More and more families from mainland China are considering sending their children to study in Hong Kong. However, studying in Hong Kong is not simply a matter of "moving there" — the student's immigration status, visa, and choice of school type are all critical.
First: Is the Student "Local" or "Non-local"?
The Education Bureau (EDB) generally does not allocate public-sector school places to non-local children (including mainland students who do not hold Hong Kong residency). This means the central allocation system for government and aided schools usually does not apply to them.
Which Schools Can Mainland Students Attend?
- Private schools: Recruit students independently; they set their own entry requirements, vacancies and fees.
- International schools: Offer IB, IGCSE and A-Level programmes taught mainly in English — a good fit for families planning to study abroad.
- DSS (Direct Subsidy Scheme) schools: Some recruit independently and charge fees; admissions decisions for non-local students are made by the schools themselves. Some DSS school sponsoring bodies also run Hong Kong-curriculum schools in the Greater Bay Area.
Alternatively, mainland families can consider "Hong Kong children's schools" in mainland cities of the Greater Bay Area (e.g. Shenzhen and Guangzhou) that follow the Hong Kong curriculum — students can follow the Hong Kong system and prepare for the DSE without relocating the whole family.
Visa and Immigration Arrangements
Mainland students who plan to live and study in Hong Kong will generally need an appropriate visa or entry permit (e.g. a student visa) from the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Parents should confirm admission and visa arrangements with the school first, and check the latest requirements with the Immigration Department.
Fewer Opportunities?
Non-public-sector schools manage their own places. Student quality, language ability and interview performance are usually the deciding factors. With early language and academic preparation, there are plenty of opportunities.