Hong Kong Universities and Colleges

Overview

Overview of Higher Education in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is the home to some of the world's most highly rated universities as well a number of other high quality institutions. The University of Hong Kong ranks 24th in the world and 1st in Asia on the QS World University Rankings while two other universities rank in the top 50 in the world.

Admissions are competitive and based primarily on results of the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examinations, otherwise known as A-level examinations, which students take at the end of secondary school. Admissions interviews are also a common step of the admissions process. Each institution determines its own admission requirements including what scores it requires on the A-level examinations. Hong Kong residents apply to most higher education institutions through the Joint University Programs Admissions System (JUPAS).

Hong Kong's Education Bureau is responsible for setting and overseeing the implementation of higher education policy and is responsible for the organizations that allocate funding, administer A-level exams and provide accreditation.

Although public institutions are government-supported, students and their families also contribute a reasonable amount to their higher education costs. In 2010, a typical undergraduate university program cost HK $42,100 ($5000 - $6000 US) a year. Grants and scholarships are available from the government for those who can demonstrate financial need and other loans are available to all students.

Types of Schools and Degrees

There are eight public universities as well as a number of private higher education institutions which are primarily run by charitable and religious organizations. Some of these private institutions also receive government funding. Some of the public universities offer a broad range of subjects while others, such as the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology have a more limited focus.

Western-style degrees are conferred including associate's, bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Many schools also offer diplomas and certificates, especially those that focus on vocational programs.

International Students

About four percent of Hong Kong's higher education population comes from abroad with the majority currently coming from Mainland China. International students from elsewhere are beginning to increase. Foreigners can study in Hong Kong as exchange students, visiting students or full-degree students.

Foreigners who want to study in Hong Kong must have completed secondary school or higher in their own country and have English language fluency. For those who want to enroll in full-degree programs, scores on aptitude tests such as SAT's or A-levels are typically used for determining whether admission will be granted. Students must apply to individual schools they are interested in.

For English speakers, studying in Hong Kong is easy as most university courses are taught in English, government communications are in Cantonese and English and most of the population speaks English. Tuition for international students at public universities has been comparable to that of public universities in the United States and United Kingdom.

About Hong Kong

Hong Kong is one of two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China and retains separate economic and political systems. It was under British rule until 1997 when it returned to Chinese control under an agreement that Hong Kong would retain a high degree of autonomy. As a result of its mixed history, both Chinese and English are official languages and spoken by most people.

Hong Kong's population of seven million is primarily of Chinese decent. They maintain a life expectancy that is among the highest in the world. It is a highly education population with over 60 percent of Hong Kong's secondary school graduates pursuing some form of higher education.

Resources

Study in Hong Kong

Hong Kong Education Bureau