City University of Hong Kong (CityU) Admission Guide for International Students

CityU and the international application route

City University of Hong Kong (CityU) is a publicly funded, English-medium university offering programmes across business, engineering, science, liberal arts and social sciences, creative media, data science, energy and environment, veterinary medicine and law. Non-local and international undergraduates apply directly to CityU rather than through the local JUPAS system.

Applications are made through CityU's own online admissions platform, run by its admissions office. You submit your academic records, English-test results and any programme-specific materials, then pay the application fee.

Programme lists, fees and deadlines are updated each cycle, so use this guide for orientation and confirm every current detail on the official CityU admissions website.

Accepted qualifications and how CityU assesses them

CityU accepts a broad set of international school-leaving qualifications for direct entry, and each programme publishes the subjects and grade profile it expects. Admission is competitive: strong, relevant subject results matter as much as meeting the baseline.

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
• GCE A-Levels
• Indian school-leaving results (CBSE / CISCE / recognised state boards) — check required subjects and levels
• US high-school qualifications with SAT or ACT, plus AP where asked
• Other recognised national or foundation qualifications
• Always confirm the accepted qualifications and grade requirements for your specific CityU programme on the official site

English-language requirements

Applicants whose qualification is not from an English-medium system must show English proficiency. CityU commonly accepts IELTS (Academic) and TOEFL, and certain English qualifications (such as specified grades in IB or GCE English) may meet the requirement directly.

Required scores vary by programme and can change year to year, and some competitive programmes set a higher bar than the general minimum. Check the current accepted tests and exact scores for your programme on the official admissions pages before you test.

How CityU programmes and majors are organised

CityU groups its degrees under Colleges and Schools — for example business, engineering, science, liberal arts and social sciences, creative media, data science, energy and environment, veterinary medicine and law. Some students apply to a specific named major, while certain Colleges offer broader, flexible entry that lets you confirm a major after a common first stage.

When shortlisting, read each programme's structure, required subjects, and any portfolio, interview or additional-document requirement (creative-media and some professional programmes may ask for these). Confirm the current programme structure on the official site, as offerings evolve.

Fees, scholarships and the application timeline

CityU publishes non-local tuition, hostel costs and entrance-scholarship details on its official pages. Some scholarships are considered automatically on merit and others require a separate application; amounts and eligibility are set each cycle.

Application windows and deadlines are announced annually, sometimes with earlier rounds for certain qualifications. No agent, consultancy or preparation course can guarantee admission or a scholarship — offers come only from CityU. If you are admitted, CityU will outline acceptance steps, and the Hong Kong student-visa process is handled separately by the Immigration Department (general information only, not immigration advice — verify on the official government source).