Compare all 22 current local degree-awarding institutions with source-led guidance on admissions, costs, visas, work rights and student life.
The official current list separates eight UGC-funded universities, one other publicly funded institution and 13 self-financing institutions.
The UGC reported over 26,600 non-local students in funded programmes and learners from more than 100 countries in 2024/25.
The seven-level HKQF, Qualifications Register, HKCAAVQ and UGC Quality Assurance Council provide distinct quality checks.
Chinese and English are official languages, and institutions publish international admissions and English-language requirements.
Rail, bus and ferry links connect compact campus clusters across Hong Kong Island, Kowloon and the New Territories.
Eligible recent non-local graduates can apply without a job offer and may receive an initial 24-month stay under current rules.
The structured range is a transparent monthly planning envelope derived from the Education Bureau's annual figures, not a guaranteed budget or Hong Kong-wide average. It combines annualised hostel-to-private-rental housing, about HKD 50,000 yearly for general living expenses and about HKD 15,000 yearly for miscellaneous costs. Housing drives most of the variation. The resulting HKD 6,667-20,417 monthly envelope excludes tuition and should be replaced with the student's actual hall offer, lease, travel and lifestyle budget.
Non-local students generally need a student visa or entry permit after receiving an offer for an eligible study route. The applicant normally submits ID 995A and nominates a Hong Kong sponsor, commonly the admitting institution, which submits ID 995B. Eligibility differs for Mainland Chinese, Macao, Taiwan and overseas applicants and by programme type. Admission and payment do not guarantee immigration approval, and the Immigration Department may request additional evidence. The study route is not one of the fee table's specified talent schemes. Translation, certification, delivery, medical, insurance and institution service costs may be separate.
Completed applicant form ID 995A and a recent photograph.
Completed sponsor form ID 995B and the sponsor's required identity or travel-document evidence.
Valid travel document pages and Hong Kong identity card if already held.
Official acceptance letter from the admitting education institution.
Proof of financial support in the form requested by Immigration.
Under-18 guardian consent and accommodation evidence where applicable.
Route-specific Mainland, Macao or Taiwan identity and travel evidence where applicable.
Any further documents, translations or verification evidence requested for the individual case.
Checked 22 August 2026: a complete study visa or entry-permit application normally takes six weeks after all required documents are received. Incomplete cases, individual circumstances and seasonal volume may take longer; apply early.
Checked 22 August 2026: the Immigration Department lists HKD 330 for an ordinary visa in the 'other' category from 8 September 2025. Translation, certification, medical, delivery, insurance and institution charges may be separate; recheck the live table.
Health insurance is not universally mandatory for all students, but some institutions require accident, hospitalization, medical-expense and evacuation cover. The official portal strongly advises students to maintain personal cover throughout study because group plans may be limited. Confirm exclusions, outpatient and inpatient limits, repatriation, travel outside Hong Kong and any visa or institutional requirement before arrival.
Checked 22 August 2026: eligible non-local recent graduates who apply under IANG within six months of the graduation date do not need a job offer and may be granted an initial 24-month stay, subject to normal immigration requirements. Non-recent graduates require a qualifying job offer. IANG holders admitted without other conditions of stay may take and change employment without prior approval; extension requirements and fees must be checked before expiry.
Checked 22 August 2026: call 999 for police, fire or ambulance emergencies. Hong Kong has low reported crime but students should still protect documents and valuables and use registered medical services. Tropical cyclones, rainstorms, extreme heat, landslips and transport disruption can affect classes and travel. Follow the Hong Kong Observatory, government alerts and the institution's suspension or shelter instructions, and refresh current public-health and travel guidance before departure.
A major university cluster with rail links and dense private housing. Confirm whether classes are at the main campus or another teaching site.
New Territories campuses serve major universities and specialist institutions. Commutes can be efficient by rail but housing location still matters.
A prominent university and healthcare district with steep terrain and high private rents; verify hall eligibility and last-mile transport.
Large campus and residential areas in eastern New Territories. Check shuttle, MTR and bus connections for the exact timetable.
Urban campuses and specialist institutions sit near major rail and commercial districts; compact distance does not always mean a short door-to-door commute.
Some providers operate outside the central districts or across multiple sites. Use the actual teaching address, not only the legal headquarters, for housing decisions.
Government scholarships support outstanding local and non-local students in eligible publicly funded post-secondary study; institution nomination and current rules apply.
Award routes exist for eligible students in locally accredited self-financing study; eligibility and nomination vary by scheme.
For 2026/27 the RGC stated 400 fellowships, HKD 344,400 annual stipend and HKD 14,400 annual research-travel allowance for up to three years. The published call closed 1 December 2025; future applicants must use the next live call.
Universities and colleges publish merit, need, entrance and research awards. Confirm whether an award is automatic, renewable, conditional or compatible with other funding.
Completed secondary education, suitable school-leaving or aptitude results, English-language evidence where required, and the institution's qualification-specific conditions.
A recognized relevant degree, transcripts, language evidence and any programme-specific statement, reference, test, portfolio or interview.
Relevant prior qualifications, research fit, proposal or project evidence, supervisor or department alignment and the university's current selection rules.
Academic evidence plus the exact audition, portfolio, interview, fitness, professional or language requirements published by the provider.
Match the exact identity and category to the official current degree-provider list.
Check the award, current register or self-accrediting evidence, teaching site, language, duration and professional implications.
Review qualification, subject, grade, English and route-specific requirements before paying.
Arrange identity, certificates, transcripts, test scores, translations and any references, portfolio or proposal.
Use the institution's official application channel and retain submission and fee evidence.
Attend any interview, audition, test, portfolio review or document verification by the stated deadline.
Verify tuition, deposit, refund, scholarship, campus, accommodation and award terms in writing.
Submit the correct student-entry case through the institution or sponsor, arrange insurance and verified housing, and follow arrival instructions.
The current official list contains 22: eight UGC-funded universities, one other publicly funded institution and 13 self-financing degree-awarding institutions.
No. Their legal and funding categories differ. The catalogue preserves UGC-funded, other publicly funded and self-financing status rather than presenting them as equivalent.
No. Verify the exact qualification, awarding institution, current register evidence, teaching location and any professional recognition separately.
HKQF is a seven-level hierarchy for quality-assured academic, vocational, professional and continuing qualifications. The Qualifications Register is its public register.
HKCAAVQ quality-assures non-self-accrediting providers and administers the Qualifications Register, while the UGC's Quality Assurance Council covers programmes at UGC-funded universities. Nine institutions have self-accrediting status.
The typical fall semester runs from early September to late December and spring from mid-January to May. Each institution sets its own calendar.
September is the principal intake. January or other starts exist only for selected institutions and study routes, so confirm the exact programme calendar.
Applicants normally use the institution's official international application route, submit the required academic and language evidence, complete any selection, accept a written offer and then apply for student entry permission.
Institutions are autonomous. Applicants generally need completed secondary education, satisfactory school-leaving or aptitude results and English evidence where required; exact standards are institution-specific.
Chinese and English are official languages. Cantonese is widely used in daily life, while English is common in higher education and public information; teaching language remains programme-specific.
The current official planning page gives a broad HKD 90,000-265,000 yearly range. Only the institution's written offer for the exact programme is controlling.
This pack uses a disclosed HKD 6,667-20,417 envelope based on official annual housing, living and miscellaneous figures. Housing choice causes most variation, and tuition is excluded.
No. Hall policies and availability vary and demand is high. Apply early and make a verified alternative plan before travel.
Yes, subject to lawful rental arrangements. Verify the landlord, lease, deposit, utilities, permitted occupancy, commute and actual teaching campus before paying.
Most non-local students do. Obtain an eligible offer, follow the correct route for your residence and nationality, and use the Immigration Department and institution instructions.
The Immigration Department states that a complete study case normally takes six weeks after all required information is received. This is not a guaranteed deadline.
Checked 22 August 2026, the ordinary 'other' visa fee is HKD 330. Recheck the official fee table before payment because fees can change.
The student normally completes ID 995A and the Hong Kong sponsor completes ID 995B, together with acceptance, travel, financial and route-specific evidence.
Only within the current immigration conditions. Eligible students may have internship and temporary employment permissions, but the actual No Objection Letter and conditions of stay control.
It is not universally mandatory for all students, but institutions may require it. The official portal strongly advises adequate accident, hospitalization, medical and evacuation cover for the full study period.
Call 999 for police, fire or ambulance emergencies. Follow Hong Kong Observatory warnings and institutional instructions during typhoons, rainstorms or other severe weather.
Government, self-financing-sector, institution and research awards exist. Eligibility, nomination, renewal and deadlines vary, and closed 2026/27 calls must not be treated as open.
It is an RGC scheme for new full-time PhD applicants at the eight UGC-funded universities. The 2026/27 call offered 400 awards with published stipend and travel support but is closed.
Eligible recent non-local graduates applying under IANG within six months of graduation do not need a job offer and may receive an initial 24-month stay, subject to current immigration requirements.
It remains on the official current degree-awarding institution list, but this pack does not assert an active intake without direct current institutional evidence. Applicants should verify before applying or paying.
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