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Admissions

As a prospective student applying on the strength of your results with the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), here’s the information that you need to know to submit your HKU application through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS).

 

For HKDSE candidates in 2024 and onwards, please refer to the Announcement of the University Entrance Requirements in response to the new grading system for the revised Liberal Studies subject of the HKDSE. Please click here for details.


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Eligibility

Eligibility

Source: JUPAS website - Eligibility
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Eligible to Apply via JUPAS

In accordance with the HKSAR Government’s policy, only applicants with valid documentation confirming they are LOCAL students at the time of submission of applications will be accepted.
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LOCAL applicants who belong to the categories below with past and / or current HKDSE Examination results are eligible to apply via JUPAS for admission to the following programmes on the strength of their HKDSE Examination results, provided that they are NOT enrolled in full-time bachelor’s degree programmes offered under JUPAS at the time they submit their JUPAS applications:
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  • UGC-funded full-time bachelor’s degree programmes offered by the 8 UGC-funded institutions;
  • Self-financing full-time bachelor’s degree programmes offered by HKMU;
  • SSSDP full-time bachelor’s degree programmes offered by the SSSDP institutions; and
  • UGC-funded full-time higher diploma programme offered by EdUHK.
LOCAL applicants with HKDSE Examination results only

All local applicants (school and non-school applicants) who wish to apply for admission to the above programmes on the strength of their HKDSE Examination results MUST apply via JUPAS.

LOCAL applicants with both HKDSE Examination AND other academic results

Local applicants with both HKDSE Examination AND other academic results whose HKDSE Examination results ALONE will make them eligible for application for admission to the above programmes can apply either via JUPAS or non-JUPAS, but NOT both.
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Assessment of these local applicants applying via JUPAS will be based mainly on their HKDSE Examination results, while other factors will be considered by relevant institutions as appropriate.

NOT Eligible to Apply via JUPAS

Applicants who belong to the categories below are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply via JUPAS.  If they do, their JUPAS applications will NOT be processed. Any fees paid will not be refunded or transferred to another year / other application.  If they wish to apply for admission, they should consult individual institutions concerned for further information.

 

For applicants who are not eligible to apply via JUPAS, please apply here.


Non-local applicants

In accordance with the HKSAR Government’s policy, ALL non-local applicants, regardless of whether they possess HKDSE Examination results, MUST apply for admission via the non-JUPAS route, and NOT via JUPAS.

Applicants who are currently enrolled in full-time bachelor's degree programmes offered under JUPAS

Applicants who are currently enrolled in full-time bachelor’s degree programmes offered under JUPAS, regardless of whether they wish to apply for admission on the strength of their HKDSE Examination results, are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply via JUPAS.

 

If such local applicants wish to apply via JUPAS, they MUST have withdrawn from the full-time bachelor’s degree programmes offered by the JUPAS participating-institutions / the SSSDP institutions they are currently enrolled in at the time they submit their JUPAS applications, otherwise their applications will NOT be accepted.

Applicants with a combination of HKDSE Examination AND other academic results

Applicants with a combination of HKDSE Examination AND other academic results which TOGETHER may make them eligible for application for admission to the programmes offered under JUPAS are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply via JUPAS.  They should consult individual institutions concerned for further information.

Applicants without any HKDSE Examination results

Applicants who do not have any past HKDSE Examination results, nor will be sitting for the HKDSE Examination of the current cycle are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply via JUPAS.

Applicants with other academic results only

Applicants with academic results other than HKDSE Examination results only are NOT ELIGIBLE to apply via JUPAS.

Admissions Standard

Admissions Standard

Referencing HKU’s admissions standards to ensure you meet both the entrance and programme-specific requirements.

University Entrance Requirements
English Language
Level 3
Chinese Language
Level 3
Mathematics
Level 2
Liberal Studies / Citizenship and Social Development
Level 2 / Attained
Elective Subject 1
Level 3
Elective Subject 2
Level 3
Consideration of Elective Subjects

  • The result of the Mathematics Extended Part (Module 1 or 2) will be recognised as equivalent to that of a full elective in fulfilling the University Entrance Requirement on the condition that one of the elective subjects must be a Senior Secondary Subject (i.e. Category A Subject).

  • “Attained with Distinction” obtained prior to 2018, or “Attained with Distinction (I)” or “Attained with Distinction (II)” obtained in or after 2018, in Applied Learning subjects (other than Applied Learning Chinese) will be used as additional supporting information. In the meantime, student learning experiences in Applied Learning subjects may be considered within the context of other learning experiences in their application.

  • Other Language subjects will be used as unspecified elective subjects. The minimum requirement is Grade E.

Conversion of levels of scores
Category A: Senior Secondary Subjects
Level 5**
8.5
Level 5*
7
Level 5
5.5
Level 1 - 4
1-4
Category C: Other Language Subjects
Grade A
7
Grade B
5.5
Grade C
4
Grade D
2.5
Grade E
1
For Non-Chinese Speaking (NCS) Applicants

We welcome eligible NCS applicants (both school or non-school) to submit Alternative Qualifications in Chinese Language (ACL), i.e. GCSE / GCE etc. for consideration to satisfy the general Chinese Language requirement.
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If NCS applicants submit more than one ACL and / or have HKDSE Chinese Language result, the best result will be considered.
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Further information on submissions and verification of ACL is available on the JUPAS website.

Application Timeline

Application Timeline

4 Dec 2024
Deadline for submission of JUPAS application
2 Jan 2025
Deadline for submission of OEA via JUPAS

Submission of Other Experiences and Achievements in Competitions/ Activities (OEA) information and uploading of required supporting documents via the JUPAS online application system (as appropriate).

28 May 2025
Deadline for updating of programme choices via JUPAS

Applicants may update their programme choices before the release of the HKDSE Examination results. Please observe the programme entrance requirements to make sure you meet all the specified requirements of respective programmes.

16 Jul 2025
Release of HKDSE results

Applicants can modify their programme choices at their own allotted time-slot via the JUPAS account.

6 Aug 2025
Announcement of Main Round offer
Special Consideration

Special Consideration

In addition to HKDSE results, outstanding achievements in other areas will also be considered during the application process, including:


School Principals’ Nominations
Candidates with other experiences and achievements in competitions / activities (OEA)
HKU Sports Scholarship Scheme
Home Affairs Bureau’s Multi-faceted Excellence Scholarship Scheme
HKU School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS) for HKDSE Students