How to Apply to Life Science and Medicine-Related Undergraduate Programmes at Hong Kong Baptist University: Broad-Based Entry to the Faculty of Science and Technology With a Biology Major Chosen in Year 2, Plus the Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science Double Degree, With Requirements for Local, International (Including Chinese Mainland) and Transfer Students

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) is a government-funded public university in Hong Kong, taught in English. Its life science and medicine-related undergraduate programmes sit mainly in the Faculty of Science and Technology (the Department of Biology offers Applied Biology and Bioresource and Agricultural Science) and the School of Chinese Medicine (the Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science double degree and Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine). None of HKBU’s six listed faculties and schools is a medical school, and the pages used for this guide do not list undergraduate degrees in nursing, neuroscience or pre-medicine; this guide covers only what HKBU lists, for September 2027 entry, for local students, international students (including those from Chinese Mainland) and transfer students.

1. The degrees

• BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology: four years, at least 128 units to graduate, with two concentrations: Biotechnology and Environmental Science. Biotechnology covers cellular, molecular and developmental biology, genetics and molecular biotechnology, with laboratory courses; Environmental Science covers biodiversity, ecology, environmental impact assessment and waste management, among others. HKBU says the Environmental Science concentration has full accreditation from the Hong Kong Institute of Qualified Environmental Professionals (HKIQEP) in five areas, and that students admitted from 2021/22 are on a shorter route to becoming Qualified Environmental Professionals; the named areas are on HKBU’s programme page.
• BSc (Hons) in Bioresource and Agricultural Science: four years, at least 129 units, first intake September 2019. Listed features include industry internship for all students, basic farm training at the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department experimental station, and local or overseas practical training such as organic certification inspector training.
• HKBU–University of Lincoln double degree: students in the Environmental Science concentration spend Years 1 to 3 at HKBU and Year 4 at Lincoln (Ecology and Conservation), earning the HKBU BSc in Applied Biology and a Lincoln BSc in Ecology and Conservation in four years. It requires a cGPA of at least 3.00 after Semester 1 of Year 3; there is no extra tuition in Year 4; each accepted student receives a HK$20,000 scholarship; applications open every July to August and shortlisted students are interviewed; senior year entrants are not eligible.
• Biochemical and Testing Sciences: HKBU lists it as a major of the Faculty (the concentration names Biomedical Chemistry and Testing and Certification appear in the transfer list), but the pages used for this guide have no programme page for it; check with HKBU.
• School of Chinese Medicine: the Bachelor of Chinese Medicine and Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Biomedical Science is a six-year double degree with a 15-month internship; coursework is split roughly 6:2:2 between Chinese medicine, biomedical and clinical Western medicine, and general education and electives, with an annual intake of about 35 to 40. The Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) in Chinese Medicine is a four-year degree with a 15-week practicum and an Honours Project, intake about 20 to 25; its page says it is retitled Bachelor of Pharmacy (Hons) in Chinese Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences in 2027 (the SCM list marks that title for AY2027-28 onwards). Both are government-funded.
• Not covered here: Computer Science (also in the Faculty), Mathematics and Statistics, and Green Energy and Smart Technology.

2. How admission works and when you choose a major

• The Faculty of Science and Technology admits broadly: students enter the Faculty, take a common first year, and choose a major for Year 2. HKBU’s common first year is 15 units: two mandatory courses (Big Data and Smart Technology; Molecular Science in Daily Life, 3 units each) plus three of five electives (Introduction to Biology, Introduction to Chemistry, Essence of Computing, Understanding Mathematics and Statistics, Introduction to Green Energy and Smart Technology).
• Applied Biology assignment criteria: students who attain a 5* in relevant science subjects are guaranteed admission to the relevant major; otherwise the criteria are a cGPA of at least 2.2 by the end of Year 1, a grade of C in BIOL1005 Introduction to Biology, and interview performance if applicable.
• Bioresource and Agricultural Science assignment criteria: a cGPA of at least 2.2 by the end of Year 1, a C in BIOL1005, and interview performance if applicable. That page does not mention a 5* guarantee.
• Whether places in a major are capped, and what happens if a major is oversubscribed: not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the Faculty or the Admissions Office.
• Applied Biology curriculum: Year 2 includes Biological Chemistry, Cell Biology and Cell Technology, Microbiology and Genetics and Evolution (Biotechnology) or Biodiversity and Natural Resources and Environment (Environmental Science); Years 3 and 4 include Animal Physiology, Immunology, Molecular Biology and Plant Physiology (Biotechnology) or Ecology, Environmental Health and Toxicology, Urban Water Resources Management and Waste Treatment and Recycling (Environmental Science), with an Applied Biology project in Year 4.
• The School of Chinese Medicine programmes admit directly to the programme, with no common-year allocation.
• Each applicant submits one application with up to two programme choices; if your first choice does not admit you, your second may still be considered if places remain.

3. Prerequisites

• Hong Kong DSE (JUPAS): for Applied Biology and Bioresource and Agricultural Science, the programme pages list Level 3 in English Language and Chinese Language, Level 3 in any two electives (preferably good results in science-related subjects), Level 2 in Mathematics, and “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development.
• Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science: Level 3 in English and Chinese (no alternative Chinese qualification accepted in place of DSE Chinese), Level 2 in Mathematics, “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, plus two electives at Level 3, one of which must be Biology or Chemistry and the other a Category A subject or Mathematics Extended Module 1 or 2; JUPAS code JS2410. Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine: the same, but one elective must be Chemistry; JUPAS code JS2420. High choice banding in JUPAS is preferred, the school reference report is specially considered, and applicants may be interviewed.
• Subject requirements for other qualifications (A-level, IB, AP and so on) for the Faculty of Science and Technology: not given on the pages used for this guide. The international qualifications page lists only overall minimums (below), not biology, chemistry or mathematics requirements; ask the Admissions Office.
• AP or IB credit towards courses: not given on the pages used for this guide; credit transfer is normally requested for equivalent courses already taken (see transfer below).

4. Students at high schools in China: HKBU’s own Gaokao admission

• How it works: HKBU admits independently and is not part of the mainland unified admission system. Current-year Gaokao candidates (including repeat candidates) from all 31 provinces, municipalities and regions apply directly to HKBU. Under Ministry of Education rules, mainland universities will not admit students who have confirmed acceptance of an HKBU offer.
• Requirements: a Gaokao score at or above your province’s first-tier key university line or special-type admission control line, and at least 110 out of 150 in English. Programmes admit on Gaokao results, with interviews for some.
• Subject streams: the Faculty’s BSc (Hons) accepts science-stream students only; where a province has no arts/science split, applicants need to have chosen Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Life Science or Technology. The School of Chinese Medicine also accepts science-stream students only: Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science requires Chemistry, Biology or Life Science in the Gaokao, Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine requires Chemistry, and a score of at least 110 (out of 150, pro-rated in some provinces) in Chinese is required for School of Chinese Medicine programmes.
• Interviews: under the 2026 arrangement, the Faculty’s BSc (Hons) has no admission interview; Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science and Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine do, held in English with some Mandarin, as an individual or group interview. The 2027 arrangement is to be confirmed. HKBU says interview places are limited and only a small number of very high scorers are invited.
• Timeline: applications open on 2 October 2026; the Gaokao takes place in early June 2027; applications close on 13 June 2027, after which the programme chosen cannot be changed; late June: interview lists and interviews for programmes with interviews, and offer lists for programmes without; early July: offers for interview programmes and confirmation of admission (HKBU notes that applicants who have received no offer by 7 July 2027 can regard themselves as unsuccessful); registration in mid-August, and classes start in early September.
• Application fee: HK$450, paid online and non-refundable.
• Scholarships: HKBU offers full and other entrance scholarships for mainland students, based on Gaokao results (plus interview results where applicable). The top performers in each faculty who also score at least 120 in English may receive one; awards come with the offer, with no separate application. Scholarships are only for mainland students who need a student visa, and renewal depends on annual results.
• Mainland students not taking the current-year Gaokao: those with previous-year Gaokao results (meeting their province’s first-tier line) or JEE results for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan students apply through non-JUPAS; students at international schools apply under the requirements for their curriculum, as below.

5. International curricula (A-level, IB, AP, Canadian and others)

• A-level: grade E or above in three A-level (or International A-level) subjects, or two A-levels plus two AS levels (Chinese and English excluded; the same subject cannot count at both levels).
• IB: the IB Diploma. US curriculum: a high school diploma plus one of: new SAT 1,190 or above, grade 3 in at least two AP subjects, or an ACT composite of 23. Canada: for example, in British Columbia the Dogwood Diploma with a minimum average of 70% in five Grade 12 courses; in Ontario the OSSD with a 70% average in six Grade 12 U or M courses.
• Actual admission scores: for 2026 entry, the middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) across the whole university was 128 to 160 UCAS tariff points for three A-levels, IB 30 to 34 (including TOK and EE points), and SAT 1,460 to 1,540. HKBU notes these are for reference only, are not programme-specific, and should not be used to predict admission.
• Interviews: HKBU’s FAQ says most programmes invite shortlisted applicants to an interview or test, normally between February and July; non-local applicants outside Hong Kong may be interviewed by phone or online. Whether the Faculty of Science and Technology or the School of Chinese Medicine interviews non-JUPAS applicants is not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Application materials: a personal statement and reference letters (up to two referees) are optional with no standard format, and supporting documents can be uploaded until 31 August. The application fee for non-local, non-mainland applicants is not given on the pages used for this guide; check in the online application system.

6. Rounds and English requirements

• International students (non-local, non-mainland): early round opens 2 October 2026 and closes 16 November, with offers from late December 2026 (applicants without an offer by late January 2027 are considered with the main round); main round opens 17 November 2026 and closes 1 February 2027; extended round opens 2 February 2027 and closes 31 May.
• Local and mainland students (the grouping shown on HKBU’s timeline graphic, “Local & Mainland Students”): main round opens 2 October 2026 and closes 4 January 2027; extended round opens 5 January and closes 31 May. Applications after the deadline are considered only if places remain.
• English: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, or TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) 79; from 2027 entry, scores must be from within two years before the academic year starts (on or after 1 September 2025), and MyBest scores, IELTS Indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted. Also accepted: new SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 590, ACT English and Reading 23 each, AP English Language or Literature 4, IB English A 4 or English B 4 (HL) / 5 (SL), A-level or AS English E, IGCSE First Language English C/4, and a 70% in Grade 12 English in Canada, among others. Gaokao students meet the requirement with at least 110 in Gaokao English.

7. Transfer students and senior year entry

• HKBU says students currently enrolled in a bachelor’s or higher degree at a local or non-local university may apply. Under University Grants Committee (UGC) guidelines on inter-institutional transfer, repeating UGC-funded undergraduate study across institutions is generally discouraged, and such transfers are considered only in very exceptional circumstances and on the basis of over-enrolment.
• Students admitted to Year 1 with advanced standing may apply for transfer of units for equivalent courses taken before; a small number may be admitted to Year 2, depending on vacancies from attrition in individual programmes.
• Direct Year 3 entry uses government-funded senior year places reserved for local associate degree and higher diploma students. Whether non-local transfer students can enter a senior year directly is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the Admissions Office.
• For senior year entrants, HKBU’s recommended transfer of units is: at least 15 units for the major; General Education 22 to 28 units for associate degree graduates and 13 units for higher diploma graduates; the remainder as free electives; 51 to 64 units in total (or up to 50% of the programme’s units).
• Senior year entrants for 2026 entry (data as of 8 September 2026): Applied Biology Biotechnology 8 admitted, normalised mean cGPA 3.11; Environmental Science 3, 3.04; Bioresource and Agricultural Science 5, 3.08 (capped at 4.00). HKBU notes these vary each year and are for reference only. Whether the School of Chinese Medicine programmes accept transfers, and on what terms, is not given on the pages used for this guide.

8. Fees, costs and scholarships

• Tuition (2027/28): HK$240,000 a year for non-local students and HK$49,500 a year for local students; local and non-local status follows HKBU’s definition (for example, entering Hong Kong for education on a student visa).
• Estimated annual cost for non-local students (9 months): about HK$286,500 to 320,000 living on campus, including tuition, accommodation of HK$24,000 to 30,000 and personal expenses of HK$22,500 to 50,000; off-campus about HK$382,000 to 477,000 (accommodation HK$72,000 to 144,000, personal expenses HK$70,000 to 93,000). HKBU notes these are subject to annual review.
• Admission scholarships for non-local students (non-JUPAS route, no separate application, renewable for the normal study period with good results): Full Scholarship (tuition HK$240,000 plus a living subsidy of HK$52,500), Tuition-waiver Scholarship (HK$240,000) and Half Scholarship (half of the Full Scholarship). Reference scores for non-local, non-mainland applicants, based on past data and not a guarantee: A-level AAA or above for full and AAB or above for half (excluding Chinese and English); IB 37 or above for full and 35 or above for half; new SAT 1,430 or above for full and 1,360 or above for half. Awards are competitive, subject to quota, and also consider interviews and non-academic achievements.
• Faculty-level scholarships: HKBU says individual faculties and schools may offer entrance scholarships to outstanding non-local applicants, with details on the Scholarships and Financial Aid Unit website; the specific awards of the Faculty of Science and Technology and the School of Chinese Medicine are not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Internships and overseas study: Bioresource and Agricultural Science lists an industry internship for all students; Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science includes a 15-month internship, with about 12 months at a teaching hospital of Chinese medicine in Mainland China in Years 5 and 6 followed by a 3-month specialised clinical internship at a teaching hospital in Mainland China or HKBU Chinese medicine clinics (its page also lists clinical practicum from Year 1 at HKBU clinics and the Chinese Medicine Hospital of Hong Kong); HKBU says it has exchange agreements with many universities. Internship arrangements for other programmes are not given on the pages used for this guide.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China (Gaokao):

• Apply online by 13 June 2027 and pay the HK$450 fee; aim for the first-tier line and at least 110 in English, and 120+ in English for a scholarship
• The Faculty of Science and Technology and the School of Chinese Medicine take science-stream students only; Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science needs Chemistry, Biology or Life Science, Pharmacy needs Chemistry, and Chinese 110+
• The Faculty’s BSc (Hons) had no interview in 2026; the two Chinese medicine programmes did; 2027 is to be confirmed

International-curriculum students:

• Early round 16 November 2026, main round 1 February 2027, extended round 31 May; “Local & Mainland Students” main round 4 January 2027
• University-wide middle range: A-level 128 to 160 UCAS points, IB 30 to 34, SAT 1,460 to 1,540; IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 79
• Ask the Admissions Office about biology, chemistry and mathematics subject requirements

Local DSE students:

• JUPAS: Level 3 in English and Chinese, two electives at Level 3, Mathematics Level 2, Citizenship and Social Development “Attained”; Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science is JS2410 and Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine is JS2420

Transfer students:

• You can apply, but repeating government-funded undergraduate study is generally discouraged; equivalent earlier courses can bring transferred units

Sources: Hong Kong Baptist University, BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology; BSc (Hons) in Bioresource and Agricultural Science; HKBU–University of Lincoln double degree; School of Chinese Medicine undergraduate programmes; Chinese Medicine and Biomedical Science; Pharmacy in Chinese Medicine; International qualifications; Chinese Mainland Gaokao admission (Chinese); Post-secondary qualifications; Fees and scholarships; FAQ; Faculties and departments. Information is for September 2027 entry; where a page prints no year, check with HKBU whether it applies to 2027 entry. Check HKBU for the latest details.