Education in Hong Kong

Schooling in Hong Kong is free of charge and is mandatory until the age of 15. After elementary school, studies last for 6 years: three years of junior and three years of senior secondary education.

There are 3 main types of secondary schools:

• Public;
• Subsidized (funded by the government, but managed by voluntary bodies);
• Private (some receive financial assistance from the government but are owned by private entities).

Public and subsidized schools do not charge tuition. They offer programs recommended by the government. International schools create their own programs and mainly English-speaking foreign students study there.

At the end of the last year, students take the state exam for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE). The exam is recognized not only in local universities but also in about 280 foreign higher education institutions.

• High quality. Qualifications of educational institutions in Hong Kong are internationally recognized. Academic freedom, the internationality of universities and strict control over compliance with international standards are bearing fruit: 5 out of 8 existing state universities are in the top 100 according to the QS ranking 2021. And Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is the best young university in the world according to THE, which also includes Hong Kong City University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, ranking 5 and 15 respectively.
• The English language. Hong Kong is an international city where English and Chinese are the official languages. Most university programs are taught in English, with the exception of some short courses. Many universities offer foreign students courses in Cantonese and Putonghua. This is how students learn about Chinese culture and observe the society from within. Despite the fact that Cantonese is native to most Hong Kongers, foreigners do not encounter a language barrier in everyday life. Street signs, restaurant menus, and government announcements are bilingual, and signs at train stations, buses, and ferries are written in Cantonese, English, and Putonghua.
• Job prospects. Education received in Hong Kong is highly regarded in the international arena. Therefore, a young specialist can find a job anywhere in the world. In Hong Kong itself, more than 9000 Chinese and international companies are based, employing more than 490000 employees^[2]. So, a high school graduate has the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in world-famous companies. It is worth noting that many enterprises prefer candidates who know Asian culture from the inside and have received their education here. Moreover, the government itself encourages graduates to stay and work in Hong Kong. The immigration program allows fresh graduates to look for work within 12 months after graduation.
• Educational culture. Hong Kong has adopted the British model of education. However, many academic moments have their roots in Chinese (Cantonese) culture. Much attention is paid to exams and grades, and the key values ​​of students are hard work and diligence. Students take responsibility for the learning process themselves. They independently monitor academic progress and monitor the set of credits needed to complete the course. Students are always given a general idea of education, for example, why they are given precisely this knowledge and why they should learn it.
• Dynamism and modernity. Hong Kong is a centre of world trade and an international metropolis with a dynamic lifestyle. It hosts concerts of celebrities, festivals of art and cinema, sports and carnivals. Thousands of tourists from all over the world come to Hong Kong to celebrate the Chinese New Year. The city itself is amazing with spectacular views on the tops of skyscrapers, the intense flow of traffic and the lights of the highrise. Studying in such an atmosphere is an additional motivation and inspiration for many students.
• Travel and nature. Hong Kong does not consist only from a dense downtown, narrow sidewalks clogged with pedestrians and a huge number of cheap restaurants. Around the city there are forests, mountain ranges, beaches and country parks. Therefore, after a hard day of work, students can easily change the scenery — you just need to go outside the city. Hong Kong residents relax in nature, sunbathe on the beaches and go boating or kayaking. In addition to local tourism, students can travel longer distances. China is a 20-minute train ride away, Macau is a 1-hour boat ride, and just one weekend is enough for small trips to Southeast Asia.
• Infrastructure. Hong Kong has developed transport infrastructure: buses run around the clock. There are rarely traffic jams. Hong Kong also ranks 10th among the best student cities in the world in the QS rating^[3].

• High cost. Hong Kong shares the title of the most expensive city in the world with Osaka and Singapore in 2020^[4]. Therefore, accommodation and meals in the region might be quite pricey. However, if we compare the cost of universities in Hong Kong with universities in Europe and the United States, studying here is still way cheaper. In turn, universities provide scholarships and grants to outstanding students. Financial assistance partially or fully covers tuition costs.
• Asian upbringing. Students in Hong Kong are generally purposeful and ambitious, but often silent in class. Great emphasis in the interaction of students with professors is placed on courtesy and respect to seniority. Therefore, students who are accustomed to a more democratic academic environment will have to adapt. Of course, there are classes that encourage discussion and exchange of views. However, in this case, the expression of one’s own opinion does not improve or worsen the student’s grades.
• Strict discipline. Local residents strictly follow the rules, work hard and show responsibility in all areas of life. In turn, this applies to education. Stress and competition in the classroom, hard work and zeal of students create a highly disciplined atmosphere. For example, for constant cases of being late or absent one can be expelled from the institution. Hong Kongers also place education at the forefront and are always busy with studying or talking with family, so making friends with locals is not an easy task.
• Expensive accommodation. In addition to the fact that housing in Hong Kong is expensive, it is also quickly booked. The least expensive option is the campus dormitories. Students are advised to contact the university and book a room as soon as possible before the start of classes.
• Heavy accent when speaking English. Since the locals speak Cantonese, it might feel unusual for foreigners to hear a Chinese accent at first. Moreover, most of the students in Hong Kong are foreigners themselves: Malays, Hindus, Pakistanis, Iranians, Arabs and Europeans, so the mottled sound of the English language will also be found in the classroom. However, after a while, this can prove advantageous: you will understand the accents of different nationalities.
• Hot climate. Hong Kong's climate is subtropical and for the majority of students, it is too hot and humid. Since air conditioners are installed practically everywhere, at first it will be unusual to get from street hell into cool classrooms or libraries. In Hong Kong, typhoons are also an often occurrence, during which offices, shops, schools are closed, and flights are sometimes cancelled. And the ecological situation of the city leaves much to be desired. Air pollution is considered a serious problem. The main reasons are the world's highest traffic density and coal power plants.