Hong Kong's 2026 Policy Address: Target of 100,000 Non-local Students by 2029/30, 50% Cap at the Eight Universities Unchanged, Three University Towns in the Northern Metropolis
Hong Kong's 2026 Policy Address, released September 16, sets a target of 100,000 non-local students by 2029/30 in its first Five-Year Plan, keeps the eight funded universities' non-local cap at 50% of local places, plans over 160 recruitment events this year, and builds three university towns in the Northern Metropolis; HKUST's new medical school takes its first students in 2028.
On September 16, 2026, the Hong Kong SAR Government released the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address. Its section on building the "Study in Hong Kong" brand and its plans for university towns in the Northern Metropolis matter most for students from mainland China and elsewhere who want to study in Hong Kong.
Non-local students: a 100,000 target, no higher cap for the eight universities
- Five-Year Plan target: Hong Kong's first Five-Year Plan sets an expected target of 100,000 non-local students in locally accredited full-time post-secondary programmes by 2029/30, 25% more than in 2024/25. The figure covers both funded universities and self-financing institutions, undergraduates and postgraduates.
- Cap stays at 50%: The eight funded universities may admit non-local students up to 50% of local places. According to Sing Tao Headline, Secretary for Education Christine Choi said the cap will not be raised further and has little bearing on the 100,000 target.
- Recruitment: In 2026/27, the UGC-funded universities plan more than 160 recruitment events in mainland China and overseas.
- Staying after graduation: Graduates of Hong Kong universities' Greater Bay Area campuses will remain covered by the pilot arrangement under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates for two more years.
Student housing
- The "Student Hostels in the City" scheme launched in July 2025, which encourages converting commercial buildings into student hostels, has confirmed 41 applications providing about 10,800 beds.
- The first student hostel site will be put up for sale this financial year.
- The Education Bureau will help draw up a code of practice setting standards for housing non-local (especially underage) students.
Three university towns in the Northern Metropolis
- Three university towns will be built at San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu and Ta Kwu Ling, with campus zones totalling about 300 hectares.
- San Tin will focus on medicine, life and health technology, AI, robotics, microelectronics and emerging industries.
- Hung Shui Kiu will be a hub for applied post-secondary education in smart manufacturing and international talent; the government will invite institutions to apply to build campuses this year.
- HKUST's medical school, Hong Kong's third, will open its medical teaching and research complex on the Clear Water Bay campus in mid-2028 to receive its first students.
What it means for students and families
- Hong Kong keeps expanding non-local enrollment and student housing, but the eight universities' cap will not rise, so competition for popular universities and programmes will stay intense.
- Universities will hold recruitment events in mainland China and overseas; watch your target schools' schedules.
- Check each university's website for admissions details; this site has news items on 2027 mainland admissions at HKU, CUHK, HKUST, CityU and PolyU.
Sources: Policy Address full text, part 5 (Chinese); part 6; part 9; Sing Tao Headline, September 18, 2026. Check the official sources for the latest policy.