HK top 8 universities raise tuition for non-local students, with CUHK owning highest increase of 22.8%
Hong Kong is striving to become an international hub for talent, with attracting outstanding global students as a key focus. However, balancing resources to maintain research quality and competitiveness in admissions poses significant challenges.
Recently, universities have announced their enrollment information for the 2025/26 academic year, revealing that all eight major universities will raise tuition fees for non-local students for the first time.
Among the increases, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) will see the highest hike, with tuition rising by HK$33,000 to HK$178,000 per year. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) will adjust fees based on specific faculties, with medical and engineering courses increasing by HK$36,000, while other faculties will see a rise of HK$16,000. The Education University of Hong Kong also announced a significant increase of 15.2%, raising fees to HK$167,000 for non-local students.
Other universities are also adjusting their fees. Lingnan University will increase tuition by about 10% to HK$160,000. Both the Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Hong Kong Baptist University will raise their fees from HK$160,000 to HK$175,000 (a 9.4% increase). In comparison, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will see a smaller increase from HK$170,000 to HK$185,000 (an 8.8% rise). City University of Hong Kong has the lowest increase at 6.3%, raising tuition to HK$170,000.
In response to inquiries, HKU reviewed tuition annually, adjusting it based on inflation and other factors. For the 2025/26 academic year, non-local undergraduate tuition will rise to HK$198,000 for various faculties and to HK$218,000 for STEM-related disciplines due to higher costs associated with laboratory use and resources. As of early Jan. 2025, HKU reported an increase in applications from non-local students compared to the previous year.
Scholarships to Alleviate Financial Burdens
HKU also mentioned it offers various scholarships and financial aid to reduce the financial burden on non-local students. The university is actively discussing and collaborating with government agencies worldwide to provide more opportunities for talented international students. This year, HKU updated its "HKU TECHNOVATION" scholarship to reward outstanding students in STEM-related programs.
CUHK indicated that this is the first increase in non-local tuition in seven years aimed at addressing inflation pressures. Consequently, the scholarship amounts, which are based on tuition fees, will also increase. CUHK offers multiple scholarships and awards to recognize academic excellence and outstanding performance in non-academic areas.
The Education University of Hong Kong noted that it regularly reviews course costs and benchmarks against other local universities, adjusting non-local tuition accordingly to reflect the rising global consumer price index. It believes prospective non-local students will primarily consider the quality of education and post-graduation employment opportunities when choosing to study in Hong Kong.
Local Students Face Tuition Increases After 27 Years
In addition to changes for non-local students, the Hong Kong government announced in June that local university tuition will also increase for the first time in 27 years, starting in the 2025/26 academic year. This decision comes after years of rising higher education costs, with an average annual increase of 5.5% planned over the next three years.
Since the 1996/97 academic year, tuition for local students at funded universities has remained frozen. The government had set an 18% cost recovery target for tuition but has seen the actual recovery rate decline to approximately 12.5% in recent years. To balance public fiscal discipline, student affordability, and the promotion of higher education, tuition for bachelor’s and research programs will rise from HK$42,100 to HK$49,500 by the 2027/28 academic year, while sub-degree programs will increase from HK$15,040 to HK$17,800.
The government will also adjust the amounts for financial aid and loans to support students with financial needs, ensuring that students are not deprived of educational opportunities due to financial difficulties.
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