How to Apply to Physics at HKUST: Entry Through Science (Group A) With the Major Declared After Year 1, Honors Physics and Physics and Mathematics Options, and Admission Routes and Prerequisites for Local Students, International Students (Including Applicants From China) and Transfer Students

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) offers physics through the School of Science as the BSc in Physics, a four-year degree. This guide uses HKUST’s official pages to explain how local HKDSE students (JUPAS), international students with international or overseas qualifications (including students in China on international curricula), Gaokao applicants from mainland China and transfer students apply, and what the site says and does not say about prerequisites.

1. What the physics program offers

• Degree: BSc in Physics. HKUST describes a curriculum from elementary particles to the fate of the universe, with topics from quantum computing, superconductivity and nanotechnology to quarks and black holes, preparing students for science-related careers or further study in physics and related fields.
• Two options: the Honors Physics Option is for students planning graduate school, with a strong foundation and a research project and thesis in the final year; the Physics and Mathematics Option is for students with a strong interest in both subjects and is described as especially useful for future study in theoretical physics.
• Extended major: Physics students can add an Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence and graduate with the BSc in Physics (with Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence). It is not a standalone major.
• International Research Enrichment track: a student profile mentions the “BSc in Physics (International Research Enrichment Track)”, with research in optical microscopy, nonlinear dynamics and astronomical instrumentation; IRE is also a separate application choice in the School of Science and requires a JUPAS interview.
• Graduate destinations (per HKUST): graduates are trained in analytical and problem-solving skills and can work in education, research and development, technical sales, forensic science, the medical industry, commerce and banking. The School of Science says about 25–30% of its graduates pursue further study each year.
• Accreditation, lab courses and research: the Physics page does not mention professional accreditation (such as IOP accreditation). The School of Science page says it invests heavily in laboratory and signature courses to build experimental and logical-analysis skills, and lists overseas exchange, undergraduate research and internships.

2. How to apply and when you pick the major

• Enter through Science (Group A): the Physics page gives JUPAS code JS5102 (Science (Group A)) and lists “Science (Group A)” as the choice for international qualifications. Group A is the school-based program for students interested in the physical sciences.
• First year: Science Foundation courses plus some language, elective and/or general education courses; after the first year you declare a major, which can be Physics. The foundation course names are not listed in the pages used for this guide; check the HKUST site.
• Conditions for declaring Physics: whether a GPA threshold or quota applies is not given in the pages used for this guide; ask the School of Science or the admissions office.
• Extended major in AI: HKUST says students in “Science (Group A) with Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence” should expect about one extra course per term over four years, and can declare Physics (with Extended Major in AI) after the first year.

3. Prerequisites and entrance tests

• High school physics and math subjects and grades: the Physics page does not state them. Subject and level requirements (if any) sit in selectors on the JUPAS, international qualifications and Gaokao pages, which are not shown in the pages used for this guide; check them on the HKUST site.
• Entrance test or interview: no dedicated physics entrance test is published. Science (Group A) and Physics are not on HKUST’s list of programs with a compulsory JUPAS interview; for international applicants check the interview requirements page.
• Credit on entry: holders of the IB Diploma, GCE AL/IAL and similar, or students who took advanced courses, may receive up to 30 of the 120 credits needed to graduate; which physics courses they replace is not given in the pages used for this guide.

4. Local students: HKDSE through JUPAS

• Route: HKUST takes part in the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS). Local HKDSE candidates apply through JUPAS on its timeline; non-local HKDSE students apply through HKUST’s online application system as applicants with international qualifications.
• JUPAS code for this program: JS5102 (Science (Group A)); Science (Group A) with Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence is JS5181.
• General requirements (2026 entry, as listed): four core subjects and two electives at a minimum of “332A33”: Level 3 in English, Level 3 in Chinese, Level 2 in Mathematics Compulsory Part, “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, Level 3 in Elective 1 and Level 3 in Elective 2 (or M1/M2). For some programs a Category C subject at score 3 / grade C can count as Elective 2. Non-Chinese-speaking students may use an alternative Chinese or other-language subject. Subject or level requirements for each program are in a school/program selector on the JUPAS page, which is not shown in the pages used for this guide; check it on the HKUST site.
• Scoring: each program has its own score formula with heavier weights on some subjects. For 2027 entry HKUST converts Category A core/elective subjects as 5** = 8.5, 5* = 7, 5 = 5.5, 4 = 4, 3 = 3, 2 = 2, with extra bonus for the best 6th subject. HKUST says reference scores are for reference only and it also considers interviews and non-academic performance.
• Flexible admissions arrangement: continues for 2027 entry. Applicants who miss the Chinese Language Level 3 requirement by one level but whose program score is above the 2026 median for that program and who list it in Band A may be considered. It applies to all programs.
• Interview: HKUST lists these JUPAS programs as requiring an interview: International Research Enrichment, BSc in Biomedical and Health Sciences, BBA in Global Business, BSc in Economics and Finance, BSc in Quantitative Finance, BSc in Innovation, Design and Technology, BSc in Individualized Interdisciplinary Major, BSc in Risk Management and Business Intelligence, BSc in Sustainable and Green Finance, and the Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management. Physics (Science Group A) is not on that list. Selected candidates are notified by email, JUPAS Message Box and SMS.

5. International students (Non-JUPAS): apply directly to HKUST

• Who: applicants with international qualifications (A-level/IAL, IB, American SAT/ACT/AP, Australian, Canadian and others) or overseas qualifications apply directly through HKUST’s online application system. The general-requirements selector on the international qualifications page lists dozens of countries and systems, including American-patterned, British-patterned (GCE AL/IAL), Canadian-patterned, IB, Australian-patterned, Singapore and New Zealand qualifications.
• Three sets of requirements: general admissions requirements, school/program-specific requirements and English language requirements. HKUST expects applicants to have graduated from high school. The specific scores and subjects sit in a selector that only shows results after you pick a qualification and program; they are not shown in the pages used for this guide, so check the international qualifications page for each.
• Choices: up to two application choices, the first having higher priority. Physics is not a separate application choice: the choice listed for it is “Science (Group A)”, and you declare Physics later. You can also choose Science (Group A) with Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence. Some choices have an alternative choice that is considered if you are not admitted to your original one; choices are final once submitted.
• Documents: copy of national ID or travel documents; personal statement; school reports from Grade 10 onwards; proof of English proficiency; public examination certificates, if any; proof of significant prizes or awards, if any; at least one academic referee; and, for IB, GCE-AL/IAL/Cambridge Pre-U or Indian high school students, the contact details of an IB Coordinator or career counselor who will submit predicted grades. The system emails referees and HKUST recommends they reply within two weeks.
• Interview: an interview may be arranged but is not mandatory except for some programs. HKUST lists the interview requirements on a separate page not used for this guide; check it for your program.
• English: accepted proofs include IELTS Academic, TOEFL, Duolingo English Test, PTE Academic and Cambridge CAE, as well as English results in HKDSE, IB, GCE AS/A-Level, IGCSE/GCSE/O-Level, SAT, ACT, AP and Canadian Grade 12, among others. The score for each is in the selector and is not shown in the pages used for this guide; check the HKUST site.
• Review and offers: applications are reviewed holistically on a rolling basis, with results from December; each choice is considered separately so you may get more than one offer at different times.
• Credit transfer on entry: holders of qualifications such as the IB Diploma or GCE AL/IAL, or students who took advanced courses before admission, may receive up to 30 credits toward the 120 needed to graduate; see HKUST for details.

6. Applicants from mainland China

• Gaokao route: HKUST recruits in mainland China independently, outside the national unified enrolment system, so it does not use one of your national application choices. Apply directly through HKUST’s online system before the deadline. HKUST says admission is merit-based rather than by plan, with no provincial or stream quotas.
• Dates: applications open 2 October 2026 and close 10 June 2027; after results come out (late June) HKUST invites applicants who reach the interview score line, with interviews for current Gaokao candidates in late June and offers from late June to early July.
• How Gaokao scores are used: current-year candidates (including repeat candidates) may apply. After results are released HKUST sets an interview score line for each school based on that year’s applications, with reference to provincial first-tier lines and the cut-offs of leading mainland universities. Reaching your school’s line earns an interview, held entirely in English, assessing composure, logical thinking, expression and communication; passing it leads to an offer. The actual score line for the School of Science is not published; confirm with the admissions office after the Gaokao.
• English: your Gaokao foreign language must be English; otherwise you need a valid IELTS, TOEFL or similar result. The minimum Gaokao English score is not published.
• Subject-track requirements: HKUST puts these in a selector on the Gaokao page that shows results after you pick a program. The Gaokao page’s program list includes “BSc (Physics)”, Science Group A and Science Group A with Extended Major in AI. The pages used for this guide did not show the track requirements; check the Gaokao admissions page.
• International-curriculum route: students in China taking A-level, IB or AP apply as in Section 5, not through the Gaokao route. The Gaokao page’s application fee and transcript requirements are not given in the content used for this guide; see the application procedure and online application guide linked on that page.

7. Transfer students

• Who can use the post-secondary route: current students or graduates of an associate degree (AD) or higher diploma (HD) program in Hong Kong; students from abroad with an associate degree, sub-degree or higher diploma; and transfer students from local or overseas bachelor’s programs.
• Requirements: completion of an AD or HD at an institution recognized by HKUST; for transfer from a local or overseas degree program, a GPA of B+ or 80% is normally expected. English requirements are the same as for international students.
• Credit and year of entry: HKUST says 158 places are designated for local AD and HD graduates, who are admitted directly to the senior year of an individual program with credit transfer; other applicants are considered case by case and the year of entry depends on the credits granted.
• Which programs take first-year or senior-year applications: listed in the Application Guide, which is not part of the pages used here. The Physics page says students enter through Science (Group A); ask the admissions office whether transfer students can enter Physics directly. Enquiries: ugenquiry@ust.hk.
• Timeline: system opens early October 2026, priority round closes 25 November 2026, rolling review from 26 November, offers from late December, closing 30 June 2027.

8. Timeline (international qualifications)

• 2 October 2026: online application system opens.
• 25 November 2026: priority round deadline; rolling review from 26 November.
• Late December 2026 onward: offers announced.
• 30 June 2027: applications close.
• To accept an offer you pay a deposit by the acceptance deadline (usually about 2–3 weeks): HK$20,000 for non-local students and HK$5,000 for local students. After acceptance you receive information on official documents, student visa (non-local), course registration, accommodation and orientation.

9. Fees and scholarships

• Application fee: HK$600 for international qualification applications, paid online by Visa or Mastercard credit card.
• Tuition (2027/28 academic year): non-local students pay HK$260,000 a year; local students eligible for government-subsidized tuition pay HK$49,500 a year. HKUST notes that the Hong Kong government has revised the eligibility criteria for subsidized places and fees, that you must provide identity documents to support local or non-local status, and that a change in status after you apply changes the admissions scheme and the fee.
• Housing and living costs: university accommodation for non-local students is about HK$21,000–51,000 per residential year (excluding meals, air-conditioning and laundry; this is for new students admitted in fall 2026, and HKUST says the 2027/28 fee has not been announced). Non-local students get university accommodation in their first year; after that HKUST estimates HK$4,500–18,000 a month off campus. Personal expenses are about HK$65,000 per academic year.
• Scholarships: every applicant is automatically considered for academic admissions scholarships, with no separate application, and results come with the offer. Non-academic scholarships need a separate application; for international-qualification applicants the priority round deadline is 25 November 2026 (late applications to the Student Athletes Admissions Scheme are considered case by case until late March 2027), and for JUPAS applicants it is early January 2027. HKUST’s list includes the Global Learners Scholarship, Future Leaders Award, Beyond Academic Admissions Scholarship (BAAS), Student Athletes Admissions Scheme (SAAS) and a scheme for International/Asian Olympiad medalists; check the site for criteria. Financial aid is handled by the Scholarship and Financial Aid Office.

Application checklist

Local HKDSE students:

• Apply through JUPAS to Science (Group A) JS5102; meet the 332A33 general bar and check program-specific subjects; declare Physics after the first year

International students:

• Choose “Science (Group A)”; submit by 25 November 2026 for the priority round; HK$600 fee; check the scores and English requirements on the international qualifications page

Applicants from mainland China:

• Gaokao: apply directly to HKUST, outside the national choices, by 10 June 2027; interview in English if you reach the School of Science line; Gaokao foreign language must be English

Transfer students:

• Use the post-secondary route; a GPA of B+ or 80% is normally expected for degree transfers; credits are reviewed case by case

Sources: HKUST undergraduate admissions site, BSc in Physics; School of Science; International qualifications; Application procedures for international qualifications; Mainland Gaokao admissions (Chinese); JUPAS admissions; Post-secondary qualifications and transfer; Fees and scholarships. The dates on these pages cover the October 2026 to June 2027 application cycle; check HKUST to confirm they match the entry year you are applying for.