Direct answer
For 2026/27 entry, the realistic all-in cost for an international student at one of Hong Kong’s eight UGC-funded universities is:
- Four-year undergraduate degree — HK$985,000 to HK$1,060,000 total (US$126K–135K)
- One-year taught master’s — HK$280,000 to HK$520,000 (US$36K–66K)
- Two-year MBA / professional master’s — HK$680,000 to HK$1,250,000
The biggest single line is tuition; the second is housing. Both are roughly 30–40% above the cost of equivalent programmes in Singapore and broadly comparable to mid-tier UK Russell Group universities for international students.
Tuition by university (non-local, 2026/27)
| University | Undergraduate per year | Taught master’s (typical 1-yr) |
|---|---|---|
| HKU | HK$182,000 | HK$210,000 (MSc) – HK$345,000 (MBA) |
| CUHK | HK$170,000 | HK$185,000 – HK$320,000 |
| HKUST | HK$175,000 | HK$200,000 – HK$700,000 (MBA) |
| PolyU | HK$155,000 | HK$140,000 – HK$280,000 |
| CityU | HK$150,000 | HK$135,000 – HK$255,000 |
| HKBU | HK$145,000 | HK$110,000 – HK$210,000 |
| LingU | HK$140,000 | HK$108,000 – HK$170,000 |
| EdUHK | HK$140,000 | HK$95,000 – HK$160,000 |
These are the published rates for non-local fee-paying students. Local (HK-resident) tuition is HK$42,100/year — about a quarter of non-local rates — but the local rate requires HK permanent residency, dependant visa status, or other right-of-abode-equivalent grounds.
Self-financing institutions (HKMU, HSUHK, Shue Yan, Saint Francis) charge HK$95,000–135,000/year for non-local undergraduates. Sub-degree programmes (associate degrees, higher diplomas) at HKU SPACE and similar providers cost HK$60,000–95,000/year.
Living-cost benchmarks (per month, 2026)
| Item | Frugal | Standard | Comfortable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rent (room in shared flat) | HK$5,500 (Sham Shui Po, NT) | HK$8,500 (Causeway Bay, Mong Kok) | HK$13,000 (Mid-Levels, Sheung Wan studio) |
| Rent (full studio, < 200 sq ft) | HK$10,500 (NT) | HK$15,000 (Kowloon) | HK$22,000 (HK Island) |
| University residence | HK$2,200–3,000 | HK$2,500–3,500 | n/a |
| Food (cook + occasional eat-out) | HK$2,500 | HK$4,000 | HK$6,500 |
| Food (eat out daily) | HK$5,500 | HK$7,500 | HK$11,000 |
| Transport (Octopus, MTR student) | HK$200 | HK$300 | HK$500 (incl. taxis) |
| Mobile + internet | HK$160 | HK$250 | HK$350 |
| Personal, gym, social | HK$1,500 | HK$3,000 | HK$5,500 |
| Total / month (room in flat) | HK$9,860 | HK$16,050 | HK$25,850 |
Year-round: HK$118,000 frugal / HK$192,600 standard / HK$310,000 comfortable.
Required proof of funds (student visa)
Hong Kong Immigration Department asks for proof that the student can cover the first year of tuition + 12 months of living expenses. There is no fixed minimum bank-balance figure, but in practice HK$220,000–HK$280,000 in deposit (US$28K–36K) is the level that consistently gets approved without follow-up queries.
Supporting documents:
- Tuition fee invoice or unconditional offer letter
- Bank statement (yours or sponsor’s) covering at least the past 6 months
- Sponsor letter if the funds are not in your own name
- Salary slip / income proof for the sponsor
Scholarships and discounts
| Scheme | Approximate value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HKU Foundation Scholarships (full) | Tuition + HK$50,000/yr stipend | Top 1–3% of admitted non-local applicants |
| CUHK Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship | Full tuition + HK$80,000/yr | By interview only |
| HKUST President’s Scholarship | Full tuition for 4 years | Approx. 30 awards/year |
| Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) | HK$331,200 stipend + HK$14,500 conference grant per year, 3 years | RGC-funded; for PhD applicants only |
| Belt-and-Road Scholarship | Up to HK$120,000/year | For applicants from BRI partner countries |
Postgraduate taught (Master’s) programmes do not typically have substantial scholarship pools — most scholarships at this level are partial (HK$20,000–60,000) and merit-based.
How much can you earn alongside study?
Student-visa holders may work part-time on-campus (no hour limit) and off-campus during summer break (no hour limit, June–August). During academic term off-campus paid work is not permitted under the student visa, except for approved internships. Realistically:
- Part-time tutoring (Putonghua / English / IB): HK$200–400/hour
- Research assistant on campus: HK$80–120/hour
- Summer internship: HK$15,000–25,000/month for tech / finance roles, HK$10,000–14,000 for general
A diligent student can offset HK$30,000–60,000/year through part-time work, but it does not meaningfully change the total cost of the degree.
How HK compares to other study destinations (2026 international student total annual cost)
| Destination | Public-uni undergraduate annual all-in (USD) |
|---|---|
| Hong Kong (HKU/CUHK/HKUST) | $32,000 – $34,000 |
| Singapore (NUS/NTU) | $34,000 – $42,000 |
| UK (Russell Group, London) | $43,000 – $58,000 |
| US (private, top-50) | $75,000 – $95,000 |
| Australia (Go8) | $42,000 – $55,000 |
| Canada (U15) | $36,000 – $48,000 |
Hong Kong is currently the most affordable English-medium top-100 destination in Asia, with the added advantage of the IANG 24-month post-graduation visa (no equivalent in Singapore at the undergraduate level).
Sources
- University Grants Committee tuition statistics (2025/26): https://cdcf.ugc.edu.hk
- HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU, CityU, HKBU, LingU, EdUHK official non-local fee schedules
- Immigration Department student visa fund requirement: https://www.immd.gov.hk/eng/services/visas/study.html
- Census and Statistics Department household expenditure data: https://www.censtatd.gov.hk