Established in 1912, The University of Hong Kong, also known as HKU, is one of the oldest tertiary education schools in Hong Kong. It opened its door wide for students to partake in three primary faculties- medicine, engineering, and arts.
In its 110 years of existence, HKU has significantly impacted young individuals’ lives through excellent learning, research, and knowledge exchange.
The university holds a remarkable 21st position worldwide, as noted in the QS World University Rankings 2023. Its place isn’t far behind in the World University Rankings 2022 listed by THE Times Higher Education, boasting the 30th rank.
Although the University of Hong Kong’s acceptance rate is not shared by the university, the 2021-22 year witnessed the following numbers:
-2,021 undergraduate students
-3,187 postgraduate students
Engineering was the most popular field during the same year, witnessing an enrolment of 4,957 students for undergraduate and graduate programs.
Admission eligibility criteria
The University of Hong Kong admission requirements are very detailed and vast, depending on the academic qualification held by the student and the course they’re applying for. Let’s look at the admission criteria set for Indian students!
If the student holds a GCE A-Level or International A-level, they would require the following minimum grades:
Program
Expected minimum grades for admission
Faculty of Architecture
1A*2A or 2A 1B
Faculty of Arts
2A 1B or 3A or 1A*3A (if a student had 4 A-level subjects) and 2A*1A (if a student had 3 A-level subjects)
HKU Business School
2A 2B (if student had 4 A-level subjects) and 3A (if student has 3 A-level subjects) or 2A 1B 1C (if student had 4 A-level subjects) and 3A (if student has 3 A-level subjects) or 2A*1A or 1A*2A or 2A*2A or 3A
Faculty of Dentistry
2A*1A
Faculty of Education
3A
Faculty of Engineering
2A 1B or 2A*1A
Faculty of Law
1A*3A (if student had 4 A-level subjects) and 2A*1A (if student had 3 A-level subjects) or 2A*1A
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
2A 1B or 3A*1A or 3A
Faculty of Science
2A 1B or 3A or 2A*1A or 3A*
Faculty of Social Sciences
2A 1B or 1A*3A (if a student had 4 A-level subjects) and 2A*1A (if a student had 3 A-level subjects)
If the student holds an IB diploma, they would need to attain the following minimum grade marks:
Program
Expected minimum grade
Faculty of Architecture
31-35
Faculty of Arts
31-37
HKU Business School
34-41
Faculty of Dentistry
41
Faculty of Education
32-36
Faculty of Engineering
33-35
Faculty of Law
37-41
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
31-43
Faculty of Science
33-39
Faculty of Social Science
34-37
If a student takes Indian Board Exams, they must score the following minimum grade to get into their desired program:
Program
Expected minimum percentage
Faculty of Architecture
90%
Faculty of Arts
90-97%
HKU Business School
90-97%
Faculty of Dentistry
95%
Faculty of Education
90%
Faculty of Engineering
90-95%
Faculty of Law
92-97%
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
90-97%
Faculty of Science
90-95%
Faculty of Social Science
90-95%
As for SAT and AP, the lower grade requirements for the particular programs are as follows:
Program
Expected minimum score
Faculty of Architecture
1350
Faculty of Arts
1350-1500 SAT score and AP level 3-4 on each of 3 subjects
HKU Business School
On all three subjects score 1380-1540 SAT and AP level 3-5
Faculty of Dentistry
On all three subjects score 1400 SAT score and AP level 4
Faculty of Education
On all three subjects score 1350-1380 SAT score and AP level 3
Faculty of Engineering
On all three subjects score 1350-1480 SAT score and AP level 3
Faculty of Law
On all three subjects score 1450-1530 SAT score and AP level 3-4
Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine
On all three subjects score 135-1430 SAT score and AP level 3-4
Faculty of Science
1350-1450 SAT score
Faculty of Social Science
1350-1530 SAT score
These minimum required grades keep oscillating, depending on the course picked from a particular program.
On the other hand, the University of Hong Kong admission criteria varies for postgraduate courses:
Must comply with general regulations stipulated by the university
Should have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Hong Kong or any equivalent university with good recognition
Follow any other admission standards particularly mentioned in a specific course curriculum
Satisfy the requisite demands of English language proficiency
The question of how to get admission in the University of Hong Kong must naturally plague interested students’ minds.
The whole process of applying to a university can be tedious and time-consuming. Moreover, if an applicant misses any information in the application, it can lead to a steady elimination.
Hence, ensuring that an individual’s application is complete and attached with all the required supporting documents is significant. It would help the admission board to review and assess an applicant’s candidature without any hitch.
Aspiring students would need to submit the following documents with their application:
Personal identification proof
Previous academic history and qualifications
Personal statement, not more than 1000 words
Resume or curriculum vitae
Reference from a reliable referee like a scholar or professor
Tests required
An applicant is required to provide the following test results along with their application to prove their English language proficiency:
TOEFL (paper-based)- 550 or above
TOEFL (computer-based)- 213 or above
TOEFL (internet-based)- 80 or above
IELTS- 6 or above
GCE and IGCSE- Grade C or above
Cambridge Test of Proficiency in the English Language- Grade C or above
Popular courses
Curious to know about some of the popular and highly ranked courses taught at The University of Hong Kong? Here’s a quick list to offer insight into the courses students can choose and thrive at.
Note that the QS WUR Ranking provides all the subject rankings.
The admission board’s decision is based on a handful of factors like previous academic records, the applicant’s performance in the interview, quality of personal statement, the authenticity of references, etc.
All the supporting documents attached with the application will be considered to perceive the applicant as a whole.
Applicants are suggested to fill their application with utmost honesty and not exaggerate in their personal statements. Cross-questioning during the one-on-one interview is common, and it’s vital to display sincerity and genuineness during the same!
Additionally, it’s crucial to remember that satisfying the bare minimum requirements regarding previous examination scores will not guarantee sure-shot admissions.
Tips for applying to the university
Making a transition from school to college is always an exhilarating process. There is always a long list of dream colleges and even a longer list of applications that go to those colleges.
If an applicant plans to carve their place at The University of Hong Kong, it’s significant to craft an application that stands apart. It might seem like an arduous task, but it’s not impossible!
Here is some quick advice that would help when applying to The University of Hong Kong!
The plans to apply to a college must begin at least a couple of years into the secondary school education. Having an impressive academic record will amp up the entire application by notches.
Make sure to boast about the extra-curricular activities subtly. The more communication and leadership skills an applicant has, the better.
Applicants should mention any relevant work experience.
Write an honest and heartfelt personal statement that stirs a positive emotion in the admission granting committee.
While filling out options for the choice of program, applicants should choose only those subjects that they are genuinely passionate about.
Application deadlines
International students must pay attention to the critical dates regarding their university application!
The applications for undergraduate study will open on the 20th of September 2022 and conclude on the 16th of November 2022. After that, any application will be considered on a rolling basis, subject to any seat availability.
The results for the first round will come out on the 6th of December, 2022.
If accepted, the student is required to revert an answer within 3-4 weeks!
University Admission Expert |154 articles published
With over10 years of experience in the ed-tech sector, Sachin holds expertise in operations management, ensuring the smooth functioning of study abroad programs. He has deep understanding of the globa...
Refer Your Friend & Earn upto ₹15000
Help your friend upgrade to a Global Career and earn rewards together.
