How to Apply to HKAPA for Design and Production Degrees: Two Four-Year BFAs in Theatre and Entertainment Arts and in Film and Television, Applied for Directly with a Portfolio and Interview: Portfolio Requirements and Timeline for Students in China, at Canadian High Schools and Transfer Students

2026-10-19 · Application guides

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) does not take part in JUPAS; every bachelor’s programme is applied for directly through the Academy’s online system. Its design and production degrees are the four-year BFA (Hons) in Theatre and Entertainment Arts, with specialisations such as set and costume design, costume technology, property making, scenic art, audio arts, media scenography, stage and event management and technical direction, and the four-year BFA (Hons) in Film and Television. Applicants upload a portfolio and shortlisted applicants are interviewed; Film and Television takes up to 3 works, at least one a screen work. Applications for 2027/28 open on 7 September 2026 and the main round closes on 8 December 2026. The 2026/27 non-local tuition fee is HKD 63,000 a year.

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) is Hong Kong’s specialist institution for the performing arts and production. Its bachelor’s degrees all take four years, and the two related to design and production are the BFA (Hons) in Theatre and Entertainment Arts and the BFA (Hons) in Film and Television. Here is what you need to know for 2027/28 entry, based on HKAPA’s official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students. Chinese opera, dance, drama and music are performance degrees and are not covered here.

1. What the two degrees cover

BFA (Hons) in Theatre and Entertainment Arts, School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts, four years. The school trains students in design, technology and management for the performing arts and entertainment industry. Majors and specialisations listed by HKAPA:
- Media Design and Technology: Audio Arts, Media Scenography (lighting, sound and video combined);
- Technical Production and Management: Stage and Event Management, Technical Direction;
- Theatre Design: Set and Costume Design, Costume Technology, Property Making, Scenic Art.
Each year combines major studies, contextual studies, liberal arts and language courses, and production practice (starting at crew level in Year 1).
BFA (Hons) in Film and Television, School of Film and Television, four years. Students take every fundamental major course in Year 1 and then focus on one major: Creative Producing, Screenwriting, Directing, Cinematography, Editing, Sound Recording and Design, or Digital Screen Design (available as a major from Year 2 to Year 4). Work builds from Year 1 and 2 exercises to Year 3 productions and Year 4 graduation projects, with teamwork at the centre.
Language of instruction: the Chinese Mainland brochure (2025/26 for reference) says Theatre and Entertainment Arts is taught in English and Film and Television in English supplemented by Chinese. The undergraduate admission requirements page, however, lists Film and Television among the Chinese-medium programmes that need a Chinese language qualification, and the School of Film and Television says applicants should be able to understand and communicate in English, Chinese and Cantonese. Both statements are on HKAPA’s website, so confirm with the Registry before applying.
Other programmes: there is also a Diploma in Theatre and Entertainment Arts Foundations; degree applicants below the entry standard may be redirected to it. It is not covered here.

2. How to apply

Apply directly to HKAPA: HKAPA is not in JUPAS. Local HKDSE students, Mainland students and overseas students all apply through the Academy’s online application system. Undergraduate applicants may choose up to two programmes and submit only one application.
Application fee: HKD 350, paid online by Visa, MasterCard or UnionPay (Alipay is also available to Mainland applicants); non-refundable.
2027/28 timeline:
- Applications open 7 September 2026;
- Main round closes 8 December 2026 (23:59 Hong Kong time);
- Clearing round: 30 April 2027 for both the School of Theatre and Entertainment Arts and the School of Film and Television. Later applications depend on places remaining, and HKAPA strongly encourages applying in the main round;
- Interviews, auditions and admission tests: December 2026 to May 2027;
- Orientation week 23–27 August 2027; the academic year starts on 30 August 2027.
Documents to upload: identity document, academic certificates (with certified English translations if not in Chinese or English) and portfolio or audio/video files. If you sit the HKDSE or another public exam in 2027, also submit school reports from the past two years or your latest public exam results.

3. Portfolio and interview

Theatre and Entertainment Arts:

Preliminary selection looks at school records, public exam results, previous creative experience, portfolio, letters of reference and a written statement of personal goals. Applicants submit a portfolio and documents showing creative talent and skills relevant to their chosen specialisation.
What to submit, by specialisation (as HKAPA states):
- Audio Arts, Media Scenography: samples of artwork, models, technical drawings, paperwork, renderings, photos, sound or video from productions or projects you have worked on;
- Stage Management: production files, prompt book, budget, schedule, running lists, slides, photos or other documents from productions where you worked as stage manager;
- Technical Direction: artwork, models, technical drawings, paperwork, renderings, photos or videos;
- Set and Costume Design: sketches, drawings, renderings, paintings, technical drawings, visual diaries, and photos of three-dimensional work such as sculptures, models, props or large paintings;
- Costume Technology, Property Making, Scenic Art: sketches, drawings, renderings, paintings, visual diaries, and photos of three-dimensional work such as costumes, props, sculptures or large paintings.
Interview: shortlisted applicants are invited to one or more interviews or recruitment exercises, and admission is based mainly on interviews, portfolio review and/or practical tests. The Mainland brochure says the portfolio is submitted as a PDF or an online link.
HKAPA does not publish a number of pieces or pages.

Film and Television:

Submit up to 3 works, all your own original creative work, with at least one screen work of no more than 5 minutes. Screen work can be fiction or non-fiction in any form (animation, still-image montage, music video, documentary, video diary, instructional video and so on).
Other accepted work: written work (up to 1,300 words per item), visual art, still photography (3 photos count as 1 item), music or sound creation, and similar.
Give a short description of each work in Chinese and English and state the role(s) you played; screen and audio work can be submitted as playback links on popular online sites (with passwords if needed).
Without a portfolio, no interview is arranged. Applicants should meet the Academy’s general requirements for bachelor’s degrees or have experience in film and television; those with related experience such as writing, theatre production or music production may also apply.

4. Entry requirements

General requirements: completion of senior secondary education plus one of the following:

HKDSE: English Language Level 3, Chinese Language Level 3, Mathematics Level 2, “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, and Level 2 in one other subject;
Grade E in three A-Level subjects (or two A-Levels plus two AS Levels at E); IB Diploma 24 points;
One year completed in a bachelor’s programme at a recognised local institution, or one year of an Associate Degree or Higher Diploma with GPA 2.0 or above;
Recognised international qualifications listed by country (see below).

Students at high schools in China:

HKAPA accepts a satisfactory overall Gaokao score, or a satisfactory overall score in a post-secondary diploma (Zhuanke). No specific cut-off is published.
Language: a Gaokao English score of 100 or above meets the English requirement; Chinese-medium programmes (HKAPA’s examples include Film and Television) also need a Gaokao Chinese score of 100 or above. The Mainland brochure likewise asks for 100 or above in both Gaokao Chinese and English for bachelor’s degrees, plus artistic talent, experience and relevant training.
The Mainland brochure (2025/26 for reference) says offers to Mainland students are sent between March and mid-June.

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

Accepted: BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma), Ontario OSSD or Quebec DEC, with passes in five Grade 12 academic courses (six for the OSSD). No average is published.
English: a Canadian Grade 12 diploma or equivalent with at least 70% in a Grade 12 English course meets the English requirement.

English tests (one of): IELTS Academic overall 5.5 (One Skill Retake not accepted); TOEFL iBT 59 for tests before 21 January 2026, or 3.5 for tests from 21 January 2026 (MyBest not accepted); results must be within two years of the application date. Other options include IB English, A-Level English, AP English 2, SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 590, and ACT English and Reading 23 each. HKAPA may also use in-house proficiency tests.

Transfer students:

One year completed in a bachelor’s programme at a recognised local institution, or one year of an Associate Degree or Higher Diploma with GPA 2.0 or above, counts as an entry qualification for the bachelor’s degrees.
HKAPA does not publish credit-exemption or advanced-standing rules for its undergraduate programmes; ask the Registry.

5. Fees and scholarships

2026/27 tuition: bachelor’s programmes are HKD 47,000 a year for local students and HKD 63,000 a year for non-local students, paid in two instalments before each semester. First-time registrants also pay HKD 400 caution money, and non-local students pay a HKD 500 student visa handling fee. First-year fees are stated in the offer letter, and later fees are announced at the end of each academic year. The 2027/28 fee is not yet published.
Scholarships: HKAPA says it gives over 500 scholarship awards a year; some are applied for and some are by nomination, based on academic and non-academic achievement during study. The 2025/26 list includes the HKAPA Recruitment & Outstanding Scholarships and the Academy Non-Local Student Scholarships. The Mainland brochure says entrance and outstanding scholarships are nominated by the Academy and can cover up to four years of bachelor’s tuition.

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