Hong Kong Retains Student City Ranking Amid High Costs and Accommodation Shortage
Quick Look
- Hong Kong maintained its 17th spot in QS's Best Student Cities list for 2027, but high living costs, East Asia's steepest tuition fees, and limited accommodation continue to deter international applicants.
- The city ranked sixth for university strength.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Hong Kong maintained its 17th place in the QS Best Student Cities list for 2027, but faces significant challenges in attracting international students.
Hong Kong has retained its 17th place among the world’s top destinations for students, but British rankings firm Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) has said that high living costs along with the steepest tuition fees in East Asia continue to deter international applicants.
QS also identified limited international diversity and a persistent shortage of accommodation for students as key challenges for the city.
In the QS Best Student Cities list for 2027, which provides an overview of the best places to live and study around the world for international students, Hong Kong retained its 17th place while ranking sixth for university strength.
Seoul topped the list for a second consecutive year, followed by Tokyo and London, while Singapore ranked 11th.
“Affordability remains Hong Kong’s weakest category at 86th out of 150, down one place from last year. International tuition across its ranked institutions averages around US$18,900 a year, the highest of any East Asian city in the ranking and more than double the figure for Tokyo,” QS said.
QS said that accommodation pressures were also acute.
Open Questions
- How will Hong Kong address high living costs?
- What steps will be taken to increase student accommodation?
- How will Hong Kong improve international diversity?
