Virginia Lee says city’s strengths in intl education can transform it into a gateway connecting overseas students with SAR and the Chinese mainland

The rising trajectory of Hong Kong’s universities in global rankings reflects not only academic excellence but also the emergence of the city as a strategic force in international education. With multiple institutions advancing in status among the world’s best, for instance, in the QS World University Rankings 2026, Hong Kong has demonstrated that it possesses the intellectual infrastructure, policy coherence, and cultural sophistication required to attract and educate the next generation of global talent. These accomplishments are not isolated milestones but signals of deeper systemic strength. They present a timely opportunity to transform Hong Kong into a worldwide academic gateway that connects international students directly to both Hong Kong and the Chinese mainland’s higher education. As the international academic environment undergoes realignment, with many students reassessing traditional Western study destinations because of rising costs, complex visa regimes, and political uncertainty, Hong Kong is uniquely placed to capture this shifting demand. Its universities operate under a legal and administrative framework that guarantees academic freedom, linguistic accessibility, and high academic standards. These qualities have been validated through global rankings and international partnerships. However, to convert this reputational capital into sustained global influence, Hong Kong must assert greater control over how international students are admitted and evaluated. 

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The key lies in the strategic deployment of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination. Initially designed for local students, the DSE has evolved into a standardized and internationally recognized qualification that reflects the values of academic rigor, meritocracy, and balanced pedagogy. The examination structure is transparent, equitable, and aligned with global benchmarks. It provides a strong foundation in language and mathematics, complemented by diverse elective subjects, and includes extended modules that enable high-performing students to develop advanced capabilities. These characteristics make the DSE ideally suited for international expansion.

Rather than continuing to rely on foreign qualifications such as A Levels or the International Baccalaureate, Hong Kong should promote the DSE as the primary academic pathway for overseas undergraduate applicants. This shift would enable the city to maintain consistent academic standards while reducing its dependence on external assessment regimes that may not accurately reflect local values or priorities. Establishing the DSE as the preferred credential for international students would also enhance institutional coherence across the university sector and provide a unified framework for admissions.

The next logical step is to make the DSE accessible to students beyond Hong Kong’s borders. The establishment of official overseas examination centers in strategically selected countries would enable international candidates to prepare for and sit the DSE in their home regions. Countries across Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa present promising potential for such initiatives. Students in these regions are increasingly looking for alternatives to Western university systems and are receptive to educational models that combine excellence with affordability and cultural relevance. By offering the DSE internationally, Hong Kong can connect directly with these student populations and provide a clear, merit-based route into its universities.

What makes the DSE even more powerful is its acceptance by universities in the Chinese mainland. Over 145 institutions across the mainland, including some of the most competitive and prestigious, now recognize the DSE as a valid qualification for undergraduate admission. This endorsement is highly significant. The mainland does not formally accept many foreign qualifications for direct entry into its undergraduate programs. As such, the DSE stands as a rare and valuable credential that bridges Hong Kong and the mainland, enabling international students to access both education systems through a single examination. This dual function positions the DSE as a unifying academic currency in China’s broader international education strategy.

Through this mechanism, Hong Kong becomes more than a regional education provider. It becomes the primary conduit for international students who wish to gain access to Chinese higher education through a credible and inclusive assessment system. This role enhances Hong Kong’s standing as a cultural and academic intermediary, strengthening its integration with national development goals while expanding its influence on the global stage. It also offers an alternative to Western-dominated academic pathways.

The promotion of the DSE abroad also holds significant economic potential for Hong Kong. International students contribute to the local economy not only through tuition but through housing, services, and long-term academic and professional engagement. By creating a steady and scalable pathway for DSE-qualified students from overseas, Hong Kong can expand its tertiary sector sustainably and reduce its reliance on static local demographics. Education would assume a more prominent role in the city’s economic structure, generating income, employment, and innovation in related industries.

Beyond economics, the internationalization of the DSE enhances Hong Kong’s soft power. As students from diverse backgrounds engage with the DSE curriculum and experience Hong Kong’s academic environment, they develop lasting connections with the city and with China as a whole. These students become ambassadors of Chinese education and culture, contributing to a deeper mutual understanding and long-term diplomatic goodwill. In this way, the DSE becomes not only an academic credential but also a channel for people-to-people exchanges and cultural diplomacy.

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To realize this vision, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government must take a leadership role in policy coordination and global advocacy. This includes working with regional partners to establish examination centers, offering targeted scholarships to DSE candidates abroad, and launching international campaigns that promote the DSE as a world-class academic qualification. Collaboration with mainland authorities to further integrate DSE pathways into national education planning would also strengthen the credibility and reach of the initiative.

Hong Kong’s academic progress must now be matched by structural innovation. The DSE is poised to serve as the foundation of a new international admissions architecture that reflects the strengths of the city’s education system and China’s strategic direction in global engagement. By promoting the DSE as the principal qualification for overseas students, Hong Kong can provide a new chapter in international education — one that affirms its position as a champion of academic excellence, a gateway to the Chinese mainland, and a builder of lasting global relationships through knowledge and learning.

The author is a solicitor, a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area lawyer, and a China-appointed attesting officer.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.