According to the Memorandum on Mutual Recognition of Higher Education Degree Certificates between the Mainland and Hong Kong signed by the Ministry of Education and the Education and Manpower Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (now the Education Bureau of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region) in 2004, those who have obtained a master's degree (full-time) issued by an accredited Hong Kong institution of higher learning can apply for a doctoral degree from a mainland institution of higher learning or take up employment in the Mainland after being certified by the Education Service Center of the Ministry of Education.

Hong Kong institutions of higher learning with the right to confer bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees are recognized in the Mainland: University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Open University of Hong Kong, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Institute of Education, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Hong Kong Shue Yan University and Lingnan University.