A Quick Intro to Hong Kong
Hong Kong is a country of Chinese traditional culture with modern skyscrapers and skylines. With the advancement of trade, commerce, and finance, Hong Kong has truly become a global hub of development in higher education, and technology. With that, Hong Kong has opened its doors to international students for higher studies through research, innovation and potential employment opportunities after graduation.
Hong Kong provides students with access to an Asian destination for their studies with world-class educational facilities. Students will be able to have the experience of a fast-paced city life alongside their studies living in the metropolitan area.
Why Study in Hong Kong?
Culture and Language
Hong Kong has a mixture of different cultures which attract global tourists and students to the country. Though they are majorly influenced by the culture of the Mainland Chinese, there are mixtures of Western and British culture as well. It reflects on the language used as well. Chinese and English are the two official languages in the country but regional languages like Cantonese are well used too. However, official scripts are limited to only English and traditional Chinese.
It will be easier for students aiming to study there as they will be able to catch up with the new culture and find the English language widely used in communication and making new friends during their stay. Even in universities, English is the primary language and medium of instruction which is an advantage for international students. You have to provide proof of your language proficiency skill if you want to study in a non-native language. If it does not meet the requirement, then you will have to take an additional language course to improve your language skills.
Safe Environment
According to the QS World Ranking, Hong Kong has secured 12th place in being the best student cities in the world. Aside from the best opportunities in higher education, the country takes pride in providing a safe environment for its students.
Higher Education
There are 20 universities in Hong Kong that are award-winning universities. 8 of the universities are publicly funded. According to the QS World Ranking, the University of Hong Kong, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), and the City University of Hong Kong have obtained commendable ranks among the top 100.
As per the ranking, it can be observed that Hong Kong has the capacity to provide world-class programs in Engineering and Technology. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology offers programs on Computer Science, Business and Management, Accounting and Finance, Civil and Structural Engineering, Statistics, Electrical Engineering, Economics, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Materials sciences, Mechanical Engineering and Mathematics. On the other hand, the University of Hong Kong offers various programs on Dentistry, Education and Training, Civil and Structural Engineering etc.
Featured Universities of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE)
- Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong (THEi)
- International Culinary Institute (ICI), Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI)
- WMG School for Professional Development (Vocational Training Council, Hong Kong)
Scholarship Opportunities
There are various scholarships offered by universities and the government as well. You can choose to apply for those scholarships while applying to your designated university. Below are some scholarships that are available.
- The Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund
- The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
- The Belt and Road Scholarship
- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship
The Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund
This scholarship is provided to the local and international students who are studying full-time locally-accredited self-financing sub-degree or bachelor’s degree programmes in Hong Kong Universities. A total of HK$80,000 (USD10,300) is provided to international students as per their outstanding performance in academics.
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme provides an annual stipend of HK$319,200 (approximately USD40,900) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,300 (approximately US$1,700) to international students for three years. For a PhD student, if it takes more than three years to complete then additional help may be provided by the university upon discussion.
The Belt and Road Scholarship
The objective of The Belt and Road Scholarship is to enable global students from the Belt and Road region to study in different universities in Hong Kong. From this scholarship, a student will be able to bear the overall tuition fees of the chosen program of study.
Students from Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia are eligible to apply for this scholarship. However, in 2021, it was decided that additional 35 scholarships will be provided to students who are not from these countries (from the Belt and Road region) to enable them to cover their first-year tuition fee of the undergraduate program. The scholarship is applicable for full-time studies. Usually, 25 scholarships are provided to the students applying from Belt and Road regions for their undergraduate programs.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government Scholarship recognises the achievements of outstanding local and non-local students studying in the eight University Grants Committee-funded universities, the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and the Vocational Training Council. The scholarship is HK$80,000 (approximately US$10,300) per year for non-local students.
Applying to Universities in Hong Kong
Top 5 Universities of Hong Kong 2021 (World University Ranking)
Let us check out the top 5 universities of Hong Kong as per the World University Ranking 2021.
Tuition Fees
Cost of Living in Hong Kong
Visa and Admission Requirements
To study in any university in Hong Kong, a student will require a student visa. To apply for a student visa, these are the documents that you will require:
- ID995 A and B Forms
- Photocopy of Student Passport
- Travel Documents (Flight details)
- Travel itinerary
- Passport Size Photograph (Current)
- Proof of Admission to the desired University in Hong Kong
- Financial Documents (Bank Statements)
- Accommodation Information
Other than these, you need to have a local sponsor. A local sponsor is usually arranged by the institution where you will be studying. Healthcare insurance coverage is another mandatory checklist for the student to have. If your university provides healthcare insurance then you have to obtain that insurance. If your university does not arrange healthcare insurance coverage, then you will have to select private healthcare insurance.
Entry Requirements
Entry requirement in any University requires basic information on academic background, result, and English language proficiency.
Studying abroad is a huge decision students take in their lives and these decisions have to benefit them in the long run in terms of choosing the best university, scholarships, and a country that is welcoming to diverse cultures and people. Hong Kong has a good reputation in these areas globally and we hope this guide will help you in deciding that Hong Kong is the country for you to look into for your higher education.
