Editorial | Hong Kong must make the most of its allure for mainland Chinese, overseas students

With the right policy support, Hong Kong would be an ideal choice for those seeking quality education, diverse opportunities and global connectivity

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Students on the University of Hong Kong campus at Pok Fu Lam on June 23. Photo: Sam Tsang

Published: 7:15am, 23 Jul 2025Updated: 7:57am, 23 Jul 2025

When it comes to studying abroad, the top choices are usually the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Increasingly, Hong Kong has also become a popular destination thanks to its top universities, international environment, affordable education fees and good career prospects.

The city’s appeal is not confined to just foreign students. A growing number of mainland Chinese pupils are taking the city’s university entrance examinations. The Diploma of Secondary Education exam is not only considered less stressful than its equivalent on the mainland, where about 13.4 million students registered for the National Higher Education Entrance Examination this year, it is also seen as a step towards more diverse opportunities in higher education.

Of the 55,489 DSE candidates this year, there were 960 non-local private ones, up from 238 in 2023 and 549 last year, according to the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. Two students from across the border who achieved good scores in the DSE this year told the Post that they intended to study at local universities.

Currently, 145 mainland and around 130 Taiwan higher education institutions admit Hong Kong students on the basis of their DSE results. The number of bodies recognising DSE results in the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the US, Canada, Asia-Pacific and Europe has also increased steadily over the years, according to the authority.

Meanwhile, the “Study in Hong Kong” brand continues to shine internationally, with some universities ranked favourably by well-established agencies. The city claimed 17th place in the latest global ranking of best student cities by the UK-based Quacquarelli Symonds. However, while the city was described as Asia’s most improved higher education system after rising from 22nd place last year, it still lags behind Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Beijing and Taipei. It also still falls short of the city’s peak showing of fifth place in 2015.

The authorities must step up cooperation with stakeholders to strengthen the city’s role as an international education and talent hub. Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu has renewed efforts on this front. In addition to raising the quota for non-locals and offering more scholarships to overseas students, there also needs to be more affordable off-campus accommodation choices. The move to relax rules for converting hotels and commercial buildings into student hostels should be actively pursued. With the right policy support and promotions, Hong Kong would be an ideal choice for those seeking quality education, diverse opportunities and global connectivity.

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