How to Apply to Engineering at the University of Hong Kong: Direct Admission by Programme Code, an Elite Programme with Major Choice After Year 1, and Requirements for Local, Non-local (Including Mainland Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Engineering undergraduate programmes at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are offered by the Faculty of Engineering and lead to the Bachelor of Engineering (BEng). The programmes HKU lists are four years long, except the Global Engineering and Business Programme (five years) and the BEng plus MSc(Eng) route (4+1 years). Biomedical Engineering (6925) is offered by the School of Biomedical Engineering and also awards a BEng. Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence and Data Science are offered by the School of Computing and Data Science and have their own article on this site, so they appear here only in the Elite Programme. This article covers September 2027 entry for Hong Kong local students (JUPAS), non-local applicants with international qualifications (non-JUPAS), mainland Chinese Gaokao students and transfer students.

1. Programmes and how admission works

HKU asks you to apply directly to a specific programme code rather than to a common first-year engineering intake, with the exception of the Elite Programme described below. HKU lists a combined 327 first-year places for codes 6303, 6315, 6339, 6353, 6365, 6377, 6937 and 6987, and lists 75 places separately for Biomedical Engineering (6925).

• Mechanical Engineering BEng(ME), 6339: engineering mathematics, mechanics, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, materials, control and mechanical design, with the option to specialise in robotics engineering, aerospace engineering, energy and sustainability, or materials and manufacturing. HKU states the programme is accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).
• Civil Engineering BEng(CivE), 6353: structural, geotechnical, environmental, transportation engineering and infrastructure construction management, with focus areas in Environmental Engineering, Smart Transport and Logistics, and Urban Informatics. HKU states it is accredited by HKIE under the Washington Accord.
• Computer / Electrical / Electronic Engineering BEng(CE/EE/ElecE), 6987: one admission code covering three degrees, of which you study one. HKU does not say how places among the three are allocated within 6987, so ask the department (eceugadm@hku.hk). HKU states graduates are eligible to apply for HKIE professional recognition.
• Data and Systems Engineering BEng(DASE), 6315: data analytics and computing, and robotics and intelligent systems; accredited by HKIE and the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT).
• Robotics Engineering BEng(Robo), 6365: jointly offered by the departments of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Data and Systems Engineering, and Civil Engineering; HKU marks it as subject to the University’s approval. Year 3 is studied in Shanghai with a HK$50,000 studentship. The curriculum is mapped against HKIE accreditation requirements and meets the minimum academic requirements of the Control, Automation and Instrumentation discipline; HKU does not say it is accredited yet.
• BEng and MSc(Eng) in Artificial Intelligence in Engineering, 6377 (BEng X + MScEng AIE): 4+1 years, completing a BEng major first. HKU says you can opt out with no penalty and simply take the bachelor’s degree.
• Global Engineering and Business Programme (GEBP), 6937: five years, two degrees (BEng and BBA). Engineering majors are Civil, Computer, Data and Systems, Electrical, Electronic and Mechanical; business majors are Entrepreneurship, Design and Innovation (selection required), Finance, Human Resource Management, Information Systems and Analytics, and Marketing. At least one outbound exchange outside Hong Kong is required. The fifth year is self-financed, with local tuition set higher than government-funded programmes. HKU states the BEng programmes under 6937 are accredited by HKIE.
• Biomedical Engineering BEng(BME), 6925: foci in biomedical signals and systems, biomaterials and tissue engineering, biomechanics and biotransport, biomedical imaging and omics technologies; HKU states it is fully accredited by HKIE and has an articulation pathway to MBBS.
• BEng Elite Programme BEng(Elite), 6303: students take the engineering core courses in Year 1 and at the end of Year 1 choose a BEng major (Civil, Computer, Electrical, Electronic, Data and Systems or Mechanical), subject to academic performance and availability; they can also choose the X+AI programme or Robotics Engineering, or Computer Science or Artificial Intelligence and Data Science from the School of Computing and Data Science with a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.3. Students who enrol in those two School of Computing and Data Science majors cannot join X+AI. “Elite” status must be kept with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 at the end of each academic year; otherwise students continue in engineering without the programme’s privileges.
• HKU-Cambridge Undergraduate Recruitment Scheme (Engineering): two years in Hong Kong and three in Cambridge, earning a BEng from HKU and a BA (Honours) and MEng from Cambridge. HKU notes the scheme is under review and may change, but will remain a dual bachelor’s and master’s programme. Mainland applicants can be considered through the Diversified Excellence Admissions Scheme.

Learning opportunities named on HKU’s programme pages include internships and exchanges (Mechanical, Civil, Data and Systems), summer internships (Biomedical Engineering), competitions (Mechanical: AIAA Design/Build/Fly, Formula Student UK, Formula SAE China, Robocon) and a semester-long exchange in Year 3 (Data and Systems). Elite, X+AI and GEBP students can apply for the CSHK HKU Engineering Flagship Scholarship and Placement, a one-off HK$40,000 scholarship, and may be selected for a paid internship. HKU does not state a faculty-wide compulsory internship requirement; check each programme page.

2. Admission standards for international qualifications (non-JUPAS)

Applicants with international or other national qualifications apply through the non-JUPAS scheme. These are the “expected lower boundaries” in HKU’s admissions standards tool; the A-level and IB figures are the same for schools in mainland China and Canada, and the AP and SAT figures follow the mainland China listing. HKU stresses that meeting the boundary does not guarantee admission; interviews, personal statements and references are also considered. The “additional requirements” column refers to interview performance and states that a compulsory interview applies only to sub-degree applicants; for Robotics Engineering 6365 it says no additional requirements and the interview as not applicable, and HKU arranges interviews for non-local applicants to Biomedical Engineering 6925.

• Mechanical 6339, Civil 6353, Computer / Electrical / Electronic 6987, Data and Systems 6315: A-level 1A*2A (excluding Chinese and English language subjects, Critical Thinking, General Studies, EPQ and similar), with grade A or above in Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics and grade A or above in Biology, Chemistry or Physics; IB 34, with Mathematics AA or AI at HL 5 or above (or AA at SL 6) and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics at HL 5 or above (or SL 6 or above); AP grade 4 or above in three subjects plus an SAT superscore of 1500 or above or grade 3 or above in two further AP subjects, including AP Calculus BC at 4 or above and one of AP Biology, Chemistry, Physics 1, Physics 2 or Physics C at 4 or above (English Language and Composition, AP Seminar and AP Research are excluded).
• Elite Programme 6303: A-level 3A*1A (excluding all language subjects), with A* in a mathematics subject and A* in Biology, Chemistry or Physics; IB 40, with Mathematics at HL 5 or above (or AA SL 6), Biology, Chemistry or Physics at HL 6 or above, and English A at 5 or above or English B at 6 or above; AP grade 5 in three subjects plus an SAT superscore of 1520 or above or grade 5 in two further subjects, with AP Calculus BC at 5 and one of the science APs at 5.
• X+AI 6377, Robotics 6365, GEBP 6937: A-level 3A*, with A* in a mathematics subject and A* in Biology, Chemistry or Physics; IB 39, with Mathematics at HL 5 or above (or AA SL 6), a science at HL 6 or above and the same English requirement; AP grade 5 in one subject and 4 or above in two, plus an SAT superscore of 1510 or above or grade 4 or above in two further subjects, with AP Calculus BC at 4 or above and one science AP at 4 or above.
• Biomedical Engineering 6925: A-level 2A*1A, with A in a mathematics subject and A in Biology, Chemistry or Physics; IB 36, with Mathematics at HL 5 or above (or AA SL 6) and a science at HL 5 or above (or SL 6 or above).
• Canadian high school: HKU lists requirements province by province. The listing is the same for all the engineering codes above, including 6925. For example, the British Columbia graduation diploma requires passes in five acceptable Grade 12 (or BC provincially examinable) subjects with a best-five average of 90% or better, including Mathematics and one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics; Alberta also asks for a best-five Grade 12 average of 90% or better, and Ontario a best-six average of 90% or better in Grade 12 4U / 4M courses. HKU also lists a second-language requirement that a pass in a non-English language at Grade 10 or above satisfies (other routes exist). For other provinces use the standards tool on HKU’s site.
• Advanced standing: students admitted with A-level or IB after at least seven years of secondary education can apply for up to 30 credits of advanced standing for the codes above, and 6925 grants 18 credits. Other qualifications are considered case by case.
• Enter your grades in the system: predicted and actual grades must be entered in the application system, not only uploaded.

3. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: overall 6.5 with at least 6.0 in Writing and Speaking in the same sitting, taken within two years before 1 September of entry; IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online are not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT: for tests from 21 January 2026, overall 5.0 with at least 5.0 in Writing and Speaking; for earlier tests, 95 with at least 25 in Writing and Speaking. TOEFL Home Edition and ITP are not accepted.
• HKU’s English requirement page also lists IB (English A 5 or English B 6), GCSE / O Level English at grade B or 6, AS / A-level English Language or Literature at grade C (General Paper is not accepted), an SAT Reading and Writing section score of 610 or above, and at least one year of full-time bachelor’s study at a recognised university taught in English.

4. Hong Kong local students: JUPAS

• HKU’s engineering codes share a similar pattern: Level 3 in English, Chinese and Mathematics (Compulsory Part), “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, and Level 3 in two electives, including Level 3 or above in one of Biology, Chemistry, Combined Science (not for 6937) or Physics; Level 3 or above in Mathematics Extended Part (M1 or M2) is “preferred”. The Elite Programme 6303, X+AI 6377, Robotics 6365 and GEBP 6937 require Level 4 in English and Mathematics. For Biomedical Engineering 6925 the preferred subjects are Chemistry, M1 / M2 or Physics.
• The scoring formula for 2027–2028 entry is English + Mathematics + best three subjects, and HKU notes that M1 / M2 and Category C subjects may be included; interview performance is a further factor; repeaters are considered on their best results in the latest three sittings (for 6937, the best results in 2026 and 2027).
• Dates: JUPAS applications close on 2 December 2026, HKDSE results are released on 14 July 2027, and the Main Round offers are announced on 4 August 2027. HKU interviews selected candidates before or after the results and gives preference to those who list the programme as a Band A choice.

5. Mainland Chinese students: Mainland Undergraduate Admissions Scheme

• Independent admissions: HKU recruits in mainland China through its own application process, separate from the national unified admissions system. HKU says all undergraduate programmes (the Bachelor of Dental Surgery has a separate note) are open to mainland applicants with no arts / science stream restriction, and students in reformed-Gaokao provinces face no subject-combination requirement. There are no provincial quotas. Applying to HKU does not conflict with taking part in mainland admissions, but once you accept an HKU offer you leave the mainland national admissions process.
• How to apply: complete the online form and pay the HK$780 application fee, then log in again after the Gaokao results are released to upload your scores. The system opens on 6 October 2026 and closes on 28 June 2027; offers are released between late June and 7 July 2027.
• Selection: HKU looks first at the Gaokao total and English score, interview performance (if invited) and overall academic and non-academic qualities. HKU does not publish Gaokao cut-offs for the engineering programmes.
• Diversified Excellence Admissions Scheme: after registering for the mainland scheme you can also apply, for example with olympiad or subject competition results or patents. Strong performers can receive bonus consideration, and outstanding applicants may receive a conditional offer before the Gaokao. Applicants can also take part in the Faculty of Engineering’s HKU-Cambridge selection. The first round closes on 31 December 2026, interviews start in batches from January–February 2027, and the final deadline is 22 March 2027; applicants who attend no interview round before the Gaokao lose eligibility for the scheme.
• The mainland page does not separately describe requirements for Chinese high school transcripts or the Huikao. Students applying with international qualifications should use sections 2 and 3.

6. Transfer and sub-degree students

• Transferring from another university: choose “Bachelor’s or higher degree” as your qualification in the non-JUPAS application. For Mechanical 6339, Civil 6353, Computer / Electrical / Electronic 6987, Data and Systems 6315, the Elite Programme 6303 and Biomedical Engineering 6925, the expected lower boundary is one year of full-time bachelor’s study at a recognised university with a cumulative GPA of at least 70% of the institution’s highest GPA, or 3.0, whichever is higher, and Mathematics plus one of Biology, Chemistry or Physics. HKU also notes that students currently enrolled in a UGC-funded full-time bachelor’s degree in Hong Kong are discouraged from inter-institutional transfers, which are considered only in exceptional cases such as excellent first-year results or approved transfers because of over-enrolment.
• Hong Kong associate degree / higher diploma graduates: HKU sets aside some senior-year places each year. The Faculty of Engineering lists BEng places for Civil, Computer, Computer Science, Electrical, Mechanical, Electronic and Data and Systems Engineering, and asks that sub-degree graduates come from the same or a related discipline. Applications opened on 23 September 2026, the first round closes at noon on 25 November 2026, and later applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until noon on 20 August 2027. First-year entry is also possible.
• HKU does not publish credit-transfer rules for individual engineering programmes; contact the departments (for example Mechanical mech@hku.hk, Civil civdept@hku.hk, Data and Systems dase@hku.hk, or the Faculty at enggugad@hku.hk).

7. Timeline (non-JUPAS, September 2027 entry)

• 23 September 2026: applications open.
• 25 November 2026, noon (HKT): first-round evaluation deadline; later applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
• By 1 December 2026: enter predicted or actual grades; counsellors and referees submit documents.
• From December 2026: first-round results; if you receive an offer you accept within three to four weeks and pay a non-refundable deposit.
• 25 August 2027, noon: applications close.
• Faculties may set their own document timelines, and non-local students should allow 4–6 weeks for assessment and 8–10 weeks for a visa after receiving an offer. HKU’s international qualifications page does not state the application fee amount; confirm it in the application system.

8. Tuition, living costs and scholarships

• Tuition: for 2027/28, non-local students (and local students not eligible for subsidised fees) in STEM faculties and schools, including Engineering and Biomedical Engineering, pay HK$280,000 a year; eligible local students pay HK$49,500. HKU does not describe a separate engineering surcharge.
• Living costs: HK$17,290 to HK$37,940 a year in residential halls (285 residential days, excluding the summer semester), HK$30,000 to HK$50,000 off campus, and up to HK$50,000 a year in living expenses.
• Scholarships: HKU offers merit-based scholarships covering tuition, and in some cases living expenses, to local and non-local students; use the scholarship finder to filter by student type, qualification and faculty. Engineering programmes add an Elite entrance scholarship of HK$100,000 (paid in four instalments) and an exchange scholarship of HK$50,000, a HK$120,000 master’s entrance scholarship for X+AI students admitted to the MSc(Eng) in AI in Engineering with a cumulative GPA of 2.7 or higher, and a HK$100,000 master’s entrance scholarship for Robotics students with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

Checklist

Hong Kong local students:

• Apply through JUPAS by 2 December 2026; Level 3 in English, Chinese and Mathematics (Level 4 in English and Mathematics for Elite, X+AI, Robotics and GEBP) and a science elective at Level 3

Non-local students with international qualifications:

• A-level 1A*2A (3A*1A for Elite) or IB 34 (40 for Elite), including mathematics and a science; IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in Writing and Speaking); apply by 25 November 2026, noon, for the first round

Mainland Gaokao students:

• Register by 28 June 2027 and pay HK$780, then upload your scores; with competition results or other strengths, also apply to the Diversified Excellence Admissions Scheme (first round 31 December) and the HKU-Cambridge selection

Transfer students:

• One year of full-time bachelor’s study with a GPA of 70% of the maximum or 3.0 (whichever is higher), plus Mathematics and a science; choose “Bachelor’s or higher degree” in the non-JUPAS application

Sources: The University of Hong Kong Admissions Office, BEng Elite Programme (6303); Mechanical Engineering (6339); Civil Engineering (6353); Computer / Electrical / Electronic Engineering (6987); Data and Systems Engineering (6315); BEng and MSc(Eng) in AI in Engineering (6377); Robotics Engineering (6365); Global Engineering and Business Programme (6937); Biomedical Engineering (6925); HKU-Cambridge Recruitment Scheme; International/Non-JUPAS admissions and programme standards; English language requirement; Mainland Undergraduate Admissions Scheme (Chinese); JUPAS; Hong Kong sub-degrees; Tuition and living expenses; Scholarships. Information is for September 2027 entry; standards are HKU’s published expected lower boundaries. Check HKU for the latest details.