Hong Kong

At a glance

Who it suitsStudents who want an English-taught degree near home and may stay to work after graduating.

Tuition, across the universities

HK$190,000 to HK$224,000 a year for 2026-27 entry [1]

HKU, published for 2027/28

HK$250,000 for a non-STEM programme, HK$280,000 for STEM — fees here are rising steeply [3]

Applications open

September or October, first round, then rolling [8]

Work during term

On campus, up to 20 hours a week [4]

Stay and work after

IANG: 24 months, no job offer needed within 6 months of graduating [5]

Which qualification leads where

• A-LevelGood route

  Apply as a non-local student with international qualifications; each programme lists its grades.

• IB DiplomaGood route

  Accepted in the same route; check the points each programme asks for.

• AP and SATPossible

  Accepted by the universities, which each list the scores they expect.

• GaokaoPossible

  Mainland Gaokao students apply through the university's separate scheme for them.

• Chinese high-school diploma onlyHard

  Usually not enough without Gaokao or international results.

English you need

IELTS

6.5 [7] Prepare for IELTS →

TOEFL iBT

5.0 [7] Prepare for TOEFL →

6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in Writing and Speaking; on the old TOEFL scale, 95. You may not need a test at all: an A-Level English grade C, an IGCSE English grade B, or IB English B at 6 is accepted instead.

Universities to look at

• The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Pokfulam

  Accepts An A-Level English grade C, an IGCSE English grade B or IB English B at 6 replaces an IELTS.

  Tuition a year HK$224,000 for a non-STEM programme (2026-27 cohort); the published 2027/28 rates are HK$250,000 non-STEM and HK$280,000 STEM

  Admissions page → [2]

• Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) Clear Water Bay

  Accepts Runs the Mainland JEE Top Scorers Scheme — full tuition plus HK$60,000 a year, awarded automatically on Gaokao results.

  Tuition a year HK$215,000 a year for the 2026-27 cohort, rising to HK$260,000 for 2027/28

  Admissions page → [9]

• Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Hung Hom

  Tuition a year HK$200,000 a year (2026/27), plus an initial HK$20,000 to secure a place

  Admissions page → [10]

• Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) Kowloon Tong

  Accepts Its full scholarship covers that fee entirely plus HK$52,500 of living subsidies.

  Tuition a year HK$190,000 a year (2026/27) — the lowest of the universities listed here

  Admissions page → [1]

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Choose and apply

• Shortlist programmes and note each one's subject and English requirements.
• Apply in the first round: after its deadline, places are offered on a rolling basis. [8]
• Prepare transcripts, predicted grades, a reference and your personal statement.
• Prepare for interviews and send updated results when the university asks.

Money

• Budget for tuition: at HKU HK$249,000 a year for STEM and HK$224,000 for other faculties (2026-27 entry). [3]
• Ask each university for its estimate of housing and living costs.
• Compare the fee at each university before you shortlist: HKBU is HK$190,000 and HKU HK$224,000 for the same year. [1]
• Check whether you even need an IELTS: an A-Level English grade C or an IGCSE English grade B is accepted instead. [7]
• Gaokao applicants: HKUST awards full tuition plus HK$60,000 a year automatically to top scorers — no separate application. [9]
• Budget for the place-securing payment some universities take up front — PolyU asks HK$20,000. [10]
• Apply for a hall place as early as you can: a hall is what the published living-cost estimate assumes. [3]

Visa

• Mainland residents: the study visa application goes to Immigration through your university as sponsor. [4]
• Keep the e-Visa that your university collects for you; you need it to enter. [4]

Before you go

• Apply for university housing as soon as you accept your offer.
• Buy health insurance and plan how you will pay fees from a Hong Kong account.

Jun 2026 Sep 2027

1. Jun 2026 15 months before passed

   Research programmes and check subject and English requirements.

2. Sep 2026 12 months before passed

   Applications for international qualifications open in September or October. [8]

3. Nov 2026 10 months before

   Apply before the first-round deadline; later applications are considered on a rolling basis. [8]

4. Mar 2027 6 months before

   Interviews and offers: reply on time and send updated grades.

5. May 2027 4 months before

   Accept your offer; the university submits your visa application as your sponsor. [4]

6. Jul 2027 2 months before

   Final results: send them to the university to meet any conditions.

7. Aug 2027 1 month before

   Book housing, buy insurance and plan the journey.

8. Sep 2027 At the start

   Arrive and join the orientation for non-local students.

A year

¥220,000 – ¥270,000

Whole degree

¥880,000 – ¥1,100,000 over 4 years

Converted to RMB at two significant figures — the rate moves and the ranges are wide. Rate: European Central Bank: euro foreign exchange reference rates, 18 September 2026, checked 2026-09-19.

Tuition, 2026-27 entry

HK$190,000 at HKBU, HK$200,000 at PolyU, HK$215,000 at HKUST, HK$224,000 at HKU [1]

Where fees are going

HKUST went HK$170,000 to HK$185,000 to HK$215,000 across three cohorts and publishes HK$260,000 for 2027/28 [11]

Living costs

HK$67,000 to HK$88,000 a year: a hall place plus HKU's estimate of general living expenses [3]

Scholarships and funding

• HKUST: Mainland JEE Top Scorers Scheme [9]

  Full tuition plus an allowance of HK$60,000 a year, renewable for the normal length of the degree.

  Top scorers in the mainland Gaokao. No separate application — it is awarded automatically.

• HKUST: University Admissions Scholarship [9]

  Up to full tuition plus HK$60,000 a year, renewable.

  Strong applicants holding qualifications other than the HKDSE — A-Level, IB or AP.

• HKBU: Admission Scholarship Scheme for Overseas Applicants [1]

  A full scholarship is 100% of the HK$190,000 tuition plus HK$52,500 of living subsidies; there are also tuition-waiver and half scholarships.

• HKSAR Government: Scholarship for Outstanding Performance [12]

  HK$80,000 a year for a non-local student on a publicly funded programme.

  Note that the Belt and Road Scholarship, often mentioned alongside it, is for students FROM Belt and Road countries — the government's own page does not list mainland China.

Visa

• Mainland residents apply through the university that accepts them, which acts as sponsor. [4]
• The university pays the fee and collects the e-Visa for you. [4]

Work during and after studies

• During studies: part-time work on campus of up to 20 hours a week. [4]
• Summer jobs from 1 June to 31 August have no limit on hours or place. [4]
• Internships must relate to your studies and be arranged or approved by your university. [4]
• After graduating: IANG gives 24 months; apply within 6 months of graduating and no job offer is needed. [5]

When you arrive

• Join your university's orientation for non-local students.
• Open a local bank account and get a local phone number.

Common mistakes

• Missing the first round: later applications are considered as places remain. [8]
• STEM programmes cost more than other faculties, so compare fees per programme. [3]
• During term, work only on campus; off-campus jobs are for the summer months. [4]
• No job yet? Apply for IANG within 6 months of graduating, before that option closes. [5]

Sources

1. Hong Kong Baptist University: fees and scholarships, 2026/27 checked 2026-09-19
2. HKU Faculty of Law: tuition fees by cohort checked 2026-09-19
3. HKU admissions: fees checked 2026-09-13
4. Hong Kong Immigration Department: study checked 2026-09-13
5. Hong Kong Immigration Department: IANG for non-local graduates checked 2026-09-13
6. HKU: applying with international qualifications, key dates checked 2026-09-19
7. HKU: English language requirement for international qualifications checked 2026-09-19
8. HKU admissions: international qualifications (non-JUPAS) checked 2026-09-13
9. HKUST: scholarships for non-local undergraduate students checked 2026-09-19
10. PolyU: tuition fees for international applicants checked 2026-09-19
11. HKUST: fees and scholarships, 2027/28 checked 2026-09-19
12. Hong Kong Education Bureau: HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund checked 2026-09-19

Rules and fees change. Everything here was checked against the official pages on the date shown. Confirm on those pages before you apply or pay.