UGC-funded universities; residents of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan follow separate arrangements.

The basic rule in student visa conditions is no employment, with exceptions for students in full-time programmes at undergraduate level or above lasting at least one year: study-related internships endorsed by the university (up to one academic year or one-third of the programme), on-campus jobs of up to 20 hours a week, and unrestricted summer work from 1 June to 31 August. However, the government has temporarily exempted non-local postgraduates from these restrictions since 1 November 2023, and undergraduates since 1 November 2024: they may take part-time jobs with no limit on hours or location during their limit of stay, under a “No Objection Letter” (NOL) issued by ImmD through the university without a separate application. The exemption was still in force in November 2026, but it is temporary and subject to review, and it does not cover exchange students. After graduation: under IANG, non-local graduates of undergraduate or higher programmes who apply within six months of graduating can stay 24 months without a job offer; later, graduates can return with a degree-level job offer at market pay. The Top Talent Pass Scheme also admits graduates of leading universities worldwide.