A bachelor's degree at a publicly funded Hong Kong university costs a non-local student $22,310–35,690 (HK$175,000–280,000) a year in tuition alone: Lingnan charges the least, HKU's STEM faculties the most. Add a hall place, meals and personal spending and the first year comes to roughly $33,000–47,000, while HKU medicine starts at $75,210 (HK$590,000) in tuition. A one-year taught master's usually costs $28,000–66,000 for the whole programme, and research MPhil and PhD places charge only $5,990–12,620 (HK$47,000–99,000) a year, with strong candidates often funded by a stipend that covers living costs.
This guide sets out university-by-university fees with the academic year they apply to, full first-year and four-year budgets, the payments families tend to forget, and the scholarships that genuinely reduce the bill. For choosing a university, see universities in Hong Kong; for a country overview, see studying in Hong Kong.
The short answer
| Item | Per year | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's tuition | $22,310–35,690 (HK$175,000–280,000) | 2026/27 or 2027/28 depending on the university |
| HKU medicine and dentistry | $75,210 (HK$590,000) | 2027/28 rate |
| University hall | $2,170–6,500 (HK$17,000–51,000) | usually year one only; not guaranteed at CityUHK |
| Private housing | $6,370–7,650 (HK$50,000–60,000) and up | PolyU and CityUHK estimates for a room or shared flat |
| Food and personal costs | $5,740–9,150 (HK$45,000–71,757) | university estimates |
| Taught master's, whole programme | $28,300–66,160 (HK$222,000–519,000) | PolyU examples for September 2027 |
| MPhil and PhD tuition | $5,990–12,620 (HK$47,000–99,000) | HKU and PolyU, 2026/27–2027/28 |
Why Hong Kong costs are easy to plan in dollars
The Hong Kong dollar has been linked to the US dollar since 17 October 1983. The Hong Kong Monetary Authority keeps it within a band of HK$7.75–7.85 per US dollar, so the figure in an offer letter barely moves in dollar terms between application and first payment. Currency risk only appears if your savings are held in another currency.
USD figures in this guide use the ECB reference rate of 28 September 2026 (about HK$7.845 per $1), rounded to $10.
Bachelor's tuition at the publicly funded universities
A non-local student is anyone who needs a student visa to study in Hong Kong. The non-local rate is several times the local one: at PolyU and CityUHK a local student pays HK$49,500 in 2027/28, while non-local rates start at HK$240,000 at PolyU.
| University | Year | Non-local tuition per year | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|
| HKU | 2027/28 | $31,870 (HK$250,000) non-STEM; $35,690 (HK$280,000) STEM; $75,210 (HK$590,000) medicine and dentistry | widest spread within one university |
| HKUST | 2027/28 | $33,140 (HK$260,000) | one rate for all bachelor's programmes |
| PolyU | 2027/28 | $30,590 (HK$240,000) | the HK$20,000 initial fee counts towards the first semester |
| CUHK | 2026/27 | $27,280 (HK$214,000) | yearly increases for the 2026 cohort are capped at 3% |
| CityUHK | 2026/27 (2027/28 rate not yet announced) | $24,220 (HK$190,000); veterinary medicine $49,970 (HK$392,000) | the approved rate applies until graduation |
| Lingnan | 2026/27 | $22,310 (HK$175,000) for UGC-funded programmes | self-financed programmes are priced separately |
| HKBU, EdUHK | — | check the university's admissions page | no openly published figure at the time of checking |
Is the fee fixed for four years? It depends. CityUHK states that once a cohort's fee is approved it applies until the end of the programme. CUHK caps annual increases for its 2026 intake at 3%. The others publish a rate for a given intake year, so a four-year plan should include a buffer.
The gap between the cheapest and the most expensive non-medical rate is about $13,380 a year, or about $53,540 over four years — more than three years of private rent. And the published fee is not the whole bill: deposits, charges and housing sit on top.
One-off payments outside tuition
| Payment | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| PolyU application fee | $76 (HK$600), up to two programmes | on submission |
| CityUHK application fee, 2027 entry | $76 (HK$600), up to two programmes | on submission |
| PolyU initial fee | $2,550 (HK$20,000), credited to tuition, non-refundable | on accepting the offer |
| CityUHK acceptance fee | $1,910 (HK$15,000) for 2026/27; the 2027/28 figure is still to be announced | on accepting the offer |
| CUHK caution fee | $57 (HK$450), usually converted into the graduation fee | on enrolment |
| CityUHK visa sponsorship administration fee | $76 (HK$600) | with the visa documents |
| Government student visa fee | $42 (HK$330) | after approval |
| Extension of stay | $42 (HK$330) | if your studies outlast the stay granted |
| Hong Kong Identity Card | free | within 30 days of arrival |
The visa itself is cheap, but it is not always paid by the student directly: PolyU pays the Immigration Department itself and then bills the student. The full visa process is covered in the Hong Kong student visa and IANG guide.
Halls and rent: the variable that decides the budget
Housing moves the total more than the choice of university does, and hall policies differ:
| University | What a non-local undergraduate can expect | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| PolyU | a hall place in year one, then private housing | $2,360 (HK$18,515) for 2026/27; rent from year two about $6,370 (HK$50,000) a year |
| HKUST | a hall place in year one | $2,680–6,500 (HK$21,000–51,000) a year at 2026 intake rates; private rent $570–2,290 (HK$4,500–18,000) a month |
| HKU | 17 residential halls | $2,200–4,840 (HK$17,290–37,940) for 285 days |
| CityUHK | no guarantee; priority for junior years | $2,650 (HK$20,800) for a double room over two semesters; off campus $6,370–7,650 (HK$50,000–60,000) |
| CUHK | over 9,000 hostel places | about $2,170 (HK$17,000) a year |
The government's Study in Hong Kong portal puts private rent at HK$8,000–15,000 ($1,020–1,910) a month for a flat of your own. PolyU's and CityUHK's HK$50,000–60,000 per academic year assumes a room or a shared flat.
Taught master's students are treated differently. PolyU states that taught postgraduate students are not eligible for its halls; they arrange their own housing, with advice from the non-local student services team.
Food, transport and personal spending
The universities' own estimates are close to one another:
- PolyU: campus meals HK$53,040 ($6,760) and personal expenses HK$18,717 ($2,390) a year;
- CUHK: about HK$45,000 ($5,740) excluding housing;
- CityUHK: HK$50,000–60,000 ($6,370–7,650);
- HKU: up to HK$50,000 ($6,370);
- HKUST: around HK$60,000 ($7,650).
Eating off campus and travel take the largest share; public transport the smallest. Budget separately for medical insurance: PolyU lists it among the costs non-local students must be able to cover before accepting an offer.
First-year budgets: four real scenarios
| University and year | Tuition | Housing | Living | First-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PolyU, 2027/28 | HK$240,000 | HK$18,515 (hall) | HK$71,757 | ≈ $42,100 (HK$330,272), PolyU's own estimate |
| HKUST, 2027/28 | HK$260,000 | HK$21,000–51,000 | about HK$60,000 | ≈ $43,470–47,290 |
| HKU, 2027/28, non-STEM | HK$250,000 | HK$17,290–37,940 | up to HK$50,000 | ≈ $40,450–43,080 |
| CityUHK, 2026/27 rates | HK$190,000 | HK$20,800 | HK$50,000–60,000 | ≈ $33,240–34,520 |
Flights, application and visa charges, insurance and equipment are not included. Setting aside another $1,500–2,500 for set-up costs in the first month is sensible.
What four years cost: a PolyU example
If 2027/28 rates stayed unchanged, four years at PolyU would add up as follows:
- tuition: 4 × HK$240,000 = HK$960,000;
- housing: a hall in year one (HK$18,515) plus private housing in years two to four at PolyU's estimate (3 × HK$50,000) = HK$168,515;
- food and personal costs: 4 × HK$71,757 = HK$287,028.
That is about HK$1,415,500, or $180,440. It is arithmetic on official rates rather than a forecast; real costs will rise with fees and rents. What it shows clearly is that housing after year one adds about $19,000 to the budget.
Taught master's: priced per programme, not per year
Taught postgraduate (TPg) degrees, usually one year full-time, are almost always self-financed. Universities quote a price for the programme or per credit.
| Programme | University, intake | Programme cost |
|---|---|---|
| MSc in Computer Science | HKU, 2026/27 | $42,680 (HK$334,800) for non-local students on the established streams |
| MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management | PolyU, September 2027 | $43,470 (HK$341,000) |
| MSc in Mechanical Engineering | PolyU, September 2027 | HK$9,000 ($1,150) per credit; 31-credit programme |
| MSc in Business Analytics | PolyU, September 2027 | $50,860 (HK$399,000) |
| MSc in Asset and Wealth Management | PolyU, September 2027 | $66,160 (HK$519,000) |
| MA in Mental Health | PolyU, September 2027 | $28,300 (HK$222,000) |
Most PolyU master's programmes charge local and non-local students the same, whereas HKU often charges non-local students more. HKU asks for the first half of the fee when you accept — HK$167,400 ($21,340) for the MSc in Computer Science — and it is non-refundable. HKU faculties publish 2027/28 fees in early 2027. The TPg application fee is HK$600 at both HKU and PolyU (HK$800 for PolyU's MBA).
The government's Future Talents Scholarship, worth up to HK$100,000 per master's programme, is reserved for local students. For programme choice and admissions, read our guide to master's degrees in Hong Kong.
MPhil and PhD: low fees and the HKPFS
Research degrees work on a different model. HKU charges HK$47,000 ($5,990) a year in 2026/27 and HK$49,500 ($6,310) in 2027/28; PolyU charges full-time students without a stipend HK$94,000 ($11,980) and HK$99,000 ($12,620). The main funding source is the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS). In 2026/27 it pays HK$344,400 ($43,900) a year plus HK$14,400 ($1,840) for conferences and research travel, for up to three years; 400 fellowships are planned for 2027/28, with applications from 1 September to 1 December 2026. Candidates not selected for the HKPFS may still be admitted with a university postgraduate studentship.
Scholarships that reduce an undergraduate bill
| Scholarship | Value | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| PolyU entrance scholarships | half or full tuition, or full tuition plus allowance; up to HK$310,000 ($39,520) a year, plus HK$30,000 for exchange | automatic consideration, no separate application |
| PolyU Cultural Ambassador Scholarship | up to HK$60,000 ($7,650) a year | for selected non-local students, automatic |
| CityUHK Top Scholarship | full tuition plus up to HK$60,000 a year for housing and living | automatic, renewed subject to CGPA |
| CityUHK Full / Half Tuition Scholarship | 100% or 50% of tuition | automatic |
| CityUHK Diversity Grant | HK$30,000 ($3,820) a year, up to HK$120,000 over four years | for students from under-represented nationalities |
| Government Scholarship for Outstanding Performance | HK$80,000 ($10,200) a year | nominated by the university |
| Belt and Road Scholarship | full bachelor's tuition | selected countries; Kazakhstan has had its own quota since 2024/25 |
Need-based aid is not an option for non-local students: PolyU states they cannot receive financial assistance from the government or the university. Treat any scholarship as a bonus to a plan that already works. For a wider view, see scholarships abroad in 2026.
Can part-time work cover costs?
Partly. Since 1 November 2024, full-time non-local undergraduates — and postgraduates since November 2023 — have been temporarily exempted from the limits on hours and location of work. Two caveats apply: the visa requires proof that you can pay for your studies and living costs without working, and the government describes the relaxation as temporary and subject to review. Earnings are a cushion, not a budget line.
Paying from Russia
Universities accept card payments and international transfers, and some use services such as Flywire. Transfers from Russian banks can fail or be delayed because of sanctions, so test the route before the deposit deadline. Lawful options are covered in how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
Budgeting mistakes
- Counting tuition only. Housing, food and personal costs add $9,000–14,000 a year.
- Assuming a hall for four years. PolyU and HKUST offer year one only; CityUHK guarantees nothing, even to first-years.
- Comparing fees from different years. CityUHK and CUHK have not yet published 2027 intake rates.
- Forgetting non-refundable deposits. HK$15,000–20,000 for an undergraduate place, or half the fee for an HKU master's, is lost if you change your mind after accepting.
- Counting on a scholarship you do not have. Awards arrive with the offer; the budget must work without one.
FAQ
Among published rates, Lingnan's UGC-funded bachelor's programmes are cheapest at HK$175,000 a year, followed by CityUHK at HK$190,000 for 2026/27. A cheaper university without housing for the full degree can still end up costing more once rent is added.
There are no tuition-free undergraduate places for non-local students. PolyU and CityUHK entrance awards or the Belt and Road Scholarship can cover full tuition, but all are competitive.
The Immigration Department sets no fixed minimum. It requires proof that you can meet fees, housing and living costs without working; a sensible benchmark is the university's first-year budget, which at PolyU is about HK$330,000.
Hall rates cover the academic year — 285 days at HKU, for example. Summer stays are charged separately or require other housing; check your university's residence office.
Because the Hong Kong dollar trades in a narrow band against the US dollar. Families saving in dollars face almost no currency risk inside Hong Kong.
A taught master's usually lasts one year, so the full programme costs roughly one to one-and-a-half years of undergraduate tuition. Housing is usually private: PolyU does not offer halls to taught master's students.
It varies. CityUHK keeps the approved rate until graduation, and CUHK caps increases for its 2026 intake at 3% a year. Elsewhere, build in a buffer.
Sources
- HKU: Tuition and Living Expenses; HKU MSc(CompSc): Fees; HKU TPg: Programme Fee and Payment; HKU Graduate School: Fees
- HKUST: Fees and Scholarships
- PolyU: Fees; PolyU: Tuition Fees (non-local UG); PolyU 2027/28 information sheet (PDF); PolyU: Tuition Fees (TPg); PolyU: FAQ (TPg); PolyU: Tuition Fee (RPg)
- CUHK: Fees
- CityUHK: Fees and Scholarships; Entrance Scholarships for International Students; Accommodation; Student Visa
- Lingnan University: Fees & Scholarships
- Study in Hong Kong: Accommodation; Scholarships
- UGC: Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme; UGC: Future Talents Scholarship Scheme; EDB: Government Scholarship Fund
- Immigration Department: Fee Tables; Students; FAQ: Immigration Policy on Study
- HKMA: Linked Exchange Rate System; ECB reference rates
USD amounts use the ECB reference rate of 28 September 2026 (HK$7.8448 per $1), rounded to $10; small charges are rounded to $1.
If you would like a budget built around specific universities, including housing after year one, send us a request.
During the free initial consultation, we clarify your goal, profile, timing, and budget and identify the next realistic step.
Next steps
- Master's Degrees in Hong Kong: One-Year Taught Programmes, MPhil and PhD, Costs and 2027/28 Admissions
- Hong Kong Student Visa and IANG: How Universities Sponsor Your Entry Permit, What It Costs and How to Stay After Graduation
- Universities in Hong Kong for International Students: the Eight Public Universities, Self-Financing Options and How to Choose
- Scholarships abroad 2026: where international students study for free
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
- Studying in Hong Kong for international applicants
