Hong Kong Tuition 2027/28: Non-Local Undergraduate Fees by University
Non-local undergraduate fees at Hong Kong's public universities rise again for 2027/28, with HKU medicine at HK$590,000 a year. Here are the officially published fees, key deadlines and budgeting tips.
Families planning to study in Hong Kong for 2027 entry face higher costs. All eight government-funded universities have raised non-local undergraduate tuition for 2027/28, with increases reported between roughly 2% and 26%. The University of Hong Kong (HKU) now prices its medicine and dentistry degrees separately at HK$590,000 a year. Below we summarise the figures we could confirm on official university websites (checked 23 October 2026) and explain what they mean for your budget and timeline.
Officially published 2027/28 fees (HK$ per year, non-local)
| University | 2027/28 tuition | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| HKU | STEM 280,000; non-STEM 250,000; MBBS & BDS 590,000 | Tentative; later years charged at the prevailing rate |
| HKUST | 260,000 | First-year housing approx. 21,000–51,000 per residential year |
| CityU | 240,000 (funded bachelor’s); BVM 400,000 | Approved fee applies until programme completion |
| HKBU | 240,000 | — |
| CUHK | To be verified (2026/27: 214,000) | 2027/28 figure not yet found on the official page |
| PolyU | To be verified | Info sheet lists a HK$200,000 “standard fee” but does not state it is the non-local fee |
| Lingnan, EdUHK | To be verified | — |
According to analysis cited by Times Higher Education, HKU’s STEM fee is about 12% higher than last year, while medicine and dentistry more than doubled after being priced separately.
Why fees keep rising
After a 27-year freeze, Hong Kong began adjusting public university fees in 2025/26. Government funding has tightened, while the non-local quota has risen to 50% of places. Demand is strong: HKU reported more than 28,000 non-local undergraduate applications for 2026/27, admitting about 1,800. For background on the quota expansion, see our guide to 2027 Hong Kong university applications and the 50% non-local quota.
Key deadlines
- HKU (non-JUPAS/international route): applications received by 12:00 noon HKT on 25 November 2026 are assessed first, with offers from December. The final deadline is 25 August 2027, but places fill on a rolling basis. Application fee HK$780; non-local acceptance deposit HK$20,000.
- PolyU (non-JUPAS): early round closes 17 November 2026; main round 11 February 2027.
- Mainland students applying through the Gaokao route should follow each university’s separate Mainland admissions schedule.
Budgeting beyond tuition
HKUST estimates personal expenses at about HK$65,000 a year and off-campus rent from HK$4,500 to HK$18,000 a month after the first year. For district-by-district guidance, read our Hong Kong student housing guide.
HK VirtueLead Tips
- Budget for four years, not one. HKU charges later years at the prevailing rate, so allow for annual increases.
- Treat mid-November as your real deadline. HKU’s 25 November and PolyU’s 17 November first-round dates decide who is assessed first. Have transcripts, test scores and references ready by early November.
- Compare net cost, not sticker price. Several universities are expanding scholarships, and HKU considers all applicants for entrance scholarships automatically.
