How to Apply to HSUHK for Economics: A BBA (Hons) in Economics in the School of Business, Taught in English over Four Years with Both Theoretical and Empirical Training and Data Analysis, with Admission Routes and Prerequisites for Local Students, International Students (Including Applicants from China) and Transfer Students

The undergraduate economics degree at The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK) is the Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours) in Economics (BBA-ECON), offered in the School of Business by the Department of Economics and Finance. Here is how to apply, based on HSUHK’s official information, for local students, international students (including applicants from China) and transfer students. Note that HSUHK’s published fees, scholarships and dates are still for 2026/27; watch for updates for 2027 entry.

1. What the BBA in Economics covers

• Basics: HSUHK lists it at Qualifications Framework Level 5, taught in English, full time and face to face, over four years.
• Aims: the programme aims to give students a solid foundation in economics and research skills so they can carry out economic analysis for decision making in a business environment; practical training uses real-world economic issues and hands-on work with data analysis software, and the aims include analytical ability in both theoretical and empirical approaches.
• Structure: Year 1 entrants take 41 modules (3 credits each, except three English modules of 2 credits), 120 credits in total: 16 Common Core modules, 10 Business Education modules, 12 modules in the Specialty in Economics (the table shows 10 core and 2 elective) and 3 free electives. The Common Core includes English, Chinese, IT skills, Quantitative Methods and FuturEdge. Year 3 entrants take 20 modules and 60 credits. Individual module titles are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the programme page and pamphlet.
• Special features: a non-credit “Future Economist Program” that lets highly motivated students do independent undergraduate research under professors’ supervision, and a “BBA Economics Career Accelerator Mentorship Program” (CAMP) with industry mentors.
• Careers: HSUHK lists roles such as economist, consultant, policy analyst, research analyst, securities and market analyst, financial planner, financial data analyst, teacher and economic journalist, as well as further study.
• Professional recognition: the programme page shows “To be provided”.
• The School of Business also offers BBAs in Finance and Banking, Financial Analysis and FinTech, Professional Accountancy and others, and the School of Humanities and Social Science offers a BSocSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics; these are not covered here.

2. Local students (HKDSE)

• Minimum requirements (HKDSE 2024 onwards): Level 3 in Chinese Language and English Language, Level 2 in Mathematics (Compulsory Part), “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, and one elective at Level 2. For HKDSE 2023 or earlier, Liberal Studies at Level 2 applies and elective rules differ. The pages used list no separate mathematics or economics subject requirement for this programme.
• Assessment: HSUHK’s assessment table lists an interview for BBA-ECON (not marked “case by case” as for several other BBAs); the written-test column is blank. Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an invitation or an offer.
• How to apply: through HSUHK’s Undergraduate Application System or the E-APP system (HKDSE candidates only). The JUPAS codes HSUHK publishes (JSSH01–JSSH06) are for SSSDP programmes only; no JUPAS code is shown for BBA-ECON.
• Dates for 2026 entry: applications opened 15 November 2025; E-APP first round 4 December 2025 to 19 May 2026 and second round 22 May to 6 July 2026; local applications through HSUHK’s system closed 23 August 2026. 2027 dates are not yet published.
• Entrance scholarships for local students: a best-five HKDSE total of 20 or above (with at least Level 4 in Chinese and English) earns an entrance scholarship of HKD 15,000 a year in Years 1–2 and HKD 20,000 a year in Years 3–4; a total of 18–19 earns a Dean’s Award of HKD 5,000 a year in Years 1–2 and HKD 10,000 a year in Years 3–4. Other named scholarships are listed on the website.

3. International students (international qualifications)

• Entry qualifications (plus the English requirement): GCE A-Level, at least two subjects at Grade E (excluding Chinese); IB Diploma, 24 points (3 Higher Level and 3 Standard Level subjects, at least 12 points from Higher Level); SAT 1190 on the redesigned SAT, with school results possibly considered as well; ACT composite 24; two AP subjects at Grade 3; requirements are also listed for NCEA, Malaysia’s STPM and UEC, and Taiwan’s GSAT and Advanced Subjects Test; other equivalent qualifications are considered case by case.
• English: applicants with overseas qualifications need IELTS Academic 5.5 overall, or TOEFL 525 (paper) or 70 (internet-based), taken at a test centre.
• Prerequisite subjects: the international-qualification page lists no separate mathematics or economics subject requirement for this programme; interview performance, English, programme choices and programme-specific requirements are considered case by case.
• Steps for non-local applicants: apply online; upload a photo, passport or travel document, high school reports, international exam results, other qualification certificates and proof of English; pay the application fee of HKD 200 per programme; shortlisted applicants are normally invited to a written test and/or interview by email and SMS (online tests or interviews may be arranged; if invited to Hong Kong, HSUHK provides no visa or accommodation arrangements); to accept an offer, pay a HKD 30,000 deposit, which counts towards tuition and is non-refundable and non-transferable.
• Dates for 2026 entry: applications opened 15 November 2025 and closed 10 June 2026 for non-local applicants; IB results were due in early July and A-Level results in mid-August; non-local applicants must obtain the qualification before late July to be considered for the September intake. 2027 dates are not yet published.

4. Applicants from China

(a) Mainland Gaokao candidates (including repeat candidates)

• Independent admission: HSUHK recruits independently and does not take part in the national unified admission; applying does not use a unified-admission choice. Under Ministry of Education rules, once a student is admitted and accepts the place, mainland unified-admission universities no longer admit them. HSUHK says that from 2025-26 it can recruit in all 31 provinces, regions and municipalities, with 750 places in 2026-27 and no upper or lower quota by province.
• Minimum requirements: a Gaokao total at least at the provincial second-tier undergraduate / undergraduate batch line; English as the foreign language with 100 or more in Gaokao English (out of 150). Candidates short of this may use IELTS Academic 5.5 or TOEFL 525 (paper) / 70 (internet-based); home-based tests and TOEFL Home Edition are not accepted. A separate mathematics score of 100 is listed only for the Actuarial Studies and Insurance degree; none is listed for economics.
• What is considered: school results, Gaokao total, programme choice, English, interview performance and programme-specific requirements.
• Dates for 2026 entry: applications opened 15 November 2025; interviews are arranged from December and eligible candidates can receive conditional offers; the non-local deadline was 25 June 2026, with results announced in late June. Note that the international-qualification page gives 10 June for non-local applicants, so the two pages differ; check HSUHK for 2027.
• Gaokao entrance scholarships: candidates scoring 70 points above the first-tier / special-category line may be considered for a four-year full scholarship, 50 points above for a half scholarship, and 1–49 points above with academic or non-academic strengths or community contribution for a merit scholarship; they renew automatically with a year GPA of 3.3 or above. Not applicable to January intake.

(b) Students in China with international curricula: HSUHK says mainland students with other (non-Gaokao) qualifications are considered individually through the international-qualification route; scholarships are described below.

5. Fees and scholarships (2026/27)

• Non-local students: for programmes other than Art and Design, the Year 1 entry first-year full tuition fee is HKD 153,820; fees for later years are adjusted by the Composite Consumer Price Index. Non-local students on a student visa cannot apply for Hong Kong government loans or subsidies.
• Local students: full tuition HKD 93,230, or HKD 58,110 after the Non-means-tested Subsidy (NMTSS; HKD 35,120 in 2026-27, for eligible local students only); SSSDP (Others) programmes are HKD 46,450 after subsidy. HSUHK’s programme list places School of Business programmes in the NMTSS column; check that page for the classification.
• Other costs (Mainland student page): living expenses about HKD 50,000–60,000 a year; on-campus accommodation about HKD 31,572–38,092 for two semesters (other room types are listed on the website).
• International-qualification entrance scholarships: limited in number and competitive. Mainland students with non-Gaokao qualifications, and Macao and Taiwan students, can receive four-year full or half tuition scholarships; students from ASEAN and other countries and regions outside China can receive four-year full or half tuition plus accommodation. Examples: IB 35 (full) or 30 (half); A-Level at least 2A* and 2A (full) or 3A (half); renewal needs a year GPA of 3.3 or above.
• A student receives only one entrance scholarship, and entrance scholarships do not apply to January intake.

6. Transfer and senior-year entry

• HSUHK lists only Year 3 entry for BBA-ECON (no Year 2 entry). Requirement: an Associate Degree or Higher Diploma in a related discipline from a recognised institution in Hong Kong or overseas, with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale or equivalent.
• HSUHK adds that applicants not eligible for Year 3 might be admitted to a lower year, depending on places and cumulative GPA.
• Credit transfer: credit may be granted for modules completed at other accredited institutions; Associate Degree and Higher Diploma graduates receive block credit transfer of at most 50% of the programme’s total credit units, counted towards graduation but excluded from the GPA.
• Dates for 2026 entry: applications opened 15 November 2025; non-local deadline 10 June 2026; local deadline 23 August 2026. 2027 dates are not yet published.
• Year 3 entry fees: non-local HKD 174,000; local HKD 105,460 in full, or HKD 70,340 after NMTSS. Senior-year non-local students may apply for on-campus accommodation, which is not guaranteed.
• The senior-year pages used do not list the assessment format for BBA-ECON; confirm with the Registry.

7. Checklist

Local students:

• HKDSE Level 3 in Chinese and English, Level 2 in Mathematics (Compulsory Part), CSD “Attained”, one elective at Level 2; prepare for an interview
• Apply through HSUHK’s system or E-APP; for 2026 entry the local deadline was 23 August (check 2027 dates)

International students (including applicants from China):

• Gaokao candidates: apply directly through the Mainland admission scheme; at least the undergraduate batch line and 100+ in English (or IELTS 5.5 / TOEFL 70); watch for interview invitations
• International-curriculum students: two A-Levels at E or IB 24 and so on, plus IELTS 5.5 or TOEFL 70; results by late July
• For 2026 entry the non-local deadline appears as 10 June (international-qualification page) and 25 June (Gaokao page); check HSUHK for 2027

Transfer students:

• Associate Degree or Higher Diploma in a related discipline with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5, for Year 3 entry; credit transfer up to 50%

Sources: The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong (HSUHK), BBA (Hons) in Economics programme page; Programmes by school; HKDSE entrance requirements; HKDSE assessment; HKDSE important dates; HKDSE how to apply; Entrance scholarships for local students; Entrance requirements (international qualifications); Important dates (international qualifications); Fees and bursaries; Entrance scholarships (international qualifications); How non-local applicants apply; Mainland student admission (in Chinese); Gaokao entrance requirements (in Chinese); Gaokao important dates (in Chinese); Gaokao entrance scholarships (in Chinese); Gaokao fee estimate (in Chinese); Senior-year entrance requirements; Credit transfer; Senior-year important dates; Senior-year fees. Fees, scholarships and dates are the 2026/27 information currently published; check HSUHK for 2027/28 details.