There is a multitude of reasons why this dynamic and diverse city-state is a popular choice for international students. But the cost of living might not be one of them. Hong Kong is considerably more expensive than mainland China. And with space at a premium, the cost of rent in Hong Kong can get very high. 

Student.com will help you to navigate this sometimes intimidating housing market by providing affordable high-quality student accommodation in Hong Kong. 

We offer three different types of university accommodation and list student properties within easy reach of universities, shops, restaurants, bars, calming green spaces and transportation links. 

So whether you prefer being in the thick of things amongst a group of tenants or having some space to yourself in a fully self-contained property, Student.com will take the hassle out of finding affordable, available, and liveable student housing in Hong Kong. 

Give us a call or talk to us on live chat if you need any further information. 

Get to know Hong Kong

Hong Kong - the “barren rock” that transformed into one of the Four Asian Tigers. This Special Administrative Region (SAR) on the southern coast of China has emerged from a series of historical conflicts to become a thriving hub of global trade and finance. 

Hong Kong has established itself as an Asian powerhouse in economics. But with its high-performing universities and world-class research, it’s also emerging as one of the region’s leading destinations of higher learning. 

It’s rated as a top 10 destination in the 2019 Best City for Students In The World ranking by higher education experts QS. So what is it about Hong Kong that makes it such a draw for international students?

Well, this city-state is famous for many things, from its gleaming modern skyline to its savoury world-famous cuisine to its celebrated multiculturalism. 

The city-state of seven million people offers some of the most diversified and multicultural experiences you could hope for in such a compact space, helping to justify its self-branding as ‘Asia’s World City’. 

A melting point of Western and Eastern cultures

This glamorous global metropolis boasts some of Asia’s top universities on top of a unique cultural blend of Eastern and Western influences stemming from its history as a British colony. 

Although over 90 percent of the population is ethnically Chinese, Hong Kong still inherits influences from its colonial past to this day. If you want a taste of the West without leaving Asia, here is where you’ll find Chinese restaurants right next door to a Starbucks and traditional Cantonese cuisines like siu mei and dim sum alongside hamburgers, pasta, steak and pizza at almost every corner. 

But as one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People’s Republic of China, Hong Kong is still rich in Chinese history, culture, and heritage. The city-state wears it on its streets and exhibits it all year round at its many annual festivals, such as the Chinese New Year, Spring Lantern Festival, Dragon Boat Festival, or the Birthday of Confucius, to name a few. 

A destination for foodies, you can also sample every kind of Chinese food from Cantonese, Sichuan, and Shanghainese, as well as countless other cuisines from around Asia.

English is an official language

The wide use of English within higher education and in daily interactions makes Hong Kong an even more appealing choice for many prospective international students. Alongside Chinese, English is an official language and is used as the primary medium of instruction in all universities in Hong Kong. 

Student life in Hong Kong

In such a bustling city-state students typically lead vibrant lives. Universities in Hong Kong are high on participation in multiple student activities. In fact, one of the “five objectives” that undergraduates are told they should accomplish before graduation, is to become an executive member of a student society at a university.

Nightlife

The pulsating energy of Hong Kong’s nightlife bolsters its reputation as a top international city. 

It attracts revellers from all over the world and offers a dizzying array of choices. Students will be able to find a diverse mix of clubs, from the exclusive to the cheap and cheerful around top entertainment hotspots like Lan Kwai Fong, SoHo, and Wan Chai.

Lan Kwai Fong, Hong Kong’s most popular nightlife spot, hosts more than 100 bars, restaurants, and clubs along its hilly, L-shape cobblestone lane and is famous for being the heart of the city’s drinking and clubbing scene. 

The neighbouring SoHo offers a more sophisticated night out with its upmarket bars and first-class restaurants. 

Home to Hong Kong’s red-light district, Wan Chai offers some of the city’s cheapest drinks and eats in its wide variety of sports bars, live-music venues, and colonial-style pubs. So students will have plenty of opportunities to unwind from their studies with late-night revelry. 

For those who highly value peace, quiet and personal space, you might find one of the most densely populated and pulsating places in the world too much at times. But there are ways to escape the hustle and bustle of Hong Kong’s fast-paced metropolis.  

Escape the crowds of the metropolis 

Considered ‘The pearl of the Orient’, Hong Kong is blessed with several nature preserves. Its imposing skyscrapers are bounded on one side by a stunning harbour and on the other by pristine tropical countryside. 

Its lush rainforests, rolling hills, nature parks and a selection of excellent beaches makes it an even more fascinating destination for international students. 

The mountain trails and nature reserves of the New Territories offer an idyllic rural retreat for students. It has remained largely undeveloped unlike the rest of Hong Kong’s islands. So visitors can explore ancient villages, Buddhist monasteries, and hike to Big Wave Bay in Sai Kung, the most remote place in Hong Kong.

A perfect mid-week getaway to the selection of outlying islands is less than an hour’s ferry ride from central Hong Kong. 

Visit the largest of Hong Kong’s 236 islands, Lantau Island, and its famed Giant Buddha, sample the famous seafood at Lamma Island or take time out on the unspoilt beaches of Cheung Chau and Peng Chau islands. 

If you head to the top of Victoria Peak (the highest mountain on Hong Kong Island at 552m) you can enjoy spectacular views over Hong Kong, Kowloon, and Victoria Harbour.

Universities in Hong Kong

With three universities ranked within the global top 50 and another three in the top 300 of the 2020 QS World University Rankings, Hong Kong boasts one of the world’s most impressive concentrations of internationally ranked educational institutions.

The University of Hong Kong (3rd), Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (8th), and The Chinese University of Hong Kong (10th) are all placed in the top 10 of the 2020 QS Asia University Rankings. City University of Hong Kong (52nd), Hong Kong Polytechnic University (91st), Hong Kong Baptist University (261st) and Lingnan University (591st) are all ranked in the QS World University Rankings. 

Hong Kong universities are often world-leading in technical and engineering subjects. The University of Hong Kong is ranked internationally in 37 out of 48 subjects. The majority of them place within the world’s top 50 with chemistry ranking first, education and training 7th, and civil and structural engineering 11th.

HKUST (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology) also places within the world’s top 50 schools for a variety of subjects including computer science, business and management, accounting and finance, civil and structural engineering, statistics, electrical engineering, economics, chemistry, chemical engineering, materials sciences, mechanical engineering, and mathematics.

The University of Hong Kong is also a founding member of Universitas 21, an international consortium of leading research universities dedicated to tackling issues of global importance.

Frequently asked questions about student housing in Hong Kong

How do I apply for university accommodation in Hong Kong on Student.com?

After you’ve made your decision on the property you want to live in, go to the property page and click ‘Book Now’ or ‘Enquire’ if you want more information. One of our booking consultants will then contact you to take you through the next steps shortly after.

What are the different types of accommodation you offer?

The three different types of rooms we offer are: 

Shared Room - you’ll share your bedroom with another person and share a bathroom and other living areas with other tenants from other rooms. 

Private Room – you’ll get a private bedroom that’s only for you. Depending on the property, you might also get a private bathroom. Any additional living spaces are shared. 

Entire Place – this will provide you with a fully self-contained studio property with your own bedroom, bathroom and kitchenette. 

Can you arrange a viewing for me?

Of course! We can arrange for you to see a property before booking it. Just give us a call and one of our booking consultants will arrange it for you.

Do I need to pay a deposit?

Yes, for many properties you’ll need to pay a deposit to secure the room of your choice. 

Do I need a visa to study in Hong Kong?

Typically all non-local students will need a student visa to study in Hong Kong. There are specific rules on students of some nationalities who are enrolled in study programmes that last less than 90 days. For more information, you can check the website of the Hong Kong government’s Immigration Department or StudyinHK, a website run by Hong Kong’s Education Bureau.