Hong Kong鈥檚 eight public universities have received about 850 transfer inquiries related to 鈥渟udden policy changes鈥 affecting overseas higher education amid the Trump administration鈥檚 hostile stance towards foreign enrolments, according to the government.
Authorities revealed the number of inquiries submitted so far following a meeting between university heads and the government鈥檚 Committee on Education, Technology and Talents on Thursday.
Last month, the United States said that international students at Harvard University must either transfer or leave the country. Some Hong Kong students looking to study at US universities earlier also failed to secure visa appointments with the country鈥檚 local consulate.
During the meeting, Chief Secretary and committee chairman Eric Chan Kwok-ki expressed gratitude to the heads of the eight public universities for helping affected students.
鈥淐han thanked the University Grant Committee-funded universities for providing comprehensive support measures to affected students in a holistic approach, as well as seizing the opportunity to attract more top talent to pursue their studies in Hong Kong to give full play to Hong Kong鈥檚 role as an international post-secondary education hub,鈥 a government statement said.
鈥淭he government will also do its utmost to provide assistance and convenience for overseas talent interested in studying or conducting research in Hong Kong鈥檚 higher education institutions, including striving to further expand the non-local student quota based on actual needs.鈥
Many public universities have also recorded a double-digit year-on-year increase in applications from non-local students for the coming academic year, according to the government.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) confirmed earlier this month that five Harvard postgraduates had accepted its scholarship offers following the recent US ban on international student admissions.
Xiang Zhang, president of the University of Hong Kong (HKU), earlier told the Post that the school had received about 300 inquiries from affected US students and made 鈥渕ultiple offers鈥 after screening.