A destination that allows international students to work part-time without time limit

International students in Hong Kong

Applicable to university and postgraduate levels

According to a statement from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China) government, from the beginning of this November, international students studying full-time undergraduate programs will be temporarily exempted from restrictions on part-time work. This means that international students are free to work part-time instead of being limited to 20 hours/week on campus as before, or being limited to having to do internships related to their major during the school year and during the summer vacation.

To work part-time in Hong Kong, international students must obtain a No Objection Letter (NOL) issued by the Immigration Department (ImmD). Previously, international students had to apply for a notice from their university to submit to the ImmD and then wait for the ImmD Director’s approval before being granted a NOL. Under the new regulations, the ImmD will issue NOLs to eligible students through the university, no longer requiring a separate application.

"The new NOL regulations will make it easier for international students like me to find part-time jobs. Companies will no longer be afraid to hire foreign students because of the many risks that can occur. Previously, my job application process was delayed due to NOL issues," Hong Kong University student Kylie Zhong told Shroffed .

About 20,000 university students will benefit from the new rules, the statement said. Hong Kong also decided in November 2023 to exempt part-time work restrictions for postgraduates, supporting about 35,000 foreign students.

According to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government, allowing full-time undergraduate and postgraduate foreign students to work part-time will help attract more international students to Hong Kong. This is also aimed at alleviating the labor shortage in the region, while helping students better prepare for their long-term careers after graduation.

The statement added that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government will evaluate the effectiveness of these regulations in 2025 before considering long-term application.

Mr. Nguyen Tan Phat (middle), Director of Undergraduate Admissions of the University of Hong Kong in Vietnam, in a consultation session for students.

Previously, in 2023, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government decided to relax visa policies for Vietnamese people, creating conditions for Vietnamese students to study in this special administrative region. Last year, this destination also required public universities to double the number of students from overseas and mainland China to 40%, and at the same time set up a Talent Support Office to advise and help international students who intend to stay and work.

What should international students note?

Mr. Nguyen Tan Phat, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at the University of Hong Kong in Vietnam, said that English is the official language in the working environment in Hong Kong, so international students who are not fluent in Chinese can still find part-time jobs like locals. As for Vietnamese international students, Mr. Phat advised them to apply to become an ambassador of the school, which will pay them a salary and give them the opportunity to interact and organize activities.

Mr. Phat added that the university also has a separate department that provides information about available internship positions for students, and this is an opportunity for students to start working right from their first year. "But one of the goals of studying abroad is to graduate on time, so don't neglect your studies and just worry about working," Mr. Phat advised, adding that after graduation, students at the university have an income of 4,100 USD/month (103 million VND), before tax deductions.

Meanwhile, according to the Hong Kong Labor Department, the statutory minimum wage from May 1, 2023 to present is 40 HKD/hour (130,000 VND), an increase of 2.5 HKD compared to before. This level is also applied to international students, but there are some exceptions where you are exempted from paying the minimum wage, depending on the agreement with the employer. In addition, the minimum wage will be reviewed and adjusted in May next year.

According to the Hong Kong Education Bureau, tuition fees for international students at 8 public universities range from 90,000-265,000 HKD/year depending on the level of study (293-864 million VND), not including other expenses such as study materials, registration fees, graduation fees... Meanwhile, accommodation ranges from 15,000-180,000 HKD/year (48-586 million VND) depending on the type, and living expenses are about 50,000 HKD/year (163 million VND).

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/mot-diem-den-cho-phep-du-hoc-sinh-lam-them-khong-gioi-han-thoi-gian-185241105155808056.htm