Kazakhstan students in Hong Kong universities surge 408 percent in eight years

Hong Kong's publicly funded universities now host 493 students from Kazakhstan, marking a 408 per cent surge in enrolment over eight years and establishing the Central Asian nation as the largest source of students from the region, according to University Grants Committee figures.

The number of Kazakhstani undergraduates jumped from 97 in 2017-18 to the current total in 2025-26, the fastest growth rate among all five Central Asian countries studying in the city. Students from Kazakhstan said Hong Kong was the most preferred regional higher education destination in Asia among their peers.

Record intake at City University

City University of Hong Kong enrolled 203 Kazakhstani undergraduates this year, a 49 per cent increase from 135 in the previous academic year. The university's council chairman told the South China Morning Post that students from Kazakhstan were among the institution's top-performing undergraduates.

He added that the country's government was committed to educating its young people. Kazakhstan holds the largest student population at Hong Kong's public universities among Central Asian countries.

The growth reflects Hong Kong universities' success in attracting a growing number of students from the Central Asian country. Official data confirms Kazakhstan has recorded both the largest student population and fastest enrolment growth at the city's public universities among Central Asian nations in recent years.

Source: South China Morning Post