The number of Hong Kong undergraduates enrolled in Taiwan’s universities jumped by 26% in the upcoming academic year, according to the latest official figures.

There were 3,093 Hongkongers who were accepted into university bachelor programs for the 2021 academic year, marking a 26% increase compared to last year, according to figures released on Saturday by Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council.

Hong Kong students enrolled in postgraduate and doctoral courses surged by 150% year over year to reach 648, according to the MAC.

In response to “changes in Hong Kong’s situation,” the MAC said they have liaised with education authorities to ensure that there would be enough support given to schools to handle the influx of students. They also requested the National Taiwan Normal University to open up extra classes for the spring semester and have separate recruitment channels for Hong Kong students.

Taiwan has become a prime immigration destination for Hongkongers following more than a year of social unrest in the city that was triggered by a government-initiated extradition bill.

There were 7,474 Hongkongers who obtained residency in Taiwan in the first 10 months of 2020, soaring 71.2% year over year, according to Taiwan’s National Immigration Agency. Hongkongers granted permanent residency for naturalization also increased by 1,272 in the same period, representing a 7% uptick.

The MAC added that the current enrollment quotas are sufficient to handle the influx of Hong Kong students as the Ministry of Education had earlier allocated an additional 10% to the admissions quota.

Applicants from Hong Kong and Macao accounted for less than 30% of the quota, according to statistics from the University Entrance Committee For Overseas Chinese Students.

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