Saint Francis University

What Saint Francis University does

Saint Francis University (SFU), formerly Caritas Institute of Higher Education (CIHE), is a private non-profit Catholic university in Hong Kong and one of twelve government-recognized universities in the territory. Founded in 2004 under the Caritas Hong Kong (明愛) charitable network and rebranded to SFU in 2021, the institution operates from a single campus at 2 Chui Ling Lane, Tseung Kwan O, with approximately 223 employees. Its mission is guided by the Catholic principle of 'Service with Love,' anchored to Vatican identity through patron saints Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis de Sales, and Saint Francis Xavier.

SFU delivers a multi-disciplinary portfolio of academic programs at QF Levels 4-6 spanning sub-degree Higher Diplomas, undergraduate honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas, and master's degrees. Schools include the Yam Pak Charitable Foundation School of Computing and Information Sciences (AI, Digital Entertainment), S.K. Yee School of Health Sciences (Nursing, Physiotherapy), Rita Tong Liu School of Business and Hospitality Management, Felizberta Lo Padilla Tong School of Social Sciences, Ip Ying To Lee Yu Yee School of Humanities and Languages, and the Irene Lam Department of Design. Notable infrastructure includes a Distributed AI Laboratory with GPU servers for deep learning research, simulation/training facilities for hospitality (training restaurant and bar, simulated guest rooms), and Health Sciences laboratories.

The university monetizes through tuition fees supplemented by Hong Kong government subsidies (SSSDP up to HK$89,620 annually, NMTSS HK$35,120 for 2026/27, FASP, NLSPS, ENLS), donations administered via an Institutional Advancement Office, and Career Centre services connecting students to over 110 employer partners. Distribution is multi-channel: JUPAS and E-APP admissions platforms, direct online applications, Southeast Asian Catholic parish referrals, and an International Student Scholarship program. Key differentiators include its status as the only Catholic university among HK's 12 recognized universities, self-accreditation status in General Business Administration (valid 2020-2025), and professional body accreditations from HKICS and the Social Workers Registration Board.

Name

Saint Francis University

Legal name

Saint Francis University

Website

https://sfu.edu.hk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Saint Francis University is a private non-profit Catholic university in Hong Kong and one of twelve government-recognized universities. It delivers sub-degree, undergraduate, and postgraduate programs across Business, Health Sciences, Computing/AI, Humanities, and Social Sciences to local, Southeast Asian Catholic, and international students.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Christian Colleges with Theological Programs (EDAHAKAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Schools of Nursing (EDAHAGAC), University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Postgraduate professional diplomas
• Health sciences training
• Vocational sub-degree programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Tseung Kwan O

HQ country

Hong Kong SAR China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Operations

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees: Revenue from tuition fees across various programs at QF levels 4, 5, and 6 including sub-degree, undergraduate honours, and postgraduate programs. Tuition fees vary by program with significant subsidies available.
2. Government Subsidies Administration: Administration of government-funded financial assistance including SSSDP subsidies (up to HK$89,620 annually), NMTSS (HK$35,120 for 2026/27), FASP, NLSPS, and ENLS schemes.
3. Donations: Institutional Advancement Office manages fundraising campaigns including 'Love. Learn. Inherit' Charity Gift Box and Art Sale. Donations are tax-deductible for amounts of HK$100 or above. Research Matching Grant Scheme available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Saint Francis University delivers higher education programs at sub-degree (QF Level 4), undergraduate honours (QF Level 5), and postgraduate (QF Level 6) levels across multiple disciplines including Business and Hospitality Management, Health Sciences, Computing and Information Sciences, Humanities and Languages, Social Sciences, and Design. Programs include Bachelor's Honours degrees, Master's degrees, Higher Diplomas, and Professional Diplomas, with specialized clusters in AI, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Hotel and Tourism Management, Translation Technology, and Social Work.

Product overview

Saint Francis University is a Catholic university and one of twelve government-recognized universities in Hong Kong. The institution offers a comprehensive portfolio of educational programs spanning undergraduate degrees, postgraduate degrees, higher diplomas, and professional diplomas across multiple academic disciplines. Key program clusters include: Business and Hospitality Management (Bachelor of Business Administration, Hotel and Tourism Management, Corporate Governance, Private Banking); Health Sciences (Nursing, Physiotherapy, Pharmaceutical Studies, Community Health, Health Care); Computing and Information Sciences (Artificial Intelligence, Digital Entertainment Technology, Crime and Security Science); Humanities and Languages (Language and Culture, Translation Technology, Early Childhood Education); Social Sciences (Social Work, Psychology, Community Studies, Social Care). The university also provides student support services including Career Centre (job placement, employer partnerships, career training), campus facilities (simulation labs, training restaurants, hospitality facilities), and scholarship programs. Programs operate at QF Level 4 (sub-degrees) and QF Level 6 (bachelor's and master's degrees).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) Four-year honours degree program in business administration with streams in General, Accounting and Financial Analytics, Corporate Management and Governance, and Marketing and Event Management.
• Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) in Applied Hotel and Tourism Management Applied degree program focused on hotel operations, tourism management, smart technology applications, and sustainable environmental management in hospitality industry.
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Artificial Intelligence Four-year honours degree program in artificial intelligence, part of the Techno-Humanities Business Cluster, integrating AI with other disciplines.
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Digital Entertainment Technology Honours degree program in digital entertainment technology covering mobile app development, web development, game programming, computer animation, and motion graphics.
• Bachelor of Nursing (Honours) Honours degree program in nursing preparing students for professional nursing practice and registration with the Social Workers Registration Board.
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Physiotherapy Honours degree program in physiotherapy focused on rehabilitation and physical therapy practices.
• Master of Corporate Governance Part-time master's program in corporate governance for professionals seeking governance qualifications.
• Master in Nursing and Allied Health Part-time master's program in nursing and allied health for healthcare professionals seeking advanced qualifications.
• Master of Science in Artificial Intelligence and Creative Technology Master's program combining AI with creative technology applications, available in full-time and part-time modes.
• Master of Social Work Master's program in social work available in full-time (2-year) and part-time (3-year) modes. Graduates are eligible for registration with the Social Workers Registration Board.
• Postgraduate Diploma in Private Banking and Family Office Professional diploma program in private banking and family office management for financial services professionals.
• Higher Diploma in Hospitality Management Two-year full-time higher diploma in hospitality management covering hotel operations, front desk training, restaurant and bar facilities.
• Higher Diploma in Artificial Intelligence and Information and Communication Technology Two-year higher diploma program bridging AI with information and communication technology applications.
• Higher Diploma in Design Two-year full-time higher diploma with streams in Fashion Design, Graphic Design, and Interior Architecture.
• Higher Diploma in Film and Media Production Two-year full-time higher diploma in film and media production under the Irene Lam Department of Design.
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Translation Technology Honours degree program in translation technology, part of the Techno-Humanities cluster, with SSSDP subsidy of HK$46,780 annually.
• Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Language and Liberal Studies Honours degree program with streams in Bilingual Studies, Chinese and Philosophy, and English and Communication.
• Bachelor of Education (Honours) in Early Childhood Education Honours degree program in early childhood education preparing graduates for kindergarten teacher registration.
• Bachelor of Social Sciences (Honours) Honours degree program with streams in Community Studies, Psychology, Social Work, and Social Care.
• Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Pharmaceutical Studies Honours degree program in pharmaceutical studies.
• Higher Diploma in Enrolled Nursing (General) Higher diploma program in enrolled nursing with SSSDP subsidy of HK$40,730 annually.
• Career Centre Services Career services providing job search support, employer partnerships with 110+ employers, career fairs, training programs, career coaching, and further study articulation assistance for students and graduates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Graduates eligible for registration with Social Workers Registration Board as Registered Social Workers
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and moderate.

• Southeast Asian Catholic Dioceses and ParishescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParish Priests provide recommendation letters for Southeast Asian Catholic Youth Scholarship applicants. Church network facilitates recruitment of Catholic students from Philippines, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and other Southeast Asian countries.
• Over 110 Employer PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCareer Centre connects students with employers for internship, placements, summer jobs, part-time jobs and full-time graduate hire. Includes BDO Limited, HSBC, Holiday Inn Express, and various social service organizations.
• Hong Kong Investor Relations AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Eva Chan, Chairman, serves as industry advisor and endorses Corporate Management and Governance program. Association provides industry perspective for curriculum development.
• Hong Kong Small and Medium Enterprises Development InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDr Kevin Lau JP, President, endorses Design Business entrepreneurship program. Institute supports curriculum relevance for SME development.
• IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizes annual Deep Learning Tutorial and Workshop with IEEE Computer Society Hong Kong Chapter. Public educational events for participants to learn deep learning with optional hands-on laboratory sessions.
• Hong Kong Chartered秘书公会 (HKICS)moderateStrategic or Co-development PartnerBachelor of Business Administration (Honours) Corporate Management and Governance stream recognized as 'Programme Partner (PBP)'. Graduates eligible for HKICS membership in company governance and secretarial services.
• Catholic Diocese of Hong KongcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSFU operates under Catholic values and identity. Chaplaincy connects with diocese for spiritual services, liturgies including Holy Mass, Reconciliation, and Adoration of Blessed Sacrament.
• Vatican/Holy SeecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity's Catholic identity rooted in Vatican guidance. Chapel named after three Patron Saints: Saint Francis of Assisi, Saint Francis de Sales, and Saint Francis Xavier.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• The University of Hong Kong: HKU is Hong Kong's flagship research university — sets the prestige benchmark and competes for top JUPAS applicants that SFU also targets. Relevant as broader incumbent shaping applicant expectations and faculty/labor market dynamics.

Direct peers

• Education University of Hong Kong: EdUHK is a government-recognized university focused on education, humanities, and liberal studies with comparable early-childhood, language, and social sciences programs. Both compete for the same local applicant pool with faith/values-driven positioning.
• Chu Hai College of Higher Education: Chu Hai is a private Hong Kong tertiary institution offering architecture, engineering, science, business, and arts programs. Peer self-financing institution competing for similar non-JUPAS and international applicants in design and technology.
• Lingnan University: Lingnan is the other Hong Kong private/liberal arts focused university, also self-financed in significant measure, with comparable scale and program breadth. Both compete for the same local JUPAS cohort with overlapping health/social sciences/business offerings.
• Hang Seng University of Hong Kong: Hang Seng is a self-financing private university in Hong Kong focused on business, management, and applied professional programs. Highly comparable as a non-government-funded competitor pursuing similar sub-degree to postgraduate articulation pathways.
• Tung Wah College: Tung Wah College is a self-financing private tertiary institution offering health sciences, business, and applied degree programs. Similar scale and structure to SFU with overlapping SSSDP-subsidized nursing and allied health offerings.
• Hong Kong Shue Yan University: Shue Yan is a private non-profit university offering social sciences, business, and humanities programs. Comparable self-financing structure and Hong Kong focus, competing for similar non-JUPAS domestic students and international recruits.
• Hong Kong Baptist University: HKBU is a private-funded comprehensive university in Hong Kong with overlapping programs in business, social sciences, humanities, and creative arts. SFU and HKBU both rely heavily on local tuition and SSSDP-subsidized professional programs.
• Hong Kong Metropolitan University: Formerly the Open University of Hong Kong, HKMU is a government-recognized self-financing university offering applied and distance programs across business, technology, health, and education. Direct competitor in non-traditional and applied-degree pathways.

Regional players

• Hong Kong Chu Hai College of Higher Education / Caritas continuum schools: Other Caritas Hong Kong affiliated education providers (Caritas Bianchi College of Careers, Caritas Institute of Community Education) serve as articulation feeders and adjacent operators under the same parent network.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCvWaLUYJDBgHCjzyNphv3WA
• Facebookfacebook.com/chaplaincy.cihecbcc.hk
• Instagraminstagram.com/chaplaincy.sfu.hk
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/sfuhk

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Saint Francis University