For someone working in International Education, there probably isn’t a more “international” destination than Hong Kong. A combination of China and the West, my landing in Hong Kong in May, inspired the following reflections on this changing destination.
As Hong Kong continues to adjust to its new Chinese government combined with an expatriate background, the trends in education are always worth noting. These are:
- Continued decline in expatriate population.
- The international school market is booming but with local students, not expatriates.
- Fewer students are going to UK boarding schools.
- Fewer people from Hong Kong are going abroad to study.
- Higher-ed applications from mainland China are increasing to study in Hong Kong
- Australia is still a destination for study due to long-term visas but is impacted by the student visa crackdown
Effects of Decline in British and other English-Speaking Expatriates in Hong Kong
The number of British and other expatriates continues to decline since 1999. This is a challenge for international schools in Hong Kong. Almost all international schools operate under an agreement to have no fewer than 70 per cent non-local students. Schools are having trouble meeting this requirement when the pool to draw from becomes so much smaller.
The proportion of British passport holders shrank from 21 per cent in 2014-15 to only 12 per cent in the current school year, while Hong Kong passport holders rose from 24 per cent to 43 per cent.[i] The relocation of international companies from Hong Kong and the city’s strict travel restrictions during the pandemic contributed to the decline in the number of non-local students in recent years.
The English Schools Foundation (ESF), the city’s largest international school group with 22 schools at all levels, revealed that the proportion of students with Hong Kong passports has doubled since 2013, with a drop for most other nationalities including Britons, Australians, Americans and Indians.[ii]
However, this does not mean that international schools have a decline in numbers. The local students seeking to study in international school is one the rise.
Hong Kong’s international schools have seen a dramatic increase in the last 10 years. Total enrolment in the city’s international schools have gone up by about 20 percent from about 35,000 to 42,000 pupils. However, the split between locals and non-locals did not rise proportionally.[iii]
Non-local students made up 81 per cent of the international schools’ enrolment in 2013, but only 65 per cent last year, according to statistics provided by the Education Bureau to the legislature.[iv]
The government dismisses that the Hong Kong education system under Chinese oversight is not meeting the needs of students as the reason they go to international schools. The Education minister Christine Choi Yuk-lin says that Hong Kong parents had many reasons for sending their children to international schools, including the personality of their kids and where they might study in the future.[v]
Less high school students headed to UK to study in boarding schools
Due to changes in demographics and economics, British private schools have seen a marginal fall from last year’s peak.[vi] According to an annual census conducted in January by the United Kingdom’s Independent Schools Council there has been a marginal decrease of 4% in Hong Kong students studying in the UK at private schools.[vii]
This may continue to decline as the Koala News’s recent article shared the information that proposed changes to VAT if the Labor government wins the next election may force Hong Kong families to look for more affordable options for international education.
Higher Education
There is a renewed sense of security and optimism in the education provided by Hong Kong’s universities. The number of Hong Kong’s Form Six graduates going abroad to study has seen a sharp fall of 25 per cent year on year. The figure is now at its lowest level since an official survey began 12 years ago, according to a government report.[viii]
Among students choosing further education, 91 per cent, or 34,989, picked Hong Kong, up by 3 per cent from last year. Only 9 per cent are choosing to study abroad for university including going to mainland China, Taiwan, the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada and the United States.[ix]
More domestic students stay in Hong Kong for higher-ed, but also more students from mainland China are choosing Hong Kong universities. It is projected that non-local enrolment in Hong Kong higher education will reach 92,000 by 2027/28, up nearly 50% from 2022/23.[x]
Hong Kong – Australia
Hong Kong families still find Australia a viable and attractive destination for immigration. According to Jane Li, Regional Operations Director, Australasia & Japan at IDP Education, “While international students globally are experiencing higher Australian visa rejection rates, the specific pathways for Hong Kong nationals remain intact. Hong Kong applicants are exempt from the new age limit and visa duration changes in the recent Subclass 485 visa updates. Also, 189/191 visa pathways are still in effect.”
Li went on to share that Hong Kong students continue to be drawn to Australian high-ranking universities and that for mature students pursuing long-term opportunities, Australia continues to be favoured. Australia’s medicine and dentistry qualifications are highly sought after by students from Hong Kong.
Despite Australia being an attractive destination, the pathway visa situation has also impacted the Hong Kong market. While the market rebounded strongly post-COVID in FY22 and FY23, Li from IDP noted that they are starting to see a slowdown in FY24, reflected in the 33% decline in total offshore student visas granted to HK residents and the 67% decline in dependent visas. There has also been a 28% decline in visas granted to school applicants (as a primary applicant, not as a dependent) (Source: DoHA student visa program).
Overall, Hong Kong is still a market to watch. With so many international school graduates, they may be looking for more international universities and/or high schools for their senior year (with the UK being on the decline). However, the propensity of HK families to look for high-ranking and prestigious schools means that Australian schools and universities will need to continue to impress or grow in rankings to hit this high-value market.
[i] https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3260747/hong-kong-international-school-student-numbers-tripled-last-decade-total-enrolments-fifth
[ii] https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3260747/hong-kong-international-school-student-numbers-tripled-last-decade-total-enrolments-fifth
[iii] https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3260747/hong-kong-international-school-student-numbers-tripled-last-decade-total-enrolments-fifth
[iv] https://www.baisis.org.uk/aspenshire-international-school-cultivating-tomorrows-eco-visionaries/
[v] https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3260662/number-hong-kong-pupils-international-schools-tripled-10-years-amid-decline-non-local-enrolment
[vi] https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3263418/number-hong-kong-students-uk-private-schools-falls-and-further-dip-possible-if-labour-wins-january
[vii] https://www.scmp.com/news/article/3263418/number-hong-kong-students-uk-private-schools-falls-and-further-dip-possible-if-labour-wins-january
[viii] https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3261139/fewer-hong-kong-form-six-graduates-heading-overseas-education-figure-sees-25-decline-year-year
[ix] https://www.scmp.com/yp/discover/news/hong-kong/article/3261139/fewer-hong-kong-form-six-graduates-heading-overseas-education-figure-sees-25-decline-year-year
[x] https://monitor.icef.com/2024/04/hong-kong-needs-to-build-more-student-housing/
