On 16 September 2026, Chief Executive John Lee delivered the fifth Policy Address of his term. It sets the goal of building a “Study in Hong Kong” brand and advancing education, technology and talent together.

The address covers a lot of ground, but for students and families planning to study in Hong Kong, the relevant measures fall into a few areas.

1. “Study in Hong Kong”: universities will recruit more actively

• The Education Bureau has set up a dedicated “Study in Hong Kong” task force and held the first “Study in Hong Kong Week”.
• The government is running an international campaign, “Hong Kong: Your World-class Campus”, including exhibitions in Belt and Road regions and other target markets.
• In the 2026/27 academic year, publicly funded universities plan to hold more than 160 recruitment events on the Mainland and overseas.

What this means for you: Expect more information sessions and open days from Hong Kong universities over the coming year. They are a good chance to ask admissions staff questions directly, so keep an eye on each university’s website and social media.

2. Student housing: more supply is coming, but it takes time

• The “Student Hostels in the City” scheme, launched in July 2025, encourages converting commercial buildings into student accommodation. So far, 41 applications have been confirmed eligible, providing around 10,800 bed spaces.
• The government will put the first dedicated student hostel site up for sale this financial year.
• The Education Bureau will help draw up a code of practice covering facilities, hygiene, safety and wardens, with particular attention to non-local students who are minors.

What this means for you: More bed spaces should ease rental pressure in the long run. But conversions and new builds take time, so students starting in 2027 should still plan their housing early rather than counting on new hostels being ready.

3. Staying after graduation: several talent schemes are changing

• Greater Bay Area campus graduates: The pilot that lets them use the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) has been extended by two years. This directly affects students on Hong Kong universities’ GBA campus programmes.
• Talent List: The government will study adding more AI-related categories. The list currently covers 60 professions facing local shortages.
• Top Talent Pass Scheme renewals: Founders of start-ups supported by designated public organisations may be exempted from providing proof of company revenue when renewing.
• Short-term training visas: A new visa category will allow non-locals to come to Hong Kong for government-recognised short-term training courses.

What this means for you: If you plan to stay and work in Hong Kong after graduating, policy support for AI and related fields is growing. That’s worth weighing when choosing your programme.

4. Research degrees: more places and more PhD fellowships

• Postgraduate places will rise from 7,200 today to 9,600 by the 2030/31 academic year, an increase of about 30%.
• Places under the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) will increase gradually from 2027/28, rising from 400 a year to 550 by 2029/30.

What this means for you: Opportunities for PhD and research master’s study will grow over the next few years. HKPFS remains highly competitive, so building research experience early is key.

5. Northern Metropolis university towns

The government plans three university towns in the Northern Metropolis, with campus zones totalling around 300 hectares and an overall planning area of more than 1,000 hectares including surrounding districts:

• San Tin: medicine, life and health technology, AI, robotics, microelectronics and emerging industries.
• Hung Shui Kiu: applied post-secondary education in smart manufacturing and international talent development. The government will invite institutions to apply to build campuses there within this year.
• Ta Kwu Ling: incorporating arts and ecological elements.

What this means for you: This is a medium-to-long-term plan with limited impact on 2027 entrants. But it signals where Hong Kong is investing most heavily: medicine, life sciences, AI and smart manufacturing.

6. Secondary schools: more places for non-local students

The government continues to expand Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools’ intake of non-local students. 48 DSS schools are now taking part and began admitting new overseas students this September. The government also plans to grant sites for international schools next year.

What this means for you: Families considering secondary school in Hong Kong now have more DSS options.

7. In short: what to watch, by stage

• Undergraduate applicants and parents: Look out for university recruitment events on the Mainland, and plan housing early.
• Taught master’s applicants: Note the policy tilt towards AI and related fields; the IANG pilot for GBA campus graduates has been extended.
• Prospective PhD students: Postgraduate places and HKPFS awards are both expanding, so start preparing now.
• Families with secondary-age children: DSS schools are opening more places to non-local students.

This article is based on the original text of The Chief Executive’s 2026 Policy Address and is accurate as of 11 October 2026. Implementation details are subject to further announcements by the HKSAR Government and individual universities. For advice on planning your studies and post-graduation path in light of the Policy Address, book a one-on-one consultation with HK Life Hub.