Chinese mainland expands higher education access as 165 universities accept Hong Kong students under the HKDSE scheme for 2026/27.
The Chinese mainland will further open its universities to students from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). For the 2026/27 academic year, 165 mainland higher education institutions will admit students based on their Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) results. This marks an increase of 20 institutions from last year.
Top and New Mainland Universities Open to Hong Kong Students
The participating universities are located across 21 provinces/municipalities and two autonomous regions, covering a wide range of disciplines and areas. They include top universities, such as Peking University and Tsinghua University. New entrants include China Pharmaceutical University, Chengdu University of Technology, and Zhejiang University of Science and Technology.
Under the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions, candidates are admitted based on HKDSE scores. They are exempted from the Joint Entrance Examination for Mainland Institutions. Each Hong Kong secondary school may also nominate up to eight students under the Principal’s Nomination Scheme, providing talented candidates with broader pathways to mainland education.
A spokesperson for the Education Bureau of the HKSAR encouraged students to seize the opportunity to pursue further studies in Chinese mainland. “This is a valuable chance for young people to experience the country’s latest social, economic and cultural developments, and to plan their future with a broader vision,” the spokesperson said.
Principal’s Nomination Scheme Offers More Pathways
The bureau added that it will continue to work with mainland authorities to invite more institutions to join the scheme, aiming to provide students with more diverse education options and stronger connections to national development.
This growing educational exchange reflects a deepening integration between Hong Kong and the mainland. As more Hong Kong students look north for higher education, they will strengthen cross-boundary understanding and promote youth integration in the years ahead.
Professor Liu Ning-rong, who teaches globalisation and business at the City University of Hong Kong, described the expansion of the admission scheme as “excellent news.” He noted that an increasing number of Hong Kong students are choosing to pursue higher education on the mainland, where top-tier universities offer strong programs in fields such as STEM at a relatively affordable cost.
Rizwan Ullah, district councillor and vice-principal of Hong Kong Baptist University Affiliated School Wong Kam Fai Secondary and Primary School, said the improvement in the quality of mainland universities has enhanced the nation’s soft power while giving Hong Kong students more cost-effective study options. For many families, he added, the growing accessibility of mainland universities opens new opportunities for cross-boundary learning and career development.
Written by Chen Wang, additional reporting by HKCNA, China Daily.
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