Hong Kong’s public universities are set to implement significant increases in tuition fees for non-local undergraduate students in the 2027-28 academic year, with some hikes reaching up to 26 percent—the largest in recent years. The adjustments correspond with an expansion of the non-local student quota, which has risen from 20 percent of local places in 2023-24 to 50 percent starting this academic year.
The University of Hong Kong (HKU) will see the most pronounced increase in its medicine and dentistry programmes, where tuition fees for non-local students will more than double, rising 137 percent to HK$590,000 annually. The university attributes these higher fees to the costs associated with intensive clinical training and maintaining high-quality education standards. Tuition for non-local students in HKU’s STEM programmes will increase by HK$31,000 to HK$280,000, while non-STEM courses will cost HK$250,000, up by HK$26,000.
Seven of Hong Kong’s eight public universities have published their proposed non-local undergraduate fees for 2027-28, revealing an average increase of 17 percent compared to the current year. Among these, four institutions have raised fees by 20 percent or more. City University (CityU) and Baptist University announced increases of 26 percent, bringing annual tuition fees to HK$240,000, while the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology plans to raise fees by 21 percent to HK$260,000. Polytechnic University will increase fees by 20 percent, to HK$240,000, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) will raise fees by 7 percent to HK$230,000. The Education University of Hong Kong (EdU) also raised its fees by 17 percent, to HK$210,000, the lowest among these institutions.
The cumulative impact of these increases amounts to a 41 percent rise since the 2023-24 academic year. These figures far exceed the 6 to 13 percent increases observed annually over the past three years. The government’s decision to double the non-local quota is a key factor behind the heightened fees, as universities balance the need to recover costs amid expanding international enrolment.
The announcement has prompted discussion on social media, with some expressing concern that the tuition hikes may be excessive. One commenter noted that while the perceived value of studying in Hong Kong has declined, demand remains high among local parents.
University representatives have explained that the fee revisions reflect teaching costs, international benchmarking, and cost-recovery principles. Both CUHK and EdU have indicated plans to expand scholarship offerings to offset the financial burden on non-local students.
Comparisons with other regional universities highlight the steepness of Hong Kong’s fees. For example, the National University of Singapore charges international students approximately HK$205,000 annually for business and HK$244,000 for computing, figures notably lower than Hong Kong’s public universities.
The increase in non-local student numbers also aligns with government initiatives to establish the first university town in the Northern Metropolis at Hung Shui Kiu. Authorities have encouraged institutions to develop proposals without relying on government loans, highlighting the revenue potential from international student admissions.
As of the latest reports, Lingnan University had yet to announce its non-local tuition fees for 2027-28. The overall trend indicates a strategic shift towards expanding international student intake and adjusting fee structures accordingly across Hong Kong’s higher education sector.