Application Procedures

HKUST offers 47 major programs, covering science, engineering, business and management, humanities and social science, and cross-disciplinary areas. 

Explore our programs and find the one that suits you best!

HKUST accepts applicants with a wide range of international qualifications from all around the world. 

Check out the General Admissions Requirements, School/Program-specific Requirements, and English Language Requirements here.

• Copies of national ID card and/or travel documentation 
• A personal statement 
• School reports from Grade 10 onwards 
• Proof of English language proficiency 
• Public examination result certificates, if any 
• Proof of significant prizes and/or awards, if any 
• Nomination of an academic referee 
• Nomination of IB Coordinator or Career Counselor (for students taking the IB, GCE-AL/IAL/Cambridge Pre-U or Indian High School Examination) 
• Application fee of HKD450 (~USD58)

Create an account on the HKUST Online Application System and start filling out your application. You may save your progress and return to complete the form at any time before the application deadline.

Select up to TWO options. Your first choice will be considered your highest priority. You may apply to HKUST via either School-based or program-based options: 

School-based options 

• Science (Group A) 
• Science (Group B) 
• Science (Group A) with an Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence
• Engineering 
• Engineering with an Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence
• Business and Management 

Admission through School-based options will give you plenty of opportunities to explore different majors through the first year foundation curriculum and student advisory services. You will be able to choose majors in which you are interested in the spring semester of Year 1 or the fall semester of Year 2.

Program-based options

If you have a clear interest in a specific program, you may apply to HKUST through the following program-based options: 

• International Research Enrichment 
• BSc in Integrative Systems and Design 
• All programs offered by the School of Business and Management 
• BSc in Global China Studies 
• BSc in Quantitative Social Analysis 
• BSc in Biotechnology and Business 
• BSc in Mathematics and Economics 
• BSc in Risk Management and Business Intelligence 
• BSc in Environmental Management and Technology 
• BEng/BSc & BBA Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management 

Learn more about our programs.

An Alternative Choice is available for some of the application choices. Depending on your application choices, you will be considered for the relevant alternative choice(s) if you have indicated an interest in applying and are not admitted to your applied program(s). Please note that your program choices will be final once you have submitted your application to the University.

Please click here for more information.

Nomination of a Referee

Each student is required to nominate at least ONE academic referee.

In the application form, there is an Academic Reference section in which you can input the contact details of your referee. The application system will generate an email with a reference form to him or her. Your referee could then submit the references directly to us online. The email request will be sent after you submit the application form. We recommend that the referee respond to the request within two weeks.

If your referee misses the email request, or if you would like to replace your nominated referee, you may resend the referee request in the online application system.

If you have additional references, you can upload them in the “Upload Documents” section.

Predicted Scores

Students taking the IB, GCE-AL/IAL/Cambridge Pre-U, or Indian High School Examination must also provide the contact details of their IB Coordinator or Career Counselor, to whom an e-mail will be sent to request a predicted grade report.

Please input the contact details of your IB Coordinator/Career Master in the lower part of the Academic Reference section. The application system will generate an email to him or her, with an online predicted grade form to be submitted directly online. The email request will be sent after you submit the application form. We recommend that the IB Coordinator/Career Master respond to the request within two weeks.

If your IB Coordinator/Career Master misses the email request, you may resend the request in the online application system. 

You are required to include identity documents, a personal statement, high school transcripts for the past three years, proof of English language proficiency, public examination certificates, and proof of significant prizes and awards (if any) with your online application.

We welcome any other supporting documents that you wish to be taken into consideration. You can log in to the online application system and upload any supporting documents (i.e. awards, achievements) after you have submitted your application.

After confirming the details of your application, you may submit your application with an HKD450 application fee, which can be paid online using a Visa or Mastercard credit card.

Applications are reviewed holistically, based on the overall profile of each applicant. Admission results are usually released from December onward, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. You can log in to your online application portal to: 

• view the latest status of your application and important dates; 
• update personal contact details; 
• resend invitations to referees; and 
• upload additional supporting documents.

Interviews are compulsory for the following programs: 

• International Research Enrichment (IRE) 
• BSc in Integrative Systems and Design (ISDN) 
• BBA in Global Business (GBUS) 
• BSc in Risk Management and Business Intelligence (RMBI) 
• Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management (T&M-DDP) 

For other programs, interviews are not compulsory. If an interview is arranged, you will be notified via e-mail and the interview will usually be conducted online.

As different application choices are considered separately, students may receive more than one offer and be informed at different times. 

To accept HKUST’s offer and secure a place at HKUST, you must pay a deposit (HKD20,000 for non-local students and HKD5,000 for local students) by the acceptance deadline (usually within about 2-3 weeks). Upon accepting an offer, applicants will receive information on the submission of official documents, student visa application (for non-local students), course registration, accommodation, and orientation. 

Admissions scholarships will be considered automatically after you have submitted your application. Details of admissions scholarships awarded will be released with admission offers. 

Please visit the Scholarships and Finance Aid Office website for details of more scholarship opportunities.

Students who hold certain qualifications, such as the IB Diploma, GCEAL/IAL, etc. or who have taken advanced courses prior to their admission to the University, may be eligible for credit transfer on entry. Students may be granted up to 30 credits, which will count towards the 120 credits required for graduation. 

Details of credit transfer arrangements are available here.