With its strategic location, top-ranked institutions, high-quality teaching and preferential employment policies, Hong Kong, China has always been one of the most popular destinations for mainland students.
In particular, top institutions like the University of Hong Kong, known as Asia's "Ivy League", are ranked 2nd in QS Asia in 2024 and 26th in the world in QS World Rankings, attracting a large number of applicants.
(University of Hong Kong Rankings; Source: Screenshot of the official website of the University of Hong Kong)
In recent years, the number of applications submitted to Hong Kong, China has increased dramatically, and according to the "2023 White Paper on Studying in China", Hong Kong, China ranks third among the regions where you want to study abroad.
According to statistics, the number of master's students enrolled in Hong Kong, China increased by nearly 30% year-on-year last year, so there is no doubt that Hong Kong, China is a popular choice for international students. In recent years, Hong Kong schools have also been expanding their enrollment for mainland students, but in general, the difficulty of admission is still rising, especially for the top five universities in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong universities have always had a "first-come, first-served" admission policy, so students who need to apply to Hong Kong, China must prepare in advance, such as GPA improvement at the undergraduate level and preparation of language scores, which are key steps to improve the success rate of application!
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25Fall Application Trend Forecast
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The University of Hong Kong
First of all, in recent years, the University of Hong Kong has paid more and more attention to students' academic background, standardized test scores, application essays, and relevant work experience, which can be regarded as a plus point for the application. It is recommended that students work hard to improve their language scores and actively participate in internship activities related to their applied majors.
For students who plan to enter in the fall of 2025, students from 985/211 or the top 100 overseas institutions in the world will have an advantage if they are considering applying to the popular majors of the University of Hong Kong. Applicants for popular majors, especially mainland students, are advised to maintain a high average score of 85 or above. For students from non-resident universities, they can consider applying for science and engineering or social science majors, which have relatively relaxed admission requirements.
For example, the Master of Public Administration program at the University of Hong Kong breaks the rigid requirement of more than three years of relevant work experience, and fresh graduates are also eligible to apply, and the requirements for school background are not too strict.
（香港大学Master of Public Administration申请要求；来源：香港大学官网截图）
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Hong Kong Chinese University is very competitive in the 24th application season, and the school not only pays attention to standardized grades, but also evaluates applicants' abilities, motivations and career plans according to the specific requirements of the major. Among the top three universities in Hong Kong, Hong Kong Chinese is the most friendly to students from the top three universities in Hong Kong, and it is expected that in the fall of 2025, students from Chinese universities can pay special attention to the universities in Hong Kong if they want to apply for the top three universities in Hong Kong.
In addition, work experience is expected to continue to be an important part of the admission process of Chinese universities in Hong Kong, especially for students applying for business majors. Because Chinese University of Hong Kong prefers candidates who can combine theory and practice, if they have experience in scientific research projects during their undergraduate studies, they must be prominently displayed in their application materials.
In addition, the business major of Hong Kong Chinese University has always been a mandatory requirement for applicants to provide GRE/GMAT scores within 5 years, and it is recommended that the GMAT score is above 700, and if it is GRE, it is best to achieve a score of 320 or above.
(Application Requirements for MSc in Marketing, University of Chinese and Hong Kong; Source: Screenshot of the official website of Chinese University of Hong Kong)
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology will still favor students from prestigious universities in 25 Fall, of course, a small number of players with high GPAs from double non-African universities also have a chance. For example, if the average score is more than 90 points and the soft background is very rich, you will also have a chance to be admitted.
If you are a student from a prestigious school, it is recommended to keep the average score above 85 and prepare IELTS with an overall score of at least 6.5 in advance. If you are considering applying for a popular major such as business, even students with a 985/211 background are highly recommended to take the GRE/GMAT in advance.
According to the previous admission preferences of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 25Fall School will still attach great importance to the relevant background of students, and from the admission preferences of previous years, students need to prepare 2-3 internship experiences in advance. In addition, due to the fierce competition, the Hong Kong School of Science and Technology Business School and the School of Engineering will adopt a split round of processing policy, and it is recommended that you complete the submission in the first two rounds.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has continued to improve its ranking in recent years, and has now risen to 65th in the world and fourth among universities in Hong Kong, China.
该校在热门学科如Hospitality & Leisure Management、Civil & Structural Engineering、Marketing等领域均位居中国香港首位。
(The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Rankings by Subject; Source: Screenshot of the official website of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
Judging from the 24Fall application season, the admission requirements for majors are higher than in previous years, and there is still a chance for students to pick up leaks before two or three, and now the basic admissions are mainly based on 985/211 and double non-one, and the average admission score is also constantly improving, it is expected that in 25Fall, the average score of 985/211 requires more than 80 points, and the average score of double non-students is more than 85 points.
City University of Hong Kong
City University of Hong Kong has a relatively low admission threshold for applicants from 985/211/Haiben, and the admission process is relatively relaxed. However, for applicants from non-resident universities, the school attaches more importance to the applicant's internship experience, especially students with internship experience in well-known large companies.
At present, applicants with good academic backgrounds basically have a chance to be admitted, and even some double non-resident or second-class students may also be able to successfully pick up the misses. Therefore, it is recommended that applicants have an average score of at least 80-85 points.
In terms of language scores, IELTS is usually recognized higher than CET-6 in domestic universities, and for students with weaker backgrounds, it is recommended to get an IELTS score of at least 6.5 at the beginning of the 25Fall application season.
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25How Students Should Prepare for an Application
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25Fall students are now in the second semester of their junior year, and now that it's May, if they want to get the ideal offer during the application season, they must start preparing now.
The following is Dr. Uoffer has sorted out the application preparation timeline for everyone, I hope it can be helpful to everyone's application~
May-June
- Now is the time to find a professional agency and work with the consultant to determine the list of colleges and majors to apply for, including sprint colleges, main application colleges and guaranteed colleges.
- At the same time, work hard to improve your average score and prepare for the IELTS exam. If the GRE/GMAT is required for the major you are applying for, you should also start preparing for the GRE/GMAT.
July-August
- 需要考出雅思、GRE/GMAT成绩，雅思最好能考到总分7+，GMAT700+/GRE320+。
- Use the summer of your junior year to do another valuable internship, especially if you have difficulty improving your grade average.
- Prepare documents such as proof of enrollment and transcripts, and communicate with the essay teacher to write personalized essay materials, including personal statement (PS), resume (CV), and letters of recommendation.
September-October
- Prepare all application materials and submit your application as soon as the school opens the online application channel. Schools in Hong Kong, China have a relatively high acceptance rate for first-round applications.
- Check your email at any time after submission and don't miss any emails from your school. If an interview is required for the applied major, interview training and simulation should begin during this time.