Hong Kong has overtaken the US to become the second most popular overseas study destination for mainland Chinese students in 2026, according to the Blue Book on Mainland Students Studying in Hong Kong released in late April in Beijing. [1]
The report said admissions to Hong Kong universities have become fiercely competitive as more mainland applicants choose the city for its proximity, cultural familiarity and practical benefits tied to jobs and residency plans. [1]
The authors, from Peking University’s Sustainability Research Institute and two education companies, said mainland students’ education in Hong Kong has changed sharply in the past three to five years. They said what was once an elite route for a small group of top students has become a broader system that includes schooling, several undergraduate entry channels, heavy demand for taught master’s programmes and closer links between study, career planning and long-term residency status. [1]
The report also said Hong Kong’s universities have expanded access for non-local students. Policies doubled the quota to 40% of local places from the 2024-25 academic year, a change that helped make the city an “educational magnet” for mainland students, the authors wrote. [1]
The Blue Book was unveiled in Beijing on April 26, and its findings point to a sustained shift in how mainland families view Hong Kong as a study destination. [1]
Hong Kong’s rising appeal has pushed it ahead of the US in the 2026 ranking, with the report placing the city just behind the top destination for mainland students. [1]
