How to Apply to Engineering at HKUST: School-based Admission with an Extended Major in AI Alongside Seven Department-based Choices, Mathematics Plus a Science for International Applicants, an Interview for Gaokao Students, and Requirements for Local, Non-local (Including Mainland Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

Engineering undergraduate programmes at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) are offered by the School of Engineering (SENG). The degrees listed on the site are four-year BEng programmes (Computer Science is a BEng / BSc). Computer Science has its own article on this site, so it appears here only briefly. This article covers September 2027 entry for Hong Kong local students (JUPAS), non-local students with international qualifications, mainland Chinese Gaokao students and transfer students.

1. Programmes and how admission works

HKUST says the School of Engineering uses a dual-track admission framework:

• School-based admission: choose “Engineering with Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence” (JUPAS code JS5282). Students first build a foundation in basic sciences, languages, computing and the University Common Core, including a first-year course on AI applications across engineering, and then go through a major selection exercise to enter an engineering department, the BEng in Computer Engineering, or an interdisciplinary programme offered with other Schools; HKUST’s page for this option says this happens no later than the end of Year 1, while the application-procedures page says students choose majors in the spring semester of Year 1 or the fall semester of Year 2; check with the admissions office. HKUST encourages applicants keen on the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Engineering or Microelectronics and Integrated Circuits to apply for department-based admission, because entry to these through major selection is competitive and quota-limited. Students who join the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the BEng in Computer Engineering or the BSc in Data Science and Technology must drop the Extended Major in AI.
• Department-based admission: students with a confirmed engineering interest apply directly to one of 7 choices: Chemical and Biological Engineering (JS5220), Civil and Environmental Engineering (JS5230), Computer Science and Engineering (JS5240), Electronic and Computer Engineering (JS5250), Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics (JS5260), Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (JS5270), and the BEng in Computer Engineering (JS5212, jointly offered by Computer Science and Engineering and Electronic and Computer Engineering). After one to a few semesters they declare a major within the department. Except for Computer Science and Engineering and Computer Engineering, department-based students can apply to add the Extended Major in AI after Year 1 (an extra 21–24 credits).
• Engineering degrees listed: Chemical and Biological Engineering — Bioengineering, Chemical Engineering, Energy and Environmental Engineering; Civil and Environmental Engineering — Civil Engineering, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Computer Science and Engineering — Artificial Intelligence, Computer Science (BEng / BSc); Electronic and Computer Engineering — Electronic Engineering, Microelectronics and Integrated Circuits; Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics — Decision Analytics, Industrial Engineering and Engineering Management; Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering — Aerospace Engineering, Mechanical Engineering; plus the BEng in Computer Engineering. Joint programmes include the BSc in Data Science and Technology, the BSc in Risk Management and Business Intelligence and the BEng/BSc and BBA Dual Degree in Technology and Management.
• Extended Major in AI: students take roughly 21–24 additional credits and graduate with a “BEng in one of the engineering disciplines with Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence”; HKUST notes that, from the 2025 intake, programmes of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Engineering and Data Science and Technology do not go with the Extended Major.
• Accreditation: HKUST states the School’s engineering programmes are accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE) and recognised under the Washington Accord in more than 20 countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Singapore, New Zealand and South Korea; IT and computing programmes are recognised under the Seoul Accord. ABET is not mentioned.
• Route to professional engineer: after a recognised degree, graduates complete 2–3 years of formal training under the HKIE Graduate Training Scheme “A”, then 1–2 years of experience with responsibility, and can then apply for professional assessment, as soon as 4 years after graduation according to HKUST.
• Internships: the Mechanical Engineering page describes industrial placements and team projects in the final stage of the programme. The School’s pages do not state a compulsory internship or co-op requirement; ask the departments.

2. Prerequisites and standards (international qualifications)

Applicants with international qualifications apply directly to HKUST and must meet the general admissions requirements, the School / programme-specific requirements and the English language requirements. You can choose up to two options, with the first as your highest priority. The following comes from HKUST’s requirements finder:

• Subject requirements for the engineering options (identical for the school-based option JS5282 and the department-based options): senior-level Mathematics plus one senior-level subject from Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Computer Science. Preferred subject: Physics (Physics or Chemistry for Chemical and Biological and for Civil and Environmental Engineering; Physics or Computer Science for Computer Engineering). An interview is not compulsory, and applicants without the preferred subject are still considered if they meet the subject requirements.
• British-patterned (GCE A-level / International A-level): high school graduation and passes in at least three A-level subjects, or a BTEC National Level 3 Extended Diploma. HKUST gives the 2026 intake mid-50% range as 144–168 UCAS points (AAA to 3A*), and says predicted grades, IGCSE / GCSE / O Level results and AS results are useful for preliminary assessment.
• IB Diploma: the 2026 intake mid-50% range is 35–41 points (including bonus points). The general requirements page does not state a minimum IB score.
• American-patterned (SAT / ACT / AP): high school graduation and either an ACT composite of 24 or above (one sitting, including the Science section) or an SAT total of 1190 or above, plus two AP subjects at grade 3 or above; or five AP subjects at grade 4 or above. The 2026 intake mid-50% SAT total was 1480–1540.
• Canadian high school: listed province by province; for example British Columbia / Yukon require a graduation certificate with passes in five Grade 12 academic courses, Alberta and New Brunswick also five Grade 12 courses, and Ontario six Grade 12 4U / 4M courses. HKUST gives an overall average of 85% or above as reference information.
• English requirement: IELTS Academic overall 6.0 (IELTS Academic for UKVI is also accepted); TOEFL iBT 80 for tests before 21 January 2026 and 4.5 on the new scale from that date (one sitting). HKUST also lists SAT, ACT, AP, IB, A-level, DET, PTE and other tests; use the English requirement finder on its site for each.
• Predicted grades: applicants taking the IB, GCE A-level or Indian high school examinations nominate an IB coordinator or counsellor to submit predicted grades.

3. Rounds, application fee and documents

• Timeline: the online system opens on 2 October 2026; the priority round closes on 25 November 2026; applications are reviewed on a rolling basis from 26 November; offers are announced from late December 2026; applications close on 30 June 2027.
• Application fee: HK$600 (about US$77), by VISA or MasterCard credit card, Alipay or WeChat Pay.
• Documents: identity documents; a personal statement (HKUST says an application is put on hold until it is received); school transcripts (the guide says the latest two years, while the procedures page says from Grade 10); public examination certificates and proof of English proficiency; degree certificates and transcripts if any; award certificates; and at least one academic referee, who is emailed after you submit. Total uploads are limited to 6 MB. HKUST does not describe an additional engineering essay.
• Interview: for the engineering options HKUST states that an interview is not compulsory.

4. Hong Kong local students: JUPAS

• General requirements (stated for 2026 entry as “332A33”): English Level 3, Chinese Level 3, Mathematics (Compulsory Part) Level 2, “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, Elective 1 at Level 3 and Elective 2 or M1 / M2 at Level 3. Non-local HKDSE students apply as international-qualification applicants.
• School of Engineering JUPAS codes: JS5282 for the school-based option, and JS5220, JS5230, JS5240, JS5250, JS5260, JS5270 and JS5212 for the department-based options. HKUST publishes a PDF of programme-specific requirements and score formulae (titled 2027 JUPAS admissions requirements). For JS5270 and JS5282 the formula is English ×2 + Mathematics ×2 + the best of Biology / Chemistry / Physics / ICT + the best two other subjects, with Biology, Chemistry and Physics weighted ×2, M1 / M2 ×1.5 and other subjects ×1. The ICT weight and each code’s highest attainable score cannot be matched reliably to a code in the PDF’s table layout, so they are not given here; check the PDF for those and for the other departments. A bonus for the sixth-best subject is capped at 5% of the best-five score.

5. Mainland Chinese students: independent admission

• Independent admission: HKUST states that it recruits independently in mainland China, does not take part in the national unified admissions plan and does not use up a unified-admission choice. Admission is by merit with no upper or lower quota by province or track. You apply directly through the online application system.
• Dates: applications open on 2 October 2026 and close on 10 June 2027; after the Gaokao results (late June) HKUST invites those who reach the interview score line to interview; current-year Gaokao students are interviewed in late June, and offers go out from late June to early July.
• Selection: after the results, HKUST sets each School’s interview score line based on the actual applicant pool, the first-tier lines of each province and the cut-offs of key mainland universities; the number is not published in advance. Reaching the School’s line earns an invitation to an all-English interview (psychological resilience, logical thinking, expression and communication), and passing the interview leads to an offer.
• English: the Gaokao foreign language must be English; otherwise you need a qualifying English test such as IELTS or TOEFL.
• Subject requirement: the finder gives the same entry for all School of Engineering choices (Engineering with Extended Major in AI, the six department-based choices and Computer Engineering): science-track students need physics; for reformed-Gaokao provinces, the selected subjects must include physics. The fallback option is the school-based “Engineering with Extended Major in AI” or other engineering department choices.
• How to apply: one application form and one programme choice only (some options offer an alternative choice); before your interview you can change the choice in mid-June, except for those invited to an early interview. A personal statement, self-recommendation or recommendation letters are supplementary and HKUST’s guide says they are not required. The application is complete only after the fee is paid; the guide does not state the amount.
• The Gaokao page and guide do not separately describe a minimum Gaokao English score, Chinese high school transcripts or Huikao materials; contact the admissions office (ugenquiry@ust.hk).

6. Transfer and sub-degree students

• Transferring from another university: HKUST accepts transfer students from local or overseas bachelor’s programmes and normally expects a GPA of B+ or 80%; credit transfer is considered case by case and the year of entry depends on the credits granted. HKUST does not publish engineering-specific requirements for calculus, physics or chemistry sequences; the enquiry address is ugenquiry@ust.hk.
• Hong Kong associate degree / higher diploma graduates: there are currently 158 places (University-wide, not only engineering) designated for local AD and HD graduates, who receive credit transfer and enter the senior year of a programme directly. The entry requirement is an associate degree or higher diploma from an institution HKUST recognises.
• Dates: the online system opens in early October 2026, the priority round closes on 25 November 2026, later applications are rolling, and applications close on 30 June 2027.

7. Tuition, living costs and scholarships

• Tuition: for 2027/28, non-local students pay HK$260,000 a year (about US$33,000); eligible local students pay HK$49,500. HKUST does not describe a separate engineering surcharge.
• Accommodation and living expenses: about HK$21,000–51,000 for university halls per residential year (the figure for students admitted in fall 2026); non-local students are provided with university accommodation in their first year and should expect about HK$4,500–18,000 a month for off-campus housing afterwards; personal expenses are about HK$65,000 a year.
• Scholarships: all applicants are automatically considered for academic admissions scholarships, with no separate application, and are usually informed with their offer. The Admissions Scholarship for Other Qualifications can reach full tuition plus an allowance of HK$65,000 a year, renewable for the normal study period subject to satisfactory performance. The Global Learners Scholarship, a full tuition waiver, is for applicants from underrepresented nationalities, and HKUST’s page does not list the nationalities. Non-academic scholarships (the Student Athletes Admissions Scheme and the Beyond Academic Admissions Scholarship) need a separate application, with a priority-round deadline of 25 November 2026 for international-qualification applicants. HKUST does not list an engineering-specific admission scholarship.

Checklist

Hong Kong local students:

• Apply through JUPAS; 332A33 (Level 3 in English and Chinese, Level 2 in Mathematics, Level 3 in two electives) and the programme score formula

Non-local students with international qualifications:

• Senior-level mathematics plus physics or another science; IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL equivalent; HK$600 fee; priority round 25 November 2026, final deadline 30 June 2027; personal statement, transcripts and one academic referee

Mainland Gaokao students:

• Apply online by 10 June 2027 with one choice; English as the Gaokao foreign language; physics for science-track and reformed-Gaokao students; an all-English interview if you reach the interview line

Transfer students:

• Bachelor’s study with a GPA normally expected at B+ or 80%; Hong Kong sub-degree graduates can apply for senior-year articulation places

Sources: HKUST Undergraduate Admissions, School of Engineering programmes and admissions framework; Engineering with Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence; Mechanical Engineering; International qualifications (with the requirements finder); Application procedures; Online application guide (PDF); Mainland Gaokao admissions (Chinese); Gaokao online application guide (PDF, Chinese); JUPAS; JUPAS requirements and score formulae (PDF); Post-secondary and transfer; Fees and scholarships; Tuition fee and local / non-local status (PDF); Admissions scholarship for other qualifications; Global Learners Scholarship. Information is for September 2027 entry; subject requirements and reference scores come from the website’s requirements finder. Check HKUST for the latest details.