https://www.scmp.com/rss/318207/feed Hong Kong education news, including enrolment, schools and university study. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com William Yiu William Yiu A US clampdown on visas for mainland Chinese and Hong Kong students last May led to year-on-year declines of 42 per cent and 35 per cent in the number of permits granted, but a consultant has said the impact has been short-lived. One PhD student from the mainland said US President Donald Trump’s actions had led to him giving up an offer to study at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to enrol at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) last year after he found America’s once-vibrant... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349093/how-us-clampdown-affected-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-student-visa-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349093/how-us-clampdown-affected-mainland-chinese-hong-kong-student-visa-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:30:11 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The growing number of Hong Kong schools facing closure due to insufficient enrolment has raised concerns about the impact on students with special needs, as parents say these at-risk institutions often provide better care and instruction than more stable ones. Marcia Ng Mun-chi, co-founder and executive director of the Hong Kong Association for AD/HD, recently raised concerns following the Education Bureau’s announcement last month that 15 public primary schools were at risk of closure. These... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349031/closing-hong-kong-schools-low-enrolment-will-hurt-special-education-kids-parents?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349031/closing-hong-kong-schools-low-enrolment-will-hurt-special-education-kids-parents?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 05 Apr 2026 01:00:25 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu has promised to allow more children from low-income families to enjoy after-school care on campus by further expanding a government scheme following positive feedback from participants. Social workers and educators welcomed the initiative on Saturday, proposing the government widen the scheme’s coverage to include more pupils and encourage more schools to join through subsidies. The scheme, launched as part of the government’s targeted measures to tackle... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349042/hong-kongs-john-lee-pledges-expand-after-school-care-low-income-families?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3349042/hong-kongs-john-lee-pledges-expand-after-school-care-low-income-families?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 04 Apr 2026 12:06:09 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s No 2 official has pledged to fast-track a new university town’s development following a visit to similar projects in mainland China, saying authorities will devise a strategy to attract top institutions from across the border and overseas to take part. Chief Secretary Eric Chan Kwok-ki and his working group on the university town’s planning and construction, which falls under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis, concluded their three-day visit to the mainland... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348906/university-town-be-fast-tracked-eric-chan-says-after-mainland-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348906/university-town-be-fast-tracked-eric-chan-says-after-mainland-china-visit?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2026 05:55:23 +0000 Danny Mok Danny Mok Four of 15 Hong Kong public primary schools at risk of closure due to insufficient enrolment plan to shut down, while nine are seeking to merge with other institutions, the Education Bureau has said. One intended to run Primary One classes privately from the coming school year, it said. The bureau said four schools would gradually wind down operations or at the latest end their services by the 2029-30 academic year, and nine had applied to merge with other institutions. But one of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348713/4-hong-kong-schools-close-9-seek-mergers-over-insufficient-enrolment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348713/4-hong-kong-schools-close-9-seek-mergers-over-insufficient-enrolment?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 15:00:19 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A US church that co-founded a prestigious Hong Kong international school has said it will take the lead in searching for a new head as the operator had failed to nominate candidates since 2022, accusing it of creating the “risk of leadership interruption” in the latest salvo in a war of words. The move by the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod (LCMS) was revealed in a letter to parents on Sunday from Hong Kong International School (HKIS) management, which called the search part of church actions... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348702/us-church-launches-search-new-hkis-school-head-amid-legal-row-operator?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348702/us-church-launches-search-new-hkis-school-head-amid-legal-row-operator?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2026 13:10:49 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The head of Hong Kong’s largest teacher training institution has urged all school governing bodies in the city to find a “way out” to handle dwindling student numbers. Professor John Lee Chi-kin, president of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK), also said on Monday that schools should develop their own features and strengths, stressing that teacher training should not be ignored despite the falling numbers. His remarks follow an announcement by education authorities two weeks ago that... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348430/hong-kong-schools-urged-find-way-out-over-falling-student-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3348430/hong-kong-schools-urged-find-way-out-over-falling-student-numbers?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 30 Mar 2026 12:18:42 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong’s Baptist University plans to spin off its School of Continuing Education (SCE) as a private university of applied sciences (UAS) next year, according to its president. Unveiling the plan at a media briefing on Thursday, Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong said a private institution would be more agile and responsive to societal changes than public universities, which often face lengthy funding approvals. “HKBU [Hong Kong Baptist University] will spare no effort to ensure the success of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347998/hong-kong-baptist-university-turn-one-its-schools-private?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347998/hong-kong-baptist-university-turn-one-its-schools-private?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Mar 2026 09:40:44 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s universities have recorded their sharpest declines in three years in global subject rankings, with more than half of the 266 offerings – including data science and artificial intelligence (AI) – slipping down their respective tables, according to a UK-based education analyst. Despite the overall drop, dentistry at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) remained second in the world – the city’s highest-ranked subject – while performing arts at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347882/data-science-ai-slip-53-hong-kong-university-subjects-fall-qs-ranking?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347882/data-science-ai-slip-53-hong-kong-university-subjects-fall-qs-ranking?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 11:06:25 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]     The German Swiss International School (GSIS) in Hong Kong has long been recognised for the quality of education and breadth of opportunities it provides.  Admitting applicants of all nationalities from kindergarten through to the completion of secondary level, the school offers two streams both of which lead to globally accepted qualifications, while developing bilingual proficiency and familiarity with different... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/benefits-bilingual-education/article/3347575/gsis-exemplifying-benefits-bilingual-education?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/benefits-bilingual-education/article/3347575/gsis-exemplifying-benefits-bilingual-education?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:28:06 +0000 Rina Lai Rina Lai For most of my career in developmental and educational psychology, I have been guided by a single question: what do children truly need to flourish in the world they are entering? I don’t mean the world their parents inherited or the one textbooks were designed for, but the one unfolding – volatile, technology-saturated and deeply uncertain. Eight years ago, during my PhD studies at the University of Cambridge, I was certain I was close to finding the answer; I immersed myself in building... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3347072/case-spiritual-wellness-age-anxious-youth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 25 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 Enoch Yiu Enoch Yiu Hong Kong Investment Corporation (HKIC), the government’s investment arm, has teamed up with venture capital firm Gobi Partners and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) to launch a fund on Tuesday to invest in technology start-ups spun off from the university’s research breakthroughs, according to an HKIC statement. Gobi-HKU Fund I made two investments at its launch: Manifold Tech, which develops spatial intelligence for robotics, and AilsynBio, which focuses on artificial intelligence-driven drug... https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347689/hkic-gobi-partners-and-hku-team-fund-backing-university-research-start-ups?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/banking-finance/article/3347689/hkic-gobi-partners-and-hku-team-fund-backing-university-research-start-ups?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 07:21:49 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s largest international school group plans to raise tuition fees by an average of 4.1 per cent for most of its primary and secondary divisions next academic year – or roughly HK$600 and HK$720 (US$77 and US$92) more per month, respectively – pending approval by authorities. The English Schools Foundation (ESF) also said on Tuesday that its kindergartens would raise fees by 5.8 per cent under the proposal. At Discovery College in Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, one of the foundation’s... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347674/hong-kongs-esf-schools-group-plans-increase-fees-41-average-next-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347674/hong-kongs-esf-schools-group-plans-increase-fees-41-average-next-year?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Mar 2026 05:29:12 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Non-local students could pay up to HK$350,000 (US$44,680) per year to study in Hong Kong’s semi-private schools after the institutions were allowed to admit them by offering additional places, with scholarships to cover some expenses. But an education consultant specialising in expatriate placements for Hong Kong schools said the charges were uncompetitive, noting the cost exceeded those of a premium British boarding school in Malaysia and Thailand. The Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS)... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347630/non-local-pupils-could-face-hk350000-fees-hong-kong-semi-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347630/non-local-pupils-could-face-hk350000-fees-hong-kong-semi-private-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 14:37:02 +0000 Cheryl Arcibal Cheryl Arcibal Regal Hotels International Holdings and its units have sold the 494-room Regal Oriental Hotel for about HK$1.52 billion (US$194 million) to the real estate investment arm of Centaline Group, which operates one of Hong Kong’s largest property agency networks, to be converted into a student hostel. Regal Hotels and affiliates Century City International Holdings and Paliburg Holdings agreed to dispose of the 17-storey hotel on Sa Po Road, including two basement floors, the group said in a filing... https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347571/regals-us194-million-hotel-sale-highlights-investor-push-hong-kong-student-housing?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3347571/regals-us194-million-hotel-sale-highlights-investor-push-hong-kong-student-housing?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Mar 2026 08:13:39 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Five people have been jailed in Hong Kong after an Immigration Department crackdown on illegal employment. The department said on Friday that it had raided 23 locations, including restaurants, cleaning companies and commercial buildings, during an operation carried out from Monday to Thursday. Officers arrested six men and 13 women, aged 22 to 62, found or suspected to be working illegally and six employers who allegedly hired them. Thirteen of those arrested held tourist visas – 11 from... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347280/5-jailed-20-more-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-employment?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347280/5-jailed-20-more-arrested-hong-kong-crackdown-illegal-employment?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 06:51:46 +0000 William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen William Yiu,Matthew Cheng,Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s Baptist University placed a big bet when it told the government in 2023 that it was interested in moving its campus from the upmarket Kowloon Tong residential area to a proposed new academic town near the mainland Chinese border. The 70-year-old university’s move to the Northern Metropolis megaproject will mean giving up a prime site for a spot where most of the land has yet to be prepared for construction, although its proximity to mainland tech hub Shenzhen and the Lok Ma Chau... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347197/too-slow-hong-kongs-new-university-town-faces-questions-over-plans?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Mar 2026 00:30:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education authorities plan to establish an “internationally benchmarked” version of the city’s university entrance exam on a pilot basis to allow foreign students to apply for admission to higher education institutions both locally and in mainland China. They revealed that technical explorations and studies with relevant bodies on developing the international version of the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam were under way. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347067/hong-kong-establish-global-version-university-entrance-exam-pilot-basis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347067/hong-kong-establish-global-version-university-entrance-exam-pilot-basis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:47:51 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong leader John Lee Ka-chiu’s alma mater was already struggling with major weaknesses that hurt enrolment, such as a small, remote campus and poor sanitation in the surrounding area, before the school was prevented from running a subsidised Primary One class. The Five Districts Business Welfare Association School, which has operated for 69 years, was among the 15 schools that failed to secure 16 Primary One pupils each to qualify for subsidies for the coming academic year. Fourteen of the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346976/closing-struggling-hong-kong-schools-spares-parents-future-problems?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346976/closing-struggling-hong-kong-schools-spares-parents-future-problems?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 05:19:05 +0000 Morning Studio editors,Dominic Ngai Morning Studio editors,Dominic Ngai The teachings of philosopher and psychologist John Dewey, who was a major 20th-century education reformer, still resonate with teachers around the world today. He believed that learning is a social, communal process – requiring students to build their own understanding based on personal experience – and involves a continuous, lifelong journey, rather than merely a means to an end for gaining knowledge for one’s future career. He wrote: “The aim of education is growth: the aim of growth is more... https://www.scmp.com/native/news/hong-kong/education/topics/edtalk-cais-2026/article/3345350/how-education-develops-pathway-students-lifelong-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/native/news/hong-kong/education/topics/edtalk-cais-2026/article/3345350/how-education-develops-pathway-students-lifelong-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 04:00:08 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.]   Hong Kong is rapidly consolidating its role as Asia’s premier design and creative hub. By aligning strategic policy with both local and national development plans, the city is attracting investment, fostering cross border collaboration, and scaling creative enterprises. Anchored by institutions such as the HKDI, Hong Kong is cultivating a robust, tech-savvy design workforce that blends rigorous education, industry... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/hkdis-graduates-make-global-impact/article/3346827/studio-market-hong-kong-design-institutes-transdisciplinary-path-global-design-impact?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/hkdis-graduates-make-global-impact/article/3346827/studio-market-hong-kong-design-institutes-transdisciplinary-path-global-design-impact?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 02:59:03 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Fifteen Hong Kong public primary schools are at risk of closing after being banned from operating subsidised Primary One classes in the coming academic year due to insufficient enrolment, with authorities saying the figure is the highest in recent years. But Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also warned on Tuesday that more closures were expected if school operators refused to plan for mergers. The institutions at risk comprise one government and 14 subsidised schools, with Deputy... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346926/15-hong-kong-schools-risk-closure-falling-numbers-trigger-primary-one-ban?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346926/15-hong-kong-schools-risk-closure-falling-numbers-trigger-primary-one-ban?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 17 Mar 2026 14:10:34 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Anchors Academy, recognised as one of Hong Kong's leading private schools for kindergarten and primary education, is taking a significant leap forward. The school has announced the extension of its educational offering to include Junior Secondary (Years 7 to 9)*, alongside a strategic partnership with the UK's historic St Bees School (founded 1583) to establish St Bees (Anchors) Sixth Form College in Hong Kong*, all... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/anchors-academy-new-secondary-school/article/3346321/anchors-academy-expands-junior-secondary-division-and-co-establishes-senior-secondary-school-st-bees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/anchors-academy-new-secondary-school/article/3346321/anchors-academy-expands-junior-secondary-division-and-co-establishes-senior-secondary-school-st-bees?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Mar 2026 16:00:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The head of Hong Kong’s oldest university has vowed to inject more resources into humanities programmes, praising them as a source of creativity and imagination, even as some institutions outside the city cut courses amid the rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Professor Xiang Zhang, president of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), made the pledge on Wednesday as the head of the institution’s medical faculty revealed the school would ditch its target for 75 per cent of its intake to be... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346266/hong-kong-university-president-vows-boost-humanities-amid-ai-push-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3346266/hong-kong-university-president-vows-boost-humanities-amid-ai-push-elsewhere?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Mar 2026 14:42:52 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Professor Muammer Ozer, Director of the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) programme at the City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK)’s College of Business, looks at what AI does to learning and reaches an unfashionable conclusion. Information is no longer scarce, he says, but judgement still is. A doctorate, in his view, is earned where work cannot be “cut and pasted”, where an answer has to be able to address a... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/developing-leaders-future/article/3345648/doctorate-leaders-who-want-depth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/developing-leaders-future/article/3345648/doctorate-leaders-who-want-depth?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Mar 2026 16:00:10 +0000 Coco Feng Coco Feng Chinese artificial intelligence start-up DeepSeek has collaborated with researchers from Tencent Holdings and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on a new AI-based method that can improve the accuracy of three-dimensional design. The team proposed Pointer-CAD, a framework built on Alibaba Group Holding’s Qwen 2.5 model, which helps designers select edges or faces of a 3D object, increasing the accuracy and efficiency in computer-aided design (CAD), a tool widely used in engineering, manufacturing... https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345687/chinese-start-deepseek-teams-tencent-hku-ai-tool-sharpen-3d-design?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/tech/article/3345687/chinese-start-deepseek-teams-tencent-hku-ai-tool-sharpen-3d-design?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 07 Mar 2026 03:00:12 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hong Kong takes decisive initiative amid a shifting global higher education landscape as student mobility diversifies beyond traditional destinations and universities forge practice-oriented partnerships and programmes that build cross-border competencies for a fluid global talent market. The city has amplified the “Study in Hong Kong” brand, expanded institutional collaboration, and aligned policy with institutional... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/hk-international-education-hub/article/3345532/hong-kong-strengthens-its-role-international-education-hub-and-gateway-gba-expanding-cross-border?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/hk-international-education-hub/article/3345532/hong-kong-strengthens-its-role-international-education-hub-and-gateway-gba-expanding-cross-border?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 16:00:09 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Tung Wah College, a tertiary institution in Hong Kong known for its nursing care and allied health programmes, will undergo a combined review next month on its application to become both a private university and a university of applied sciences (UAS) and is “very confident”, its head has said. Professor Sally Chan Wai-chi, president of the 16-year-old Ho Man Tin-based college, said on Thursday that it planned to adopt the name “Tung Wah University of Hong Kong” if its application was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345609/tung-wah-college-undergo-review-april-bid-gain-university-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345609/tung-wah-college-undergo-review-april-bid-gain-university-status?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 12:53:24 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong Baptist University is “actively considering” issuing bonds to finance its future development, including campus redevelopment and its new Chinese medicine hospital, according to its president. But Professor Alexander Wai Ping-kong also told the South China Morning Post on Thursday that the public institution would be cautious with bond issuance to avoid creating pressure on future management. “Our university needs funding in many aspects, such as our Chinese medicine hospital and the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345579/hong-kong-baptist-university-may-issue-bonds-finance-development?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345579/hong-kong-baptist-university-may-issue-bonds-finance-development?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Mar 2026 10:07:34 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hong Kong stands at the crossroads of global learning and vibrant local culture, offering overseas delegates a compact, layered introduction to what makes the city an enduring magnet for international students. As the lead host of APAIE 2026, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) curated an immersive programme that moved beyond panel sessions and meetings to reveal the city’s living character. The itinerary stitched... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/apaie-delegates-curated-experience/article/3345397/beyond-conference-how-apaie-2026-turned-international-delegates-storytellers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/apaie-delegates-curated-experience/article/3345397/beyond-conference-how-apaie-2026-turned-international-delegates-storytellers?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 04 Mar 2026 16:00:09 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu About 20 per cent of the 50 places in the inaugural intake of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology’s (HKUST) new graduate medical school in 2028-29 may be reserved for non-local students, with most expected to come from mainland China, according to the institution. Applicants for the four-year graduate entry-level medicine programme must pass an international admission test, with the university preferring those with a background in biotechnology. According to HKUST, the tuition fee... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3345170/hkust-may-reserve-20-new-medical-school-inaugural-intake-non-locals?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 12:33:23 +0000 Alice Wu Alice Wu Hong Kong hit a record low in births last year despite a range of government incentives, including a HK$20,000 (US$2,560) baby cash bonus for new parents launched in 2023. Just 31,714 babies were born last year. This might have come as a surprise for the authorities, which had projected a rise to 39,000 births. So was the baby bonus worth the try? Yes, if we can draw insight from the experience. To be fair, it wasn’t the only thing the government had done to encourage babies. It rolled out tax... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344937/hong-kong-cant-raise-its-birth-rate-without-easing-education-stress?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 02 Mar 2026 01:30:09 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu At least five Hong Kong universities have backed the government’s proposal to launch study tours aimed at attracting non-local secondary students to pursue higher education in the city, with programmes featuring topics such as AI. The University of Hong Kong (HKU), the city’s oldest tertiary institution, said it would offer up to 35 programmes this summer, giving outstanding non-local students a chance to earn full scholarships. In this year’s government budget, education authorities said they... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344975/hong-kong-universities-back-ai-themed-study-tours-woo-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344975/hong-kong-universities-back-ai-themed-study-tours-woo-non-local-students?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 01 Mar 2026 04:00:41 +0000 Ng Kang-chung Ng Kang-chung Hong Kong authorities have defended a controversial subsidy cut for the kindergarten sector for the coming financial year, saying the low birth rate and resultant shrinking pupil population have prompted a reassessment of education policy priorities. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Friday that the government would channel more resources towards promoting “high-quality education” and adopt a more targeted approach to helping pupils in need. According to the 2026-27 budget,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344918/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-minister-defends-cuts-kindergarten-subsidy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344918/hong-kong-budget-2026-27-minister-defends-cuts-kindergarten-subsidy?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 12:04:20 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s finance chief has assured the public that the city can manage its debt after proposing the issuance of more bonds to accelerate the development of the Northern Metropolis, expressing confidence in the long-term investment returns from the megaproject. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po sought to reassure the public during a radio programme on Friday after a university student voiced concerns that his generation might suffer if the city failed to repay the growing number of bonds... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344852/paul-chan-vows-hong-kong-can-handle-debt-bond-driven-growth?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344852/paul-chan-vows-hong-kong-can-handle-debt-bond-driven-growth?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:29:53 +0000 Matthew Cheng Matthew Cheng Hong Kong authorities are open to supporting universities in issuing bonds to fund the development of the proposed University Town in the Northern Metropolis, with lawmakers calling for a dedicated approval and credit rating mechanism. Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po told a meeting of the Legislative Council’s Finance Committee on Thursday the issuance of a “tertiary education bond” to support the University Town’s construction would be considered. The University Town, which will include the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344766/authorities-open-backing-universities-issuing-bonds-fund-megaproject-campuses?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344766/authorities-open-backing-universities-issuing-bonds-fund-megaproject-campuses?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:43:54 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s early childhood education sector will receive its lowest level of subsidy in more than a decade as the number of preschools falls to a 13-year low, with the government cancelling two grants for kindergartens in the new school year. According to the annual budget announced on Wednesday, the early childhood sector will receive only HK$4.5 billion (US$575 million) from the government in the 2026–27 financial year, representing a 6.6 per cent drop from the current year. “This is mainly... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344697/worst-yet-come-hong-kongs-early-childhood-sector-hit-hard-funding-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344697/worst-yet-come-hong-kongs-early-childhood-sector-hit-hard-funding-cuts?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Feb 2026 05:51:23 +0000 Fiona Chow Fiona Chow A Hong Kong court has convicted 13 parents and a merchant who offered HK$20,000 to HK$200,000 (US$2,600 to US$25,600) to bribe a kindergarten administrator at the city’s biggest international school group in exchange for enrolments. Deputy District Judge Amy Chan Wai-mun said on Tuesday that a custodial sentence would be the only suitable punishment for the 14 defendants found guilty of bribing Fatima Rumjahn, a former employee at the English Schools Foundation (ESF), to obtain K1 placements for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344447/13-parents-1-other-convicted-offering-bribes-obtain-places-hong-kong-school?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344447/13-parents-1-other-convicted-offering-bribes-obtain-places-hong-kong-school?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 08:12:29 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong should increase funding for university research to position itself as a global education hub, a leading academic has said, citing a growing trend of students choosing Asian destinations for tertiary studies. Professor Dennis Lo Yuk-ming, president of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), which is hosting this year’s Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition, told the South China Morning Post on Tuesday that he hoped the coming budget... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344442/boost-rd-investment-make-hong-kong-global-education-hub-cuhk-president?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344442/boost-rd-investment-make-hong-kong-global-education-hub-cuhk-president?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:47:56 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s universities have proved highly popular among mainland Chinese students, while interest is growing among those from Southeast Asia and countries taking part in the Belt and Road Initiative, the education minister has said. Speaking at a reception for “Study in Hong Kong Week” on Monday, Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said the city was now attracting more students from outside the mainland. The wider event will run until Sunday. “While Hong Kong is highly popular among... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344374/hong-kong-universities-enjoy-growing-appeal-belt-and-road-asean-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344374/hong-kong-universities-enjoy-growing-appeal-belt-and-road-asean-students?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 13:57:29 +0000 Christine Choi Christine Choi This week, Hong Kong is honoured to play host to the Asia-Pacific Association for International Education (APAIE) Conference and Exhibition, one of the most significant gatherings in the global higher education arena. For us, this is not merely a conference; it is a homecoming for international collaboration and a resounding statement of intent. As delegates from across the globe arrive in our city, we are reminded that education knows no borders, and Hong Kong remains the pivotal bridge... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344080/bridging-east-and-west-hong-kong-offers-talent-best-both-worlds?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3344080/bridging-east-and-west-hong-kong-offers-talent-best-both-worlds?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 23 Feb 2026 01:30:08 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong must more than double the number of secondary school pupils studying advanced maths to ensure a sufficient pipeline of students pursuing science and technology courses at university and careers in those sectors, according to the head of a curriculum review. The government plans to review the admission score calculations for some of the universities’ science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) programmes, as well as revamp the combination of related elective subjects... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344259/more-advanced-maths-students-needed-science-tech-sectors-hong-kong-committee-head?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3344259/more-advanced-maths-students-needed-science-tech-sectors-hong-kong-committee-head?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 22 Feb 2026 12:30:17 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu 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... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343576/how-many-non-local-students-are-going-hong-kong-universities-quota-rise?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343576/how-many-non-local-students-are-going-hong-kong-universities-quota-rise?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 08:01:59 +0000 William Yiu,Kelly Fung William Yiu,Kelly Fung Suri Chan Tin-wing, a first-year English major at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, found herself struggling to write her first creative short story – a 300-word assignment for the compulsory course “Introduction to Literature”. Throughout her secondary schooling at Yan Chai Hospital Law Chan Chor Si College in Kowloon Bay, only science subjects, such as maths and biology, were taught in English as the school adopted Chinese as the medium of instruction (CMI). Chan, 19, felt that she lacked... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343539/will-allowing-more-hong-kong-schools-teach-english-be-too-testing-pupils?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343539/will-allowing-more-hong-kong-schools-teach-english-be-too-testing-pupils?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 14 Feb 2026 01:00:17 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu A Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) student arrested on suspicion of sedition after launching a petition calling for an independent committee to investigate the Tai Po fire has said he has been expelled. “I was just expelled by CUHK,” Miles Kwan Ching-fung wrote on social media at midnight on Thursday, ending his post with a thumbs-up emoji. He said he had been suspended twice and had studied only intermittently over the past six years. Kwan, 24, told the South China Morning Post on Friday... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343455/chinese-university-hong-kong-expels-student-held-sedition-over-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343455/chinese-university-hong-kong-expels-student-held-sedition-over-tai-po-fire?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 13 Feb 2026 07:45:32 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong is considering letting more junior secondary school pupils use English as their medium of instruction (MOI), with the education minister pointing to an improved learning environment, better qualified teachers and other developments in the sector. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also said on Thursday that publicly funded primary and secondary schools could expect more cuts in resources in the coming two years as the government tightened its belt further. The existing MOI... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343371/hong-kong-may-allow-more-pupils-use-english-lessons-education-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3343371/hong-kong-may-allow-more-pupils-use-english-lessons-education-chief-says?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Feb 2026 15:04:54 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] Hong Kong’s economy is undergoing a profound transformation into a multifaceted international hub, strengthening the city’s role across the “Eight Centres” set out in the 14th National Five-Year Plan and further accelerated under the 15th Five-Year Plan. The shift, reinforced by the Northern Metropolis initiative and deeper integration with the Greater Bay Area (GBA), signals a new era of spatial–economic synergy and... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/vtc-optimises-talent-changes/article/3342382/vocational-training-council-poised-develop-skilled-talent-equipped-hong-kongs-economic?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/vtc-optimises-talent-changes/article/3342382/vocational-training-council-poised-develop-skilled-talent-equipped-hong-kongs-economic?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 23:50:08 +0000 Advertising partner Advertising partner [The content of this article has been produced by our advertising partner.] In the past three years, the University Grants Committee (UGC) has been supporting public-funded universities to develop a more global learning environment for Hong Kong’s higher education. With an increase of over 30% since the 2023/24 academic year, non-local students in UGC-funded programmes have become far more culturally diversified in recent years as Hong Kong establishes itself as an international education hub.... https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/china-global-engagement-scheme/article/3342915/ugc-fosters-global-environment-hong-kong-universities-providing-students-national-and-international?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/presented/news/hong-kong/education/topics/china-global-engagement-scheme/article/3342915/ugc-fosters-global-environment-hong-kong-universities-providing-students-national-and-international?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Feb 2026 08:25:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Teachers in Hong Kong will be given a year to fulfil a proposed government requirement to obtain a practising certificate, in light of the large number of applications expected in the first 12 months of its implementation, the education minister has said. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin on Friday also warned schools not to help teachers submit their applications if they found that educators had not completed enough hours of continuing professional development, among other... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3342655/hong-kong-teachers-be-given-1-year-obtain-practising-certificates-under-new-rule?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3342655/hong-kong-teachers-be-given-1-year-obtain-practising-certificates-under-new-rule?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 06 Feb 2026 08:44:22 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong public school teachers withdrew HK$8.4 billion (US$1.1 billion) from two retirement fund schemes in 2024-25, down by 3.4 per cent from the year before, marking the third consecutive annual decline amid subsiding emigration. Resignation, rather than retirement, remained the main reason for taking out the money as a growing proportion of young teachers left the profession, accounting for 32 to 35 per cent of all withdrawals from the two funds, the highest level since 2021. The data was... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3342480/hong-kong-teachers-withdrew-hk84-billion-pension-funds-past-school-year?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3342480/hong-kong-teachers-withdrew-hk84-billion-pension-funds-past-school-year?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 05 Feb 2026 06:12:15 +0000