Why study in Hong Kong?

According to a UNESCO report, Hong Kong attracts over 30,000 international students each year. We’ve taken a look at some of the features that make Hong Kong such an attractive place to study.

A growing reputation

Hong Kong (also known as Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) is home to three of the top 50 universities in the 2019 QS World Rankings, and four of the top universities in the 2019 QS Asia Rankings. That’s a lot of world-class institutions packed into an area the size of Manchester. 

Hong Kong is a hub of international business. According to Forbes magazine it is home to over 9,000 overseas businesses, and universities in Hong Kong are often world-leading in STEM and business subjects. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology places in the top 50 of the QS World Subject Rankings for Computer Science, Business and Management, Civil and Structural Engineering, and Economics.

The potential for a scholarship

Hong Kong has been striving to attract the best talent from around the world, and this effort has resulted in a wide range of scholarships on offer for international students. 

One example is the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship (catchy name, right?), which is open to both local and non-local students and awarded based on high academic merit. Successful candidates receive 80,000 HKD (around 7,800 GBP or 10,000 USD).

For more details on this, take a look at our guide on scholarships in Hong Kong.

Explore a city of cultures

It’s often said of Hong Kong that it’s a place where Eastern and Western cultures meet. This mix of influences is evident across the city, with huge skyscrapers towering next to historical sites. Hong Kong was a British colony until 1997, so English and Chinese are both official languages and widely spoken. 

The food is world-renowned, with both local and overseas delicacies being available in many locations. There are also plenty of bars, clubs, and pubs to explore. If you’re a nature lover, there are many stunning destinations that can be easily reached by the excellent public transport system.

Opportunities to work while studying

International students previously couldn’t work while they were studying. However, the government relaxed laws in an effort to make Hong Kong a more appealing destination to foreign students. This means that both internships and on-campus part-time work are now possible if you’re studying there.

There are some requirements to be eligible. For example, you must be on a full-time locally-accredited programme that lasts no less than one academic year. If you meet these criteria, you can make some money and immerse yourself in the local culture.

The chance to learn new languages

As mentioned above, the official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English. Cantonese is spoken most widely, but Mandarin is also popular. All eight of Hong Kong’s public universities teach the majority of programmes in English, with some private universities, like the Hong Kong Shue Yan University, teaching in Cantonese. With this varied mix of languages, studying in Hong Kong is the perfect opportunity to learn or improve a language.