How many non-local students are going to Hong Kong universities since quota rise?

Hong Kong public universities had more than 20,000 non-local undergraduate students in the second academic year since the government doubled quotas, a 17 per cent year-on-year increase, as the education minister promised to review the threshold. The Education University of Hong Kong (EdU) saw the sharpest increase in non-local undergraduate students under the policy, jumping by 90 per cent over three academic years, followed by Baptist University. Starting in the 2024-25 academic year, the government doubled non-local student admission quotas at public universities to the equivalent of 40 per cent of the number of local students. Authorities plan to raise the threshold to 50 per cent in 2026-27. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin on Saturday told the media that some universities had nearly reached their quotas for this year, underlining the fast pace of development. “We will keep an eye on the situation. We will not rule out reviewing the quota if there is such a need, and the universities’ supporting facilities are ready,” she said. Choi said that a supply of about 5,000 hostel places could be increased under a scheme to accommodate more non-local students by allowing private developers or operators to convert commercial buildings into student hostels. Figures from the University Grants Committee showed that 20,093 non-local students were enrolled in undergraduate programmes in 2025-26, up from 17,161 in the previous academic year. The figure for the current academic year is equivalent to about 27.1 per cent of the total number of local undergraduates, up from last year’s 23.2 per cent, but has not exceeded the current quota of 40 per cent. A breakdown of the figures found that the University of Hong Kong had the highest number of non-local undergraduate students in 2025-26, at 4,894, which is equivalent to 35.1 per cent of the local undergraduate population. In terms of percentage increase, EdU recorded the highest jump since the quota was increased. The number of non-local undergraduates at the city’s largest teacher-training institution rose from 442 in 2023-24 to 841 in the current academic year – an increase of 90 per cent. This was followed by Baptist University, where the number of non-local undergraduates climbed by 82 per cent from 943 to 1,719. City University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong saw rises of 21 per cent and 23 per cent respectively, the two smallest increases among Hong Kong’s eight public universities. Overall, the number of non-local undergraduates at the eight institutions has risen by 36 per cent since the policy started. Choi on Saturday also discussed Hong Kong’s plans to host the annual Asia-Pacific Association for International Education Conference and Exhibition later this month. Nearly 2,000 participants from more than 70 countries and regions were expected to attend the event, which is one of the three largest such annual conferences globally, Choi said. The event will run from February 23 to 27, beginning with a pre-conference day and followed by a three-day summit at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai. The last day will offer campus tours of all eight local public universities.