university of hong kong international students

Last Updated on August 28, 2023

Do you have any knowledge about the university of Hong Kong’s international students? Do you ever feel confused? Do you often feel overwhelmed with all the information available, so you can’t figure out which one is correct? This article answers all your questions about the University of Hong Kong international students.

This article also contains related information on, University of Hong Kong Admission Deadlines, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology International Students, English Proficiency Test Score for international students, The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Graduate Admissions and a lot more in this article. Stay with infolearners.

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university of hong kong international students

Hong Kong is a special administration region located on the southern tip of China. The university system is patterned to that of the United Kingdom, which occupied the area from 1841 to 1997.

Despite being relatively young, many Hong Kongese institutions have been listed as some of the best in the world. As such, the area has been a magnet for international students in search of inexpensive yet reputable universities.

To apply for an undergraduate degree, you need to submit a certificate that proves you have satisfactorily completed your secondary education. If English is not your first language, you need to take the IELTS or TOEFL, for which you need to score a 6 or 80 respectively.

For post-graduate students, a baccalaureate degree (with a GPA of 3.0 or a grade of B) is necessary for admission. You need to submit a transcript of this degree, together with 2 to 5 reference letters.

Students talking together on campus.

Hong Kong Shue Yan University

  • Minimum annual tuition: $9,093 (HKD 70,500)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

The cheapest university in Hong Kong is Hong Kong Shue Yan University, also known as HKSYU or SYU. This private liberal arts university can be found on Braemar Hill, Hong Kong. Founded in 1971, it is recognized as the first private university in the region.

HKSYU has three academic faculties. First is the Faculty of Commerce, which has the Departments of Accounting, Business Administration, Economics, and Law. The Faculty of Arts, on the other hand, houses the Departments of Journalism, Communication, History, Chinese, and English. Last is the Faculty of Social Sciences, which covers the Departments of Social Work, Sociology, and Psychology.

The university offers split-degrees. Students can spend the latter half of their studies at either the University of Leicester or the University of Stirling in the UK or the University of Wollongong in Australia.

The Open University of Hong Kong

  • Minimum annual tuition: $12,727 (HKD 98,680)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

Also known as OUHK, the Open University of Hong Kong is a statutory institution located in Ho Man Tin. It was opened in 1989 by the British Hong Kong Government as a distance learning school. Today, it has evolved into a self-financing university.

OUHK has 6 academic units. They are the School of Science and Technology, the School of Arts and Social Sciences, the School of Education and Languages, the Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration, the School of Nursing and Health Studies, and the Li Ka Shing Institute of Professional and Continuing Education.

OUHK also has a university research center, with departments specializing in innovative technology and sustainability, open education, business and governance, humanities, and Chinese culture.

Hang Seng University of Hong Kong

  • Minimum annual tuition: $15,748 (HKD 122,100)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, also known as the HSUHK, is another one of the few self-financing institutions in the region. It is located in the area known as the New Territories.

This cheap university in Hong Kong was founded in 2010 as the Hang Seng School of Commerce. In 2018, it eventually became the second private university in Hong Kong after HKSYU.

HSUHK offers various baccalaureate degrees through its five academic units. These are the School of Business, School of Communication, School of Decision Sciences, School of Humanities and Social Science, and the School of Translation.

HSUHK also offers Masters degrees in the fields of Translation, Entrepreneurial Management, Global Supply Chain Management, and Strategic Communication.

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

  • Minimum annual tuition: $18,057 (HKD 140,000)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

HKUST is a public research university located in Clear Water Bay, Hong Kong. It was founded in 1991 and was the third institution to be awarded by the British HK government with university status.

HKUST has five schools: Science, Engineering, Business and Management, Humanities and Social Science, and Interdisciplinary Programs.

According to the World University Rankings, HKUST is the 2nd best institution in the country. It is also recognized as the best among the 350 young universities in the world. As for the entire world, it has managed to clinch the 47th spot out of thousands.

With its excellent quality of education, HKUST is a popular choice amongst international students. The school is very accepting of a foreign pool, as statistics show that 31% of its students come from different nations across the globe.

City University of Hong Kong

  • Minimum annual tuition: $18,057 (HKD 140,000)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

Established in 1984 as the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong, CityU was only made a university in 1994. Despite this, it has become one of the most prominent public institutions in Hong Kong. According to the World University Ranking, it is 4th in the region and 15th in Asia. This affordable university in Hong Kong for international students also ranks 5th of all the modern universities on the list.

CityU has five colleges: Business, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, Science, and Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences. It also has four schools devoted to the studies of Creative Media, Data Science, Energy and Environment, and Law.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University

  • Minimum annual tuition: $18,057 (HKD 140,000)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

Hong Kong Polytechnic University, also known as PolyU, is a public institution based in Hung Hom, Hong Kong. Its history can be traced back to 1937, yet it was only granted university status in 1994.

PolyU offers 220 undergraduate and post-graduate degrees through its 6 faculties. These are the Faculties of Applied Sciences and Textiles, Business, Construction and Environment, Engineering, Health and Social Sciences, and Humanities.

PolyU also has 2 schools for Design and Hotel and Tourism Management.

As the top 5 university in the region, PolyU has ranked 20th in Asia and 171st in the world. As for the young university rankings, it is considered the 19th best out of 350.

Hong Kong Baptist University

  • Minimum annual tuition: $18,057 (HKD 140,000)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

Next in our list of cheapest universities in Hong Kong for international students is Hong Kong Baptist University. It was founded in 1956 as the Hong Kong Baptist College. It continues to carry its Christian Heritage, even when it became a publicly-funded university in 1994.

More than 10,500 HKBU students are educated through its 5 campuses in Ho Sin Hang, Shaw, Baptist University Road, Kai Tek, and Shek Mun.

HKBU has 9 academic departments, including that of the Arts, Science, Social Sciences, Business, Communications, Continuing Education, Visual Arts, Chinese Medicine, and Graduate Studies.

The university is settled at the 70th spot in Asia University rankings. It is included in the top 100-200 list of the Impact Rankings, and the 401-500 bracket of the World rankings.

The Education University of Hong Kong

  • Minimum annual tuition: $18,057 (HKD 140,000)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

The Education University of Hong Kong or EdUHK is one of the 8 institutions subsidized by the Hong Kong government. It traces its history back to St. Paul’s College, which was established way back in 1853.

EdUHK is the result of a merger between 5 teaching institutions. Following its university accreditation in 1994, the university moved to its present campus in Tai Po. This estate is popular for its 1,200-strong grandstand, all-weather track, and five tennis courts, to name a few.

While the school specializes in education and human development, this cheap university in Hong Kong also offers degrees in the fields of the liberal arts, social sciences, and humanities.

EdUHK is also very research-intensive, as seen in its study centers for governance, citizenship, and leadership, to name a few.

Lingnan University of Hong Kong

  • Minimum annual tuition: $18,057 (HKD 140,000)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

Formerly Lingnan College, LN / LU holds the distinction of being the only public liberal arts institution in Hong Kong.

LU traces its roots back to Guangzhou, where it started as the Canton Christian College in 1889. After the city fell to the Japanese military in 1938, the administrators transferred the college to Hong Kong. While they moved back to the mainland, the end of the 2nd world war saw the college returning to its campus in Haizhu.

LU offers a total of 19 undergraduate degrees through the Faculties of the Arts, Business, and Social Sciences. Post-graduate education, on the other hand, is administered through the School of Graduate Studies.

 Chinese University of Hong Kong

  • Minimum annual tuition: $18,702 (HKD 145,000)
  • Tuition fee table
  • Admissions

The final university in our list of cheapest universities in Hong Kong is Chinese University of Hong Kong. Based in Shatin, the CUHK is a public university established in 1963. As a merger of 3 colleges, CUHK is recognized as the second-oldest university in Hong Kong.

CUHK specializes in the fields of Biomedical Sciences, Economics and Finance, Earth Sciences, Information Sciences, and Chinese Studies. English is the principal medium of instruction, although the university ordinance calls for the use of the Chinese language.

CUHK is considered the third-best university in Hong Kong and the seventh-best in Asia. As a stronghold in health education and the arts, CUHK is currently ranked as the 57th best university in the entire world.

University of Hong Kong Admission Deadlines

The University of Hongkong offers its admissions for the term of fall worldwide except for students who appear in Mainland China’s National Joint College Entrance Examination (NJCEE) or Gaokao. International students are suggested to submit applications on or before the last date as HKU does not consider applications submitted after its official deadline. Below are the mentioned deadlines:

Admission EventsDeadlines
Undergraduate Application DeadlineJune 28, 2021
Postgraduate Application BeginMid-October 2021
Postgraduate Round 1 (Main) DeadlineDecember 31, 2021
Postgraduate Round 2 (Clearing) DeadlineApril 19, 2022

hong kong university of science and technology international students

The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology(HKUST) is a world- leading and continuously growing public research university known globally for its top- notch degree programs. It is among the most preferred universities by students looking for higher education in Hong Kong. With a low acceptance rate of 35%, HKUST is highly selective with its applicants requiring excellent academic and overall students profile along with research interest in the relevant subject area to get admission. The university is highly diverse with 70% international students coming from around the world.

HKUST offers UG, PG, PG diploma, and honors degree programs in the field of Science, Engineering, Business and Management, Humanities, Social Sciences and various other interdisciplinary subjects. The university has admission intake twice a year during fall and spring seasons. Students can apply via the university application portal along with an application fee of 450HK$. The tuition fee of the programs ranges from 115,000 HK$- 585,000 HK$.

Highlights

College TypePublic Research University
Foundation1991
LocationClear Water Bay Peninsula, Hong Kong
Enrolments16,195
Application PortalHKUST Online Application Portal
Standardised Test ScoresFor Undergraduates: ACT/ SAT For Post- Graduate: GMAT/GRE
English Proficiency Test ScoreIELTS, TOEFL, DET
Application Fee180 HK$- 450 HK$
Study ModeFull- time, Part- time.
Academic PatternSemester -based
Financial AidScholarships, Loans.
HelpdeskTel: +852 2358 8888

The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Top Programs

HKUST offers both full time and part time programs at UG and PG level for 1-2 years. Below are the top programs offered by the university along with their duration and course fee:

ProgramsDurationTuition Fee( in HK$)
Masters of Business AdministrationFull-time: 12 or 16 months Part-time: 18 monthsFull-time: 585,000 Part-time: 450,000
Master of Science in BiotechnologyFull-time: 1 year Part-time: 1.5 yearsFull-time: 128,000 Part-time:115,000
Masters of Science in Mechanical EngineeringFull-time: 1 year Part-time: 2 yearsFull-time: 147,000 Part-time:120,000
Masters of Arts in Social ScienceFull-time: 1 year Part-time: 2 years126,000
Masters of Science in Environmental Health and SafetyFull-time : 1 year Part-time : 2 years130,000
Masters of Science in Financial TechnologyFull-time: 1 year Part-time: 2 years300,000
Master of Science in International ManagementFull Time: 1 year347,000

The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology International Admissions 

Prospective international candidates are advised to apply at the earliest for undergraduate and post- graduate programs as the university is highly competitive and accepts admission only till the availability of seats.

Candidates applying for any program must have ACT/ SAT test scores for UG admissions and GMAT/ GRE test scores for PG along with proof of English language proficiency.

The application requirement for international students at HKUST is listed below:

  • Application Portal: HKUST Online Application Portal.
  • Application Fee: 450HK$
  • Application Requirement:
    • Complete application form.
    • Identity proof.
    • Copies of official transcripts and degree qualification certificates.
    • Institution Grading System Details
    • ACT/ SAT score (for UG), GMAT/ GRE scores (for PG)
    • Academic references.
    • Proof of scores of the tests to study in Hong Kong.

Admission Deadlines

The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology deadlines vary from course to course. deadlines for all its programs and courses.

The admission intake is twice a year during Fall and Spring season and candidates are requested to visit their relevant course site to check the deadline.

Hong Kong, Mainland students more interested in studying in Asia

English Proficiency Test Score for international students

HKUST approves TOEFL and IELTS as the English language requirement test from international applicants who are not from English-speaking countries. ELP tests can be waived for international candidates if their first language is English, or they have obtained the bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) from an institution where the medium of instruction was English.

The minimum score accepted by the university is tabulated below:

TestsScores
TOEFL iBT80- above
TOEFL PBT550- above
TOEFL Revised paper-delivered test60- above
IELTS AcademicOverall 6.5 with no band less than 5.5
Duolingo English Test (DET)105- above

Visa Process for International Students

After accepting the admission offered from the university, candidates can apply for a Hong Kong student visa or an entry permit for their education at HKUST. International applicants are recommended to report two weeks prior to the commencement of their programs hence they should submit their application form at the earliest so that they can have ample time for visa process.

An amount of 550 HK$ is required to be paid along with the visa application/ study permit form.

The following documents are required for visa application:

  • Visa/ Entry permit application form.
  • Photocopy of identity proof (residence record, deed poll, marriage certificate, etc).
  • Photocopy of admission offer letter.
  • Photocopy of travel documents.
  • Photocopy of financial proof (e.g. Bank statement, scholarship/ sponsorship offer letter)

After completing the visa application form along with supporting documents, candidates must mail it to HKUST where they will forward it to the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

After approval from the IMMD, HKUST will collect their visa and deliver it to the candidate’s address.

The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Undergraduate Admissions

HKUST UG programs cover 45 majors and 24 minors in Engineering, Business and Management, Humanities, Social Science, and other interdisciplinary areas of programs. Candidates can apply in more than one subject and choose their majors and minors based on their interest.

The general application requirement for undergraduate programs at HKUST is as follows:

  • Application Portal: HKUST Application Portal.
  • Application Fee: 450HK$
  • Application Requirement:
    • Complete application form
    • Complete high school qualification with academic transcripts and qualification certificates
    • SAT or ACT scores/ International Baccalaureate or equivalent academic record.
    • ELP Score
    • Some programs may require candidates to have certain core subjects in their high school academics, hence candidates must visit the course site for core curriculum requirements.

The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology Graduate Admissions 

HKUST offers both research and taught postgraduate programs in a wide range of disciplines, leading to graduate diplomas, master’s and doctoral degrees. The post- graduate programs of HKUST are designed to provide students intensive training on professional careers and enhance their research skills as well.

The general application requirement for masters programs is as follows:

  • Application Portal: HKUST Application Portal.
  • Application Fee: 180 HK$
  • Application Requirement:
    • Complete application form.
    • UG degree in relevant academic subject or equivalent.
    • Identity proof.
    • Copies of official transcripts and degree qualification certificates
    • Proof of English Proficiency Test Scores
    • GMAT/ GRE test scores (for specific programs only).
    • Letter of Recommendation
  • Programs- specific requirements (varies)

Below are some top programs offered by HKUST along with their requirements:

ProgramsRequirementsDurationTuition Fee(in HK$)Deadlines
MBAUG degree, GMAT/ GRE score, work experience of two yearsFull-time: 12 or 16 months Part-time: 18 monthsFull-time: 585,000 Part-time: 450,000
Master of Science in BiotechnologyUG in biological science or relevant, ELP score, basic knowledge in biotechnologyFull-time: 1 year Part-time: 1.5 yearsFull-time: 128,000 Part-time: 115,000For Fall term: Full-time: 1 Jun 2021 Part-time: 1 Jun 2021 For Spring Term: Full-time: 1 Nov 2020 Part-time: 1 Nov 2020
Masters of Science in Mechanical EngineeringUG degree or equivalent, ELP scoreFull-time: 1 year Part-time: 2 yearsFull-time: 147,000 Part-time: 120,000For Fall Term: Full-time: 1 Jan 2021 (Round 1); 1 Apr 2021 (Round 2); Part-time: 1 Jan 2021 (Round 1); 1 Apr 2020 (Round 2) For Spring Term: Full-time: 1 Nov 2020 Part-time: 1 Nov 2020
Masters of Arts in Social ScienceUG degree or equivalent , ELP scoreFull-time: 1 year Part-time: 2 years126,000For Fall term: Full-time: 8 Feb 2021 Part-time: 8 Feb 2021 For Spring Term: Full-time: 11 Nov 2020 Part-time: 11 Nov 2020
Masters of Science in Environmental Health and SafetyUG honors with 55% in life science, chemistry, environmental science or relevant with strong interest in environmental health and safety issues, ELP score.Full-time : 1 year Part-time : 2 years130,000For Fall Term: Full-time: 1 Jun 2021 Part-time: 1 Jun 2021

Prospective international candidates applying for programs at HKUST have the benefit of enjoying top- notch education in one of the finest campuses in Hong-Kong with state- of the art facilities and research technologies.

The programs at HKUST are designed to enhance and foster students’ research and multidisciplinary approach focusing on global influence and impact thus increasing their career capabilities in job markets.

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