Gov't promotes "Study in Hong Kong" brand to attract foreign students

The government is actively promoting the "Study in Hong Kong" brand. From the 2026/27 academic year onwards, the cap on non-local students in universities will be raised from 40 percent to 50 percent.

Hong Kong Baptist University is focusing on plans to recruit from the Belt and Road countries. Coming from different corners of the world, they gather here today to enjoy dimsum.

This Baptist University staff explains to international students the meaning of Hong Kong's "yumcha" culture. Susma completed her undergraduate degree in biochemistry in Nepal and came to Hong Kong to pursue a PhD in Chinese medicine.

Proximity to other Greater Bay Area cities is one of the reasons she likes Hong Kong. Aisha, a first year undergraduate from Kazakhstan, majors in computer science. She is attracted to Hong Kong by the prospect of its techonology industry.

In the 2025/26 academic year, non-local undergraduates at HKBU accounted for 28 percent, an increase of 8 percentage points year-on-year. This is expected to rise to 35% in 2026/27, reaching 50% by the 2028/29 academic year. New students coming from the "Belt and Road" and Central Asia countries increased from 45 in 2024 to 64 this year, while the number of countries represented has grown from 9 to 16.

The university says while students from America and Europe have decreased in recent years due to geopolitical reasons, they will not give up promoting in those places. However, the university will have to ensure that supporting system is in place to accomodate international and local students. HKBU said it will continue to explore collaboration with privately-owned student hostels to provide accomodation places for students, and will also grant housing subsidies on a case-by-case basis to those in financial need.