How to Apply to Life Sciences and Health Programmes at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: Applied Biology with Biotechnology, Food Science and Nutrition, Nursing and Other Health Degrees, With Admission Routes and Requirements for Local, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), life-science and health degrees are spread over several faculties: the Faculty of Science offers BSc degrees such as Applied Biology with Biotechnology and Food Science and Nutrition, and departments under the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences offer Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Optometry, Radiography, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy. In the undergraduate entry pages and faculty pages used for this guide, no undergraduate medicine (MBBS/MD) degree is listed. Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on PolyU’s official information, for Hong Kong local students, students with international curricula or overseas qualifications, students from China and transfer students.

1. Which programmes you can apply to

• BSc (Hons) in Applied Biology with Biotechnology (JS3923, Department of Life Sciences): September 2027 entry, full-time, government-funded, four years, 120 credits plus training credits; the intake is shown as “to be announced”, and the programme leader is Prof. Zhao Yanxiang. PolyU says the programme aims to nurture professionals in biotechnology, covering the principles, concepts and applications of modern biotechnology, and graduates can enter the bioscience / biotechnology industry or pursue postgraduate study locally or overseas. It is also one of the five choices in the Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Science (JS3008).
• BSc (Hons) Scheme in Food Science and Nutrition (JS3255, Department of Food Science and Nutrition): September 2027 entry, four years, 120 credits plus training credits. It leads to the BSc (Hons) in Food Safety and Technology or the BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition and Health (including a Nutrition in Practice option). All students take a common Year One and select a major in the second semester, and may be invited to a selection interview or assessment; students may alternatively apply to switch to another Faculty of Science major through a ranking assessment (entrance qualification score, Year One GPA and interview performance). PolyU says the department grants entry scholarships to students with high HKDSE results admitted through JUPAS and Non-JUPAS; ask the department for the criteria.
• Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Science (JS3008): the Faculty of Science’s broad entry, with a common Year One and a ranking assessment near its end (entrance qualification score, Year One GPA, interview performance). The five choices include Applied Biology with Biotechnology, Chemical Technology, Food Safety and Technology, Human Nutrition and Health, and the physics degree with an AIDA or IE secondary major. That page shows September 2025 as its entrance year, so check the 2027 intake and details with PolyU.
• BSc (Hons) in Nursing (JS3648, School of Nursing): September 2027 entry; PolyU shows a normal duration of five years, an intake of 193 (JUPAS and Non-JUPAS together), and 117 credits plus 35 clinical / field credits to graduate. Students in the programme with the highest DSE scores can join a Global Nursing Leader Distinction, provided they keep a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or above; it includes an internship or study trip at WHO Collaborating Centres, up to two exchanges, and sponsorship for up to six transferable credits (two subjects) in PolyU’s MSc in Nursing. Field practice takes place in hospitals, old age homes, day care centres and other community centres, and students must pass a health check before clinical training. PolyU also says fluency in written English and Chinese and in spoken English and Cantonese is preferred, and that where admission scores are tied, applicants who studied the Applied Learning subject Health Care Practice are preferred. The Nursing page used for this guide gives HKDSE conditions; specific requirements for non-local applicants are not given there, so see the international and Gaokao pages or ask the admissions office.
• Mental Health Nursing, Medical Laboratory Science, Optometry, Radiography, Occupational Therapy and Physiotherapy: these appear in PolyU’s Gaokao entrance requirements summary and its international “preferred subjects” page. Their duration, intake and credits are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the PolyU website. Gaokao requirements are below and preferred subjects for international curricula are in the next section.
• Biomedical Engineering (JS3150): PolyU’s international application page also lists it. It is an engineering degree and is not covered here; the Gaokao requirement is the science stream, and applicants without a split must have studied at least two of biology, chemistry and physics.

2. Prerequisites and subject choices

• HKDSE (Nursing as an example): Level 3 in Chinese and English, Level 2 in Mathematics, “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, and Level 3 in two electives, which must come from Category A; other categories are not accepted. Preferred subjects with the highest weighting are Chinese, English, Mathematics, Biology and Combined Science with Biology, though applicants without them are also considered. PolyU says there are no alternative-entry requirements beyond the university’s general ones. See each programme page for the JUPAS requirements of the other programmes.
• International curricula and overseas qualifications: PolyU’s preferred-subjects page says: Science scheme, good results in Biology, Chemistry and/or Physics; Applied Biology with Biotechnology, Biology and/or Chemistry; Food Science and Nutrition, Biology / Chemistry; Medical Laboratory Science, Biology and Chemistry; Radiography, at least three science subjects among Physics, Chemistry, Biology and Mathematics; Occupational Therapy, Biology, Chemistry or Physics; Physiotherapy, Biology and/or Physics; Nursing, Mental Health Nursing and Optometry have no preferred subjects. The pages do not give specific biology or chemistry courses, levels or minimum grades; check PolyU and the admissions office.
• Interviews and health checks: nursing programmes require a health check before clinical training; interview arrangements for Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography and others are in the Gaokao section above; interview arrangements for international applicants are not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask the admissions office.
• Where PolyU’s pages differ: the Nursing programme page gives tuition of HK$47,000 a year (“subject to revision”), while the Non-JUPAS Year 1 page gives HK$49,500 a year for local students entering in 2027/28; check the latest figure.

3. Scholarships for local students

• The Applied Biology with Biotechnology page says local Secondary Six students taking the HKDSE for the first time and admitted through JUPAS are considered for departmental entry scholarships automatically, with no separate application: one-off HK$47,250 for Level 5** in a subject (at most 2 recipients), or, for a best-five aggregate of 24 or above, one-off HK$10,000 to HK$30,000 by tier (27 or above HK$30,000; 26 to 26.5 HK$20,000; 25 to 25.5 HK$15,000; 24 to 24.5 HK$10,000). Students meeting both receive only the higher.

Local students (HKDSE) and other local applicants

• JUPAS: local students with the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) apply through JUPAS. PolyU’s general requirement is Level 3 in Chinese Language and English Language, Level 2 in Mathematics, “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development, and Level 3 in two elective subjects (M1/M2 included); each programme adds its own requirements and subject weightings, described below.
• Non-JUPAS Year 1: local students with qualifications other than the HKDSE use this route. For local students entering in 2027/28 the tuition fee is HK$49,500 a year (two instalments), with an initial fee of HK$5,000 on accepting the offer that is later counted towards first-semester tuition.
• Non-JUPAS Senior Year: PolyU says senior-year and top-up places are meant for Associate Degree / Higher Diploma holders; applicants with other qualifications will normally not be considered, and Associate Degree / Higher Diploma holders who are already studying for or hold a degree are considered case by case.
• Status: holders of a Hong Kong permanent identity card are treated as local and apply through Non-JUPAS, not the international or mainland routes.

International curricula, Canadian high schools and other overseas qualifications (non-local applicants)

• Who counts as non-local: applicants who need a student visa to study in Hong Kong, hold a dependant visa / entry permit issued at age 18 or above, or hold a visa under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG). Visitor or tourist visa holders must obtain a student visa before they can register. If your status changes after you apply, an offer may be revoked and you are considered again under the other scheme.
• A-Level and IB: Grade B or above in 3 GCE A-Level / International A-Level subjects; or the IB Diploma. PolyU says successful applicants have typically had an IB score of 32 or higher out of 45 in recent years, and applicants with a predicted IB score of 30 or above may be invited to an interview.
• Actual admission scores (university-wide, not by programme): PolyU publishes the middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) of admission scores for 2026 entry as 144 to 168 UCAS Tariff points for three A-Level subjects and 33 to 38 for the IB (including points for TOK and the EE). PolyU says the figures are for reference only and should not be used to predict your chance of admission.
• US high school and AP, either of: a high school diploma with an overall average of 80% or above, plus SAT 1190 or above out of 1600 or ACT 24 or above (one sitting), plus Grade 3 or above in 2 AP subjects; or a diploma with an overall average of 80% or above plus Grade 3 or above in 5 AP subjects. Precalculus, Calculus AB and Calculus BC count as one AP subject; Latin, English Language and Composition, AP Seminar and AP Research are excluded.
• Canadian high school: a provincial high school diploma (such as BC) with an overall average of 80% or above in the best five Grade 12 courses; the Ontario OSSD with an average of 80% or above in six Grade 12 (4U/4M) courses; the Quebec DEC with an average of 80% or above. A Grade 12 English course at 80% or above meets the English requirement.
• Other countries: the “General Entrance Requirements” page lists requirements country by country; qualifications not listed are considered case by case, generally for applicants who finished high school with excellent results and strong English. Qualifications earned through online schools or online courses are not treated as equivalent to regular high school courses.
• English (non-local applicants, unless a programme says otherwise): IELTS Academic overall 6.0 in one sitting; TOEFL iBT total 80 for tests taken before 21 January 2026 and total 4.5 out of 6.0 for tests taken on or after that date; results must be within 2 years before the start of study. TOEFL Home Edition, IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted. Also accepted: SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 590, ACT 23 in both English and Reading (one sitting), AP English Language or Literature 4, IB English grade 4 (HL/SL), A-Level/AS English E, GCSE/IGCSE English C or 4, and others. PolyU states that studying at an English-medium school does not waive the requirement; you must meet one of the listed options.
• Timeline (dates on PolyU’s international application page): applications open 23 September 2026; early round closes 17 November 2026; main round closes 11 February 2027; extended round closes 14 May 2027 (the FAQ says late applications after the main round are accepted until 14 May 2027, subject to places).
• How to apply: one application per applicant with up to two programme choices; choices cannot be changed after submission; all choices are considered at the same time, so you may receive several offers but can accept only one at a time. Upload certificates and transcripts, with official English translations if they are not in English or Chinese. If results are not out yet you may apply and send them by mid-August; IB and A-Level applicants should ask their school for predicted grades through the “Academic Referee” section. A recommendation letter and personal statement are optional for most programmes, with no set format.
• Interviews: PolyU says interviews are generally not mandatory; departments notify shortlisted applicants individually by email.
• Application fee: the application fee for international applicants is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the online application system (the Gaokao fee is below).
• Results: offers and conditional offers are sent by email and SMS and can be checked online. On when to assume you were unsuccessful, PolyU gives two versions: the application procedures page says mid-July and the FAQ says late July.
• Visa and verification: after you accept an offer and pay the initial fee, PolyU helps with the student visa; submit the visa package within one month of the first payment. Finally, original official transcripts and score reports must be sent to PolyU directly (or electronically by the issuing body); discrepancies may lead to the offer being cancelled.

Students from China (Gaokao)

• How it works: PolyU admits current-year Gaokao candidates through its own scheme, with a separate application and timetable. Applying does not affect your applications to mainland universities, and you do not list PolyU on your mainland preference form. Students from all 31 mainland provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions can apply, and there are no fixed provincial quotas. Repeat candidates applying with this year’s Gaokao follow the same process, and nominated (recommended-admission) students must still sit this year’s Gaokao and submit the score.
• Admission standard: PolyU asks for excellent current-year Gaokao results, including a good English score, and sets no provincial cut-off scores in advance; past provincial cut-offs are not published.
• Gaokao requirements for life-science and health programmes (from PolyU’s Gaokao entrance requirements summary; the bracket says whether second-choice applicants are considered):
  • Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Science, JS3008: science stream; applicants without a split must have studied biology, chemistry or physics (considered);
  • Applied Biology with Biotechnology, JS3923: science stream; without a split, biology required (not considered); mainland students admitted who do not receive a university scholarship may still receive a departmental scholarship of HK$25,000;
  • Food Science and Nutrition scheme, JS3255: science stream; without a split, biology or chemistry required (not considered);
  • Nursing, JS3648: arts and science streams, applicants who took biology are preferred; first-choice applicants are preferred; interviews in English and Cantonese; most patients speak Cantonese and students need good Cantonese before clinical placements; a health check is required before clinical training (considered);
  • Mental Health Nursing, JS3337: arts and science streams, biology preferred; students must speak fluent Cantonese; a health check is required (not considered);
  • Medical Laboratory Science, JS3478: science stream; without a split, biology and chemistry required; a 15-minute one-to-one English interview after results are announced (not considered);
  • Optometry, JS3290: science stream; without a split, biology, chemistry or physics required; a one-page (500-word) personal statement in English; clinical placements are in PolyU’s optometry clinic and community clinics, where most patients speak Cantonese (not considered);
  • Radiography, JS3612: science stream; without a split, biology or physics required; additional documents; a 30-minute one-to-one English interview after results (not considered);
  • Occupational Therapy, JS3624: science stream; without a split, biology, chemistry or physics required; additional documents (not considered);
  • Physiotherapy, JS3636: science stream; without a split, biology or physics required; shortlisted applicants are notified of interviews; placements are in hospitals and applicants who speak fluent Cantonese are preferred (not considered).
  Minimum Gaokao scores in biology or chemistry are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions office.
• Timeline: online applications open 23 September 2026; the deadline is 13 June 2027, and you can change your choices in the system before then; in late June you enter your Gaokao scores in the system yourself (applications are void if scores are not entered on time or are entered wrongly); offers go out by email and SMS from late June to 7 July, and accepting requires an initial fee of HK$20,000; if you have heard nothing by mid-July you may assume you were unsuccessful; the new academic year starts on 30 August.
• Application fee: HK$600, non-refundable, payable by Alipay, WeChat Pay, VISA, MasterCard or UnionPay.
• 3D Admission Scheme: for current Grade 12 students with excellent results in high school, mock examinations (school-level or above) and academic proficiency tests. Deadlines are 11 February 2027 (early round) and 14 May 2027 (main round); applicants who apply on time, pay the application fee and enter the relevant scores take part automatically, and PolyU invites eligible students to interview. Early-round students who pass may be admitted on favourable terms; main-round students who pass may receive bonus points. After the interview you cannot change your programme choices or you are treated as withdrawing from the scheme. PolyU also runs the STARS scheme for non-academic talents (sports, arts and culture, leadership, STEM).
• Mainland students not sitting the 2027 Gaokao: PolyU states that students on the mainland curriculum who do not take the 2027 Gaokao will generally not be considered; those with other international qualifications are considered further only with excellent results or potential, and apply under the international route above (enquiries: polyu.njee@polyu.edu.hk).
• Chinese high school transcripts, school-leaving materials and verification bodies: the Gaokao pages used for this guide do not list these separately; ask the admissions office (polyu.njee@polyu.edu.hk).

Fees and scholarships (non-local students)

• Tuition: for full-time government-funded bachelor’s programmes in 2027/28 the non-local tuition fee is HK$240,000 a year, payable in two instalments before each semester; a programme may specify otherwise.
• Initial fee: HK$20,000 when you accept an offer, non-refundable and non-transferable, and counted towards first-semester tuition (the Gaokao scholarship page says it is returned after enrolment while the international tuition page says it is converted into first-semester tuition; follow your offer notice).
• Yearly costs: PolyU’s international page estimates about HK$290,272 per academic year (tuition 240,000, university-managed accommodation 18,515, campus meals 53,040, personal expenses 18,717; the accommodation figure is the 2026/27 rate and the 2027/28 rate is to be announced). The Gaokao FAQ gives about HK$330,272 a year for a first-year student in halls. The two figures differ, so check PolyU. Non-local students are normally offered university-managed accommodation in the first year and arrange their own housing afterwards.
• Scholarships: PolyU’s undergraduate scholarships page and FAQ say outstanding applicants are considered automatically for entry scholarships with no separate application, while the “scholarships for international students” section of the Applied Biology with Biotechnology programme page says to fill in the scholarship section of the online application and that interviews are arranged; both statements appear, so follow the prompts in the system. That programme page lists, for non-local students, a Full Scholarship of HK$195,000 a year, a Full Tuition Waiver of HK$145,000 a year and a Half Tuition Waiver of HK$72,500 a year (it does not say whether these amounts apply to other programmes, so confirm with the admissions office), plus a one-off HK$50,000 Cultural Ambassador Scholarship for students from under-represented nationalities. Gaokao students have dedicated entry scholarships chosen by PolyU, normally lasting four years and renewable if the required GPA is met each year. In general the scholarships a student holds in one year should not exceed that year’s tuition plus HK$60,000.
• Financial assistance: non-local students cannot apply for financial assistance from the Hong Kong SAR Government or PolyU.

Transfer and credit transfer

• A-Level / IB credit: students with good A-Level or IB results are normally given credit from 12 credits (6 for Cluster Area Requirements subjects and up to 6 for Language and Communication electives) up to a maximum of 25% of the award requirement, depending on previous study and grades.
• From other institutions: applicants with previous bachelor’s, Associate Degree or Higher Diploma study have credit transfer considered case by case; credit from other institutions is normally capped at 25% of the credits required for the PolyU award and is valid for 8 years. You normally apply to your department after registration and before the end of the add/drop period of the first semester, with transcripts and syllabi; some advanced qualifications may be considered automatically, with reduced credit requirements stated on the offer.
• Entering a senior year directly: PolyU’s senior-year admission is for local Associate Degree / Higher Diploma graduates. Whether a non-local transfer student can enter a senior year directly is not given on the pages used for this guide; email polyu.intl@polyu.edu.hk (international) or polyu.njee@polyu.edu.hk (mainland applicants not sitting the Gaokao).
• For students already in a government-funded degree who want to repeat study at another institution, PolyU says repeating government-funded study across institutions is generally discouraged and only cases with very good reasons are considered exceptionally.

Application checklist

Local students: HKDSE applicants apply through JUPAS meeting the general requirements (nursing programmes need two Category A electives), with Biology and Mathematics carrying weight; applicants with other qualifications use Non-JUPAS Year 1.

International curricula and overseas qualifications: early round 17 November 2026, main round 11 February 2027, extended round 14 May 2027; A-Level three subjects at B, IB typically 32 or above; preferred subjects are listed above; English IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 4.5 (80 on the old scale).

Students from China: apply on PolyU’s site from 23 September 2026 to 13 June 2027, application fee HK$600; most science and health programmes take the science stream only, and applicants without a split must have studied the named subjects; nursing programmes need Cantonese; enter Gaokao scores yourself in late June.

Transfer students: credit transfer up to 25%; email the admissions office first if you hope to enter a senior year directly.

Sources: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Applied Biology with Biotechnology (JS3923); Food Science and Nutrition scheme (JS3255); Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Science (JS3008); Faculty of Science undergraduate admission; Nursing (JS3648); Nursing entrance requirements; International / other qualifications; General entrance requirements; English language requirements; Preferred subjects; Admission figures for GCE and IB; Application procedures; Credit transfer; Tuition fees; Other fees and expenses; FAQ; Chinese Mainland Gaokao applicants (Chinese); Gaokao entrance requirements summary (Chinese); Gaokao application procedures (Chinese); 3D Admission Scheme (Chinese); Gaokao scholarships (Chinese); Gaokao FAQ (Chinese); JUPAS general entrance requirements; Non-JUPAS Year 1; Non-JUPAS tuition fees; Non-JUPAS Senior Year; Undergraduate scholarships. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check PolyU for the latest details.