Hong KongAs one of the most popular destinations for further study, Hong Kong has long been a favourite among mainland students thanks to its outstanding value for money in location, university rankings, teaching quality and employment policy. In recent years, applications to Hong Kong universities have surged and competition has intensified accordingly. More recently, the Hong Kong government has joined the global race for talent, lowering the application thresholds for the IANG visa, the Hong Kong Quality Migrant Admission Scheme and the Hong Kong Top Talent Pass Scheme, all with the aim of attracting people to come and build their careers in Hong Kong.As a graduate of a Hong Kong institution, applying to any of these schemes puts you in an especially advantageous position.
The advantages of studying in Hong Kong
02 A blend of Eastern and Western culture
After a long colonial era, Hong Kong has retained traditional Chinese Cantonese culture while also bearing the influence of the West. Studying in Hong Kong therefore means students need not worry about the inconvenience of culture shock; instead they experience the meeting of different cultures, broaden their horizons – and parents can rest assured.
03 Cost
Compared with countries such as the UK, the US and Australia, the cost of studying in Hong Kong is somewhat lower, and Hong Kong universities also offer various scholarships each year that can help reduce the overall cost of study.
04 Returning-graduate benefits
Students who complete an undergraduate or postgraduate degree in Hong Kong and then return to develop their careers on the mainland enjoy the same treatment as overseas returnees, including benefits such as household registration in first-tier cities, home-purchase eligibility, start-up subsidies and tax concessions.
05 Hong Kong residency
On graduating from an undergraduate or postgraduate programme in Hong Kong, you can apply for the IANG visa, allowing you to remain in Hong Kong for a further 24 months (previously 12 months, now extended to 24 under the new policy) without any restrictions, and to seek work in Hong Kong freely during that time.
At the same time, by combining study and work in Hong Kong, you can generally apply for permanent residency after seven years of ordinary residence – that is, 1 year of study + 6 years of work = the seven years required to obtain permanent residency in the Hong Kong SAR.
06 Career prospects
As one of the world’s leading international financial markets, Hong Kong is home to branches of many Top 500 banks, investment houses and insurance companies.
At the same time, China is vigorously advancing the Greater Bay Area initiative and has introduced a range of policy documents – national strategies such as the 14th Five-Year Plan, Greater Bay Area development and the Belt and Road Initiative – injecting continuous momentum into Hong Kong’s growth. This means Hong Kong graduates will have even more employment options across the Greater Bay Area in future.
With a Hong Kong postgraduate background, whether you stay to work in Hong Kong or return home to develop your career, you will enjoy greater market recognition, stronger competitiveness and more opportunities to land a well-paid role.
Admission preferences of Hong Kong universities for postgraduate applicants
The University of Hong Kong (2024 QS World University Ranking: 26)
Entry requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
985/211 universities: minimum 85+ non-985/211: 87+;
TOEFL 80+ or IELTS 6.0+ (no band below 5.0);
some programmes require work experience or a GMAT score;
programmes such as Arts, Law and the Master of Journalism may set higher English-language requirements.
√ Standout programmes: Architecture, Civil Engineering, Business, Media and Communications, Environmental Engineering, Translation, Electronic Engineering, Medicine, Politics and Law, and more.
√ Application deadline: most programmes 31 December to 15 March; a few programmes 31 May.
02 The Chinese University of Hong Kong (2024 QS World University Ranking: 47)
Entry requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
TOEFL 80 or around IELTS 6.5;
some programmes require work experience;
985/211 universities: GPA 80-85+ non-985/211: 85-87+ (for most programmes the GPA requirement is on a par with HKU; a few programmes have lower requirements). Students who place greater weight on university ranking also have a chance of an offer from CUHK!
√ Standout programmes: Chinese Medicine, Communications, International Journalism , Media Management, Risk and Insurance Management, Information Systems, Human Resource Management, Chinese Language and Literature and Culture, Translation, Environmental and Public Health Management, Operations Research and Business Statistics, Kinesiology, and more.
√ Application deadline: mid-to-late January each year; some programmes mid-April or mid-May.
03 The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (2024 QS World University Ranking: 60)
Entry requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
TOEFL 80 or IELTS 6.5+; some programmes require only IELTS 6.0;
some programmes require work experience;
GPA requirements are comparable to CUHK – there is little difference between the two.
√ Standout programmes: Computer Science, Civil Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, Materials, Computer Science, Mechanical, Aerospace and Manufacturing Engineering, Chemistry, Business, Business Administration, and more.
√ Application deadline: generally mid-January to mid-March each year; some programmes mid-April or mid-May.
04 The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (2024 QS World University Ranking: 65)
Entry requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
TOEFL 79+ or IELTS 6.0+,
some programmes require work experience;
985/211 universities: GPA 75-80+ non-985/211: GPA 80+.
√ Standout programmes: Aviation, Business Administration, Engineering, Construction and Environment, Design, Humanities, and more
√ Application deadline: generally 15 March each year; some programmes mid-April or mid-May.
05 City University of Hong Kong (2024 QS World University Ranking: 70)
Entry requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
TOEFL 79+ or IELTS 6.0+; for Humanities, TOEFL 80+ or IELTS 6.5+;
some programmes require work experience;
985/211 universities: GPA 80+; non-985/211: GPA 80-85+
√ Standout programmes: Economics and Finance, Accountancy, Information Systems, Marketing, Applied Social Sciences, Management, English and Communication, Translation and Linguistics, Public and Social Administration, Civil and Architectural Engineering, Biology and Chemistry, Electronic Engineering, Computer Science, Manufacturing Engineering and Engineering Management, and more.
√ Application deadline: varies by programme, generally closing in stages from late February to late May.
06 The Education University of Hong Kong
Entry requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
TOEFL 61+ or IELTS 6.0+;
985/211 universities: GPA 75+ non-985/211: GPA 75-80+.
√ Standout programmes: Education and Human Development, Music Teaching, Psychology, Primary Education, Early Childhood Education, Health and Physical Education, Education for Sustainable Development, Greater China Studies in Education, and Chinese Studies (Language Education), and more.
√ Application deadline: closing in stages each year from late February to late May.
07 Hong Kong Baptist University (2024 QS World University Ranking: 295)
Entry requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
TOEFL 79+ or IELTS 6.0+;
985/211 universities: GPA 75-80+; non-985/211: GPA 80+.
√ Standout programmes: Communications, Chinese Medicine, International Journalism , Media Management, Risk and Insurance Management, Information Systems, Human Resource Management, Chinese Language and Literature and Culture, Translation, Environmental and Public Health Management, Operations Research and Business Statistics, Kinesiology.
√ Application deadline: closing in stages each year from late January to late April.
08 Lingnan University, Hong Kong
Entry requirements:
Hold a bachelor’s degree or equivalent;
TOEFL 79+ or IELTS 6.0+;
985/211 universities: GPA 75-80+; non-985/211: GPA 80+.
√ Standout programmes: Economics, Translation, Visual Studies, Philosophy, Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts, Insurance, and more.
√ Application deadline: closing in stages each year from late February to late May.
The 2024 fall application timeline Follow us
Prepare your transcripts, proof of enrolment, graduation and degree certificates and other documents against the checklist; pay particular attention to whether any documents need to be posted;
finalise your application documents and contact your referees to confirm the signing of reference letters;
keep an eye on when online applications open and begin submitting them in stages. Check your junk and subscription folders regularly so you do not miss important notifications
students with a less outstanding profile should aim for the first or second submission round to boost their competitiveness.
Stage 3: October 2023 – February 2024
Some programmes schedule interviews (concentrated between December and February). If the document requirements are updated, supply the additional materials to the university promptly. Meanwhile, some universities will start issuing offers.
Stage 4: March 2024 – May 2024
This is when offers come in most heavily. Decide on the university you will finally attend and pay the deposit (Hong Kong universities often charge a substantial place-holding fee, so consider carefully).
If you have not received an offer, or are not satisfied with the offers you have, you can apply to other destinations as well, such as Australia.
Stage 5: June 2024 – July 2024
Prepare your visa, student registration, course selection and so on. Visa processing usually takes 6-8 weeks, and most programmes schedule enrolment and orientation in August, so it is advisable to deal with your visa application as early as possible.
Stage 6: August 2024
Get ready to set off for Hong Kong and begin your study journey at a Hong Kong university.
Hong Kong universities operate on a “first come, first served” basis, and they place great importance on an applicant’s soft skills, including but not limited to internship experience and award certificates. At the same time, your personal statement accounts for as much as 70% of the application, and needs time to prepare well. Students applying for the 2024 fall intake must keep good control of their application timeline so they can secure an offer from their preferred university as early as possible.
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