Hong Kong, as an education hub in Asia and the world, is highly recognized for its quality of education and internationalization. Out of the long-term consideration of children's education, more and more families start to pay attention to and apply for Hong Kong status.
So what are the differences between local and non-local students in Hong Kong in terms of examinations and further studies?
01
Definition of local and non-local candidates
According to the official definition of the Hong Kong Education Bureau, students holding Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards or Temporary Identity Cards or Dependent Visas obtained through the Hong Kong Talents Scheme, Specialized Training and Professionals Scheme or the Higher Education Scheme, etc., who meet the specific criteria are regarded as local students.
On the other hand, students holding student visas, visas for non-local graduates to stay in Hong Kong, dependants after the age of 18 or students without Hong Kong status are regarded as non-local students.
02
Differences in Further Studies
? Admission quota and competitiveness
The eight major tertiary institutions in Hong Kong (the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the City University of Hong Kong, etc.) give preference to local students in admission, with local students taking up about 60% of the degree places.
In contrast, the admission quota for non-local students is more limited at around 40% (only 20% of the places available by October 31, 2023), and even less of these are allocated to Mainland students.
This means that local students face relatively less competitive pressure and have a better chance of admission when applying to local tertiary institutions in Hong Kong.
? Admission criteria and scores
Apart from the difference in admission quota, local students also enjoy an advantage in terms of admission scores. Generally speaking, the admission scores for non-local students are 3-5 points higher than those for local students, depending on the specialties.
In addition, Hong Kong universities will also take into account factors such as students' application documents and interview performance when admitting students, but the overall admission difficulty for local students is still lower than that of non-local students.
? Pathways to further studies
Local students can apply to local tertiary institutions in Hong Kong through JUPAS, which is the main route for local students with previous and/or fresh DSE examination results to apply for admission to Hong Kong institutions.
Non-local students, on the other hand, need to apply through other channels, such as direct application and international course result conversion.
In addition, students with Hong Kong permanent resident status can also apply to 132 Mainland universities, including many 985 and 211 prestigious universities, with their DSE examination results, which is an advantage that non-permanent resident students do not have.
03
Difference in tuition fees
In terms of tuition fees, the tuition fees for non-local students are much higher than those for local students. Take the University of Hong Kong as an example, the tuition fee for local students in the 2023/24 academic year is HK$42,100, while the tuition fee for non-local students is as high as HK$182,000, which is about four times of that for local students.
This difference in tuition fees puts greater financial pressure on non-local students to pursue higher education.
Given the many advantages that Hong Kong local students have in terms of higher education and tuition fees, applying for Hong Kong status is undoubtedly a wise choice for families wishing to plan a better education path for their children.
After obtaining Hong Kong status through the Hong Kong Talents Scheme and the Specialized Talents Scheme, your child will not only enjoy the high quality education resources in Hong Kong, but will also have more advantages when pursuing higher education.
If you are interested in applying, welcome to contact Nebula Sea International, we will provide you with customized and exclusive services.
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