The school specialises in professional education, as well as providing degree-awarding courses in partnership with overseas universities.

[1] On 21 May 1957, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) established the Department of Extra-Mural Studies with an enrollment of 330 students.

The department's purpose was partly to develop and run courses to meet the needs of the growing city.

This change elevated its status with relation to its parent organisation, giving it financial autonomy and allowing it more freedom to make decisions for the programmes it offered.

It consist of the "Lifelong Learner Card" which is automatically obtained by graduating from HKU SPACE and the "Life Membership Card" which can only be obtained after paying the membership fee to be a "Life Member".