How to Apply to Economics at HKUST: BBA in Economics, BSc in Economics and Finance and BSc in Mathematics and Economics, Direct or Through the Business and Management Choice, and Admission Routes and Prerequisites for Local Students, International Students (Including Applicants From China) and Transfer Students

At the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), economics is taught mainly by the School of Business and Management. HKUST lists three four-year degrees directly tied to economics: the BBA in Economics, the BSc in Economics and Finance and, jointly with the School of Science, the BSc in Mathematics and Economics. 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. Other business majors and computer science are not covered here.

1. The economics degrees

• BBA in Economics (ECON): aims to produce graduates skilled in economic reasoning and in using data for sound business decisions. HKUST says that compared with the BSc in Economics and Finance, ECON has more core courses in different business disciplines, giving a multidisciplinary view for analyzing business problems and public policy, plus a wide choice of economics electives. Students interested in research can take Honors Thesis courses in the final year and work with a faculty member on their own project.
• BSc in Economics and Finance (ECOF): HKUST says it puts greater emphasis on quantitative methods and techniques to understand the modern economy and public policy than the BBA in Economics, and also offers Honors Thesis courses; suited to careers in investment banking, consulting, data analysis and economics, or further study.
• BSc in Mathematics and Economics (MAEC): offered jointly by the School of Science and the School of Business and Management, with solid training in the fundamental theories of both subjects and quantitative reasoning; suited to quantitative finance roles or postgraduate study in applied mathematics, economics, business, operations research or management science.
• Flexibility: ECON and ECOF students can add another business major or take minors from other schools, and can apply for an extended major (Artificial Intelligence, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities, or Sustainability) at the end of the third term; the degree title then carries the extended major. HKUST says about 70% of business students complete their degree with additional majors or minors and over 80% do at least one internship.
• Graduate destinations (per HKUST): ECON graduates work in accounting, banking and finance, consulting, data and analytics, management and public policy, with many in the civil service and private sector, and employers named include JPMorgan Chase, Societe Generale Group, Deloitte, Hang Seng Bank, MTR Corporation and the HKSAR Government. ECOF graduates have worked as a data analyst at Bloomberg, an analyst at Deutsche Bank and a finance associate at MTR, and some received offers from Cambridge, Harvard, Oxford and the University of Toronto.
• Exchange: the School of Business and Management says it has exchange agreements with 165+ institutions and sends more than 400 students on exchange each year.

2. How to apply and when you pick the major

• Program-based: if you already have a clear interest in economics, apply directly to ECON, ECOF or Mathematics and Economics and you enter that program on admission.
• School-based “Business and Management”: students who want more time to explore can enter the school without a major and apply for Economics in the Major Selection Exercise. HKUST’s pages differ slightly: the ECON and ECOF pages say “at the end of the first two or three semesters”, while the school page says by the Year 2 fall term (the end of the first three terms).
• School page notes: both routes share the same curriculum in the first three terms; about half of the planned major seats are reserved for school-based students; about 80% of business students got their first- or second-choice major. Whether a GPA or course-grade threshold applies in major selection is not given in the pages used for this guide; ask the school.
• Mathematics and Economics: apply directly, or enter through Science (Group A) or Business and Management and declare it after the first year.

3. Prerequisites and entrance tests

• High school math and economics subjects and grades: none of the three program pages states 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 and interview: no economics-specific entrance test is published. The BSc in Economics and Finance requires a JUPAS interview; see Section 4 for the others; 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 economics or math 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: BBA in Economics JS5311; BSc in Economics and Finance JS5331; joint BSc in Mathematics and Economics JS5813.
• 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. Of the three programs covered here, the BSc in Economics and Finance requires an interview; the BBA in Economics and the BSc in Mathematics and Economics are not on the list. Notices go to your 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. You can apply directly to “BBA in Economics” or “BSc in Economics and Finance”, or apply first to “Business and Management” (school-based) and choose Economics at the Major Selection Exercise. The joint “BSc in Mathematics and Economics” can also be applied to directly. 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 Business and Management 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 the school-based “Business and Management”, “BBA (Economics)”, “BSc (Economics and Finance)” and “BSc (Mathematics and Economics)”. 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. Check the Application Guide for whether the economics programs take first-year or senior-year transfer applications. 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: BBA in Economics JS5311, BSc in Economics and Finance JS5331 (interview compulsory), or BSc in Mathematics and Economics JS5813; meet the 332A33 general bar and check program-specific subjects

International students:

• Choose “BBA in Economics”, “BSc in Economics and Finance” or “Business and Management”; 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 Business and Management 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, BBA in Economics; BSc in Economics and Finance; BSc in Mathematics and Economics; School of Business and Management; 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.