Hong Kong education boom creates opportunity to repurpose commercial assets

Student visas reached a record 94,517 in 2025, fuelling education real estate opportunities.

Hong Kong's growing education sector is creating a significant opportunity for investors and landlords to reposition underutilised commercial properties into education facilities, according to a white paper from Colliers.

In its report, Commercial to Classroom: Unlocking Yield Through Hong Kong's Educational Real Estate Boom, Colliers said rising demand from non-local students and supportive government policies are strengthening Hong Kong's position as an international education hub. The city's non-local university student cap is set to increase to 50% by the 2026/27 academic year, while student visas reached a record 94,517 in 2025, up from 46,821 in 2022.

Non-local students now account for nearly 30,000 enrolments in international schools, an 11% increase from 2022, reflecting sustained cross-border demand, the firm said.

At the same time, elevated office and retail vacancies continue to weigh on Hong Kong's commercial property market, creating what Colliers described as a unique opportunity to convert surplus space into education assets.

According to the report, education operators are increasingly attractive tenants due to their long lease terms, low turnover and resilience through economic cycles. Education-related commercial investments totalled HK$11.1 billion in the first five months of 2026, following HK$4.0 billion in 2025, when the sector accounted for 11% of total commercial investment volume.

"Hong Kong is no longer only addressing student accommodation shortages - it is facing a growing deficit in teaching and academic space," said Kathy Lee, Head of Research and Retail Consultancy at Colliers Hong Kong. "This shift is transforming education into a core real estate asset class."

Colliers noted that regulatory requirements, including zoning, land lease restrictions, building regulations and licensing approvals, remain key challenges for conversion projects. The firm advised investors to focus on assets that allow coordinated upgrades, act during the current repricing window, and undertake detailed feasibility assessments before committing capital.

"We are seeing strong momentum from both investors and education operators seeking to capitalise on this structural shift," said Thomas Chak, Head of Capital Markets & Investment Services at Colliers Hong Kong.