# Hong Kong education boom creates opportunity to repurpose commercial assets

- **Source:** Real Estate Asia
- **Published:** 2026-06-30T01:56:02.000Z
- **Author:** Staff Reporter
- **Original:** https://realestateasia.com/commercial-other/news/hong-kong-education-boom-creates-opportunity-repurpose-commercial-assets
- **Topics:** Commercial & Industrial, Government & Policy, Regional Markets

## Featured rationale

Expanding non-local enrolment may support conversions of vacant offices and shops into education facilities, although regulatory and licensing requirements could constrain suitable supply.

## AI summary

Hong Kong education-related commercial investments reached HK$11.1 billion in the first five months of 2026, exceeding HK$4.0 billion for all of 2025.

## Original article

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.

## Chinese translation

> Translation model: grok

### 香港教育热潮为商业资产改造再利用创造机遇

香港教育行业增长，为投资者与业主将闲置商业物业改造为教育设施提供重大机遇。

2025年学生签证达创纪录的94,517份，推动教育地产机遇升温。

据高力国际（Colliers）白皮书，香港教育行业扩张，正为投资者与业主将闲置商业物业改造为教育设施创造重大机遇。

高力国际在报告《从商业到课堂：借香港教育地产热潮解锁收益》中指出，非本地学生需求上升与政府支持政策，正巩固香港作为国际教育枢纽的地位。到2026/27学年，非本地大学生招生上限将提高至50%；2025年学生签证达创纪录的94,517份，高于2022年的46,821份。

该公司称，非本地学生目前在国际学校的入学人数近3万，较2022年增长11%，反映跨境需求持续。

与此同时，写字楼与零售空置率高企继续拖累香港商业物业市场，形成高力国际所称将过剩空间转化为教育资产的独特机遇。

报告指出，教育运营商因租期长、流动率低、穿越经济周期韧性强，日益成为具吸引力的租户。2026年前五个月，教育相关商业投资总额达111亿港元；此前2025年为40亿港元，当年该板块占商业投资总量的11%。

高力国际香港研究与零售咨询主管Kathy Lee表示：“香港已不再只是应对学生住宿短缺——教学与学术空间缺口也在扩大。这一转变正使教育成为核心房地产资产类别。”

高力国际指出，分区、地契限制、建筑规例与牌照审批等监管要求，仍是改造项目的关键挑战。公司建议投资者聚焦可协同升级的资产、把握当前重新定价窗口，并在投入资本前进行详尽可行性评估。

高力国际香港资本市场与投资服务主管Thomas Chak表示：“我们看到投资者与教育运营商都在积极把握这一结构性转变，势头强劲。”