More Hong Kong students are studying abroad sooner, with help of partnership between HSBC and educational institutions
- Parents are sending their children to study in the UK at an earlier stage of their schooling to give them a better shot at getting into a top university
- A partnership between educational institutions and HSBC allows families to leverage support from a comprehensive ecosystem as they prepare for this milestone
The phenomenon of Hong Kong parents sending their children to study overseas, particularly in the United Kingdom, is not a new one. In many instances, it is because the parents themselves have benefited from studying abroad that they seek to provide the same experience to their children.
“Hong Kong has recently overtaken mainland China as the largest feeder of students who go to study abroad in the UK,” says William Vanbergen, executive director of BE Education, a China-based company that provides international education services in the UK, mainland China and Hong Kong.
In the past, it was common for Hong Kong students to complete their A-level studies in the UK before progressing to a British university. “Now, more families are targeting the Year Nine entry point for their children,” Vanbergen notes, adding that earlier entry into the UK’s education system effectively gives students an advantage in getting admitted to a top university in the country.
Global leaders of tomorrow
Although it may require a significant financial outlay, most parents are confident that an overseas education for their children will pay off in the long term.
“Families are hoping that their children will be the global leaders of tomorrow, and are going to need the best of both East and West when it comes to their education,” Vanbergen says. “Overseas graduates will eventually bring what they have learned back to Hong Kong.”
