In 2024, fewer students from Hong Kong chose to study abroad after finishing high school. According to the latest government survey, the number of Form Six graduates going overseas dropped by 15 percent compared to the previous year. This marks the second year in a row with record-low numbers since the annual survey started in 2012.
Out of around 42,900 graduates contacted, over 41,000 responded. Almost 95 percent said they would continue full-time education. But only 7.8 percent chose to study abroad. That means just over 3,000 students left the city for further education in 2024. This is a big drop from the 6,000 students who went abroad in 2020.
Why are fewer students leaving Hong Kong?
There are a few reasons for this decline. First, more students are now able to get spots in local universities. Hong Kong’s student population has been shrinking in recent years. Between 2019 and 2023, over 80,000 students left the school system. This means local universities have more spaces, and they are becoming less selective.
Also, many families have already moved abroad. Their children are now studying in foreign high schools, so they don’t appear in the Hong Kong survey. This also affects the total number of students seeking overseas education from within the city.
Samuel Chan, who runs an education consultancy, said he saw fewer clients wanting to study in the UK. He reported a 30 percent drop compared to 2023.
Which destinations are losing popularity?
Some of the most popular destinations for Hong Kong students have seen sharp declines:
Canada saw the largest drop in student interest—down by 35.8 percent.
Taiwan dropped by 29 percent.
The UK declined by 23.2 percent.
The United States hit a record low, with only 67 students planning to study there—a 23 percent decrease from the year before.
Where are students choosing to go instead?
The most popular destination for Hong Kong students studying abroad is now mainland China. In 2024, 1,339 students said they planned to continue their education there. While this number is slightly lower than in 2023, the mainland’s share among all destinations grew. In fact, 43.7 percent of all students studying abroad in 2024 chose the mainland.
Experts believe this trend will continue. Lawmaker Chu Kwok-Keung said that more students are taking advantage of the opportunities available across the border. He also mentioned that recent global tensions, such as the Sino-US trade war, may push even more students toward the mainland in the coming years.
What does this mean for the future?
The drop in overseas education is closely tied to local and global changes. Locally, fewer students and more flexible universities make staying in Hong Kong more appealing. Globally, political changes and visa policies are making some destinations less attractive.
Even so, experts say the desire for international education has not disappeared. It has just shifted. Some new opportunities are opening up, especially for Hongkongers who moved abroad under special visa schemes like the UK’s BN(O) pathway. Many of these students are now applying to universities in the US and other countries.
In short, fewer Hong Kong students are going abroad for higher education in 2024, but the reasons are complex. While traditional destinations may be losing their charm, new trends are emerging that could shape the future of global education for the city’s youth.
