No kidding: wave of mainland parents enrolling at HK unis

Self-financing universities in Hong Kong have admitted an increasing number of parents from the mainland so their children can then sit for the Diploma of Secondary Education and avoid China's highly competitive national college admission exam or gaokao.

Most of the parents opt for a one-year master's degree program at one of three universities - Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong Shue Yan University and Hang Seng University of Hong Kong - which have relatively lower requirements for educational backgrounds and language skills.

Both full-time student visas and immigration arrangements for the nonlocal graduate visa they receive upon graduation allow them to bring their children to Hong Kong.

Their children can be admitted to local government schools and become permanent residents after studying here for seven years and then sit the Diploma of Secondary Education exam.

And children who want to return to the mainland can enter top universities there more easily as Hongkongers.

One parent, Lilian, told The Standard she applied to study in Hong Kong at the age of 37 to secure a better future for her daughter. Lilian, who had worked in Beijing for 15 years, said her family does not have a hukou - a residence registration system for the mainland - in the capital.

So her daughter could not take the secondary school entrance examination in Beijing despite studying at schools there, making it harder for her to be admitted to better middle schools and universities.

"We had to look for other opportunities," Lilian said.

The proximity to the mainland and the development of the Greater Bay Area also prompted her to consider moving to Hong Kong.

She wrote on mainland social media platform Xiaohongshu: "Hong Kong is an international city, and the work and life atmosphere suits my family. I love this city deeply.

"In Hong Kong I can feel various cultures ... that allow me to live more freely. Hong Kong is also an economically prosperous city with rich education and medical resources."

Lilian was admitted to the Master of Business Administration program at Metropolitan University last year and will be graduating this school year.

She said the application process was smooth as it did not require English test results, and the admission interview was conducted in Putonghua.

After graduating, Lilian said she will be under pressure as she has to extend her visa and wishes to start her own business.

Lilian's daughter came to Hong Kong this year and has been admitted to a government school as a primary six student. She said: "The education system in Hong Kong gives us a fresh feeling every day. School principals and officials in Hong Kong are willing to serve students while we hardly see them in mainland schools."

Lilian said her daughter had more homework in the mainland and feels happy studying in Hong Kong.

"Originally I planned to let my daughter return to a mainland university as a Hongkonger," she said.

"But after I came here I found there is no need for her to go back as it will be a good option for her to study at one of the eight University Grants Committee-funded universities."

The MBA program at Metropolitan University costs around HK$300,000 a year, while tuition fees for other programs range from HK$80,000 to HK$200,000.

An education agent helping mainlanders apply to local universities told The Standard the trend of mainland parents studying in Hong Kong started in 2021, especially when universities hosted online lessons amid the pandemic.

"The parents had jobs in the mainland and they wished to continue their work while seeking a master's degree in Hong Kong," she said.

"Then as the pandemic ended and universities resumed face-to-face classes fewer parents sought a Hong Kong education."

But many mainland parents have opted for a master of science in the Chinese environmental studies program at Metropolitan University as it is taught in Putonghua and does not require applicants to submit any English test results. Some also applied for the university's MBA program, which does not set tough requirements on an educational background.

The agent said many parents apply for master's programs at Metropolitan University and Hang Seng University as they have a low requirement in applicants' English abilities.

They can even use English test results from 20 years ago for an application.

Another education agent, Zhou Wanhui, told The Standard that Hong Kong is a popular choice for mainlanders because it is so welcoming for them.

"We noticed the trend last year after the launch of schemes including the Top Talent Pass Scheme," she said.

"As the local academic community and job market are welcoming mainland talent many with kids or who plan to have a child are interested in coming to Hong Kong as they believe the city can provide a better future for their families."

Zhou said she does not have any middle-aged clients with children yet, but is considering adjusting her strategy to cater to this group of customers.

wallis.wang@singtaonewscorp.com