Hong Kong has retained its 17th place among the world’s top destinations for students, but British rankings firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has said that high living costs along with the steepest tuition fees in East Asia continue to deter international applicants.
QS also identified limited international diversity and a persistent shortage of accommodation for students as key challenges for the city.
In the QS Best Student Cities list for 2027, which provides an overview of the best places to live and study around the world for international students, Hong Kong retained its 17th place while ranking sixth for university strength.
Seoul topped the list for a second consecutive year, followed by Tokyo and London, while Singapore ranked 11th.
“Affordability remains Hong Kong’s weakest category at 86th out of 150, down one place from last year. International tuition across its ranked institutions averages around US$18,900 a year, the highest of any East Asian city in the ranking and more than double the figure for Tokyo,” QS said.
QS said that accommodation pressures were also acute.