How to Apply to Physics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong: B.Sc. in Physics with Astrophysics, Quantum Science and Theoretical Physics Streams, Entry through SCIENCE or the Theoretical Physics Enrichment Stream, and Requirements for Local, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The physics undergraduate degree at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a B.Sc. offered by the Department of Physics in the Faculty of Science. This guide sets out how to apply and what prerequisites the website gives, for Hong Kong local students, students on international curricula (including those in China), mainland Gaokao candidates and transfer students. Some pages are labelled for 2026 entry; check the latest 2027-entry version.

1. What the physics programme offers

• Degree: the B.Sc. in Physics, in the Faculty of Science. The curriculum is credit-unit based, the normative period of study is four years, and 123 units are required (Faculty of Science general requirements). The website says the curriculum builds a grasp of the fundamentals of physics together with analytic, experimental, numerical, research and communication skills.
• Streams: Astrophysics and Particle Physics; Computational and Data Physics; Quantum Science and Technology; and the Enrichment Stream in Theoretical Physics (JS4690), which places special emphasis on research capability and is designed for students interested in an academic research career.
• Research and internships: research areas listed include nano and energy materials, astronomy and fundamental physics, quantum science, soft matter and complex systems, and biological physics and quantitative biology. Programmes include the Summer Internship Research Programme, the Overseas Programme for Undergraduate Research Students (OPUS), the Summer Undergraduate Research Exchange (SURE) and a study tour. Staff and students take part in the Daya Bay Neutrino Experiment, ATLAS at CERN and the LIGO gravitational wave project, and there are internships at the Hong Kong Observatory and the Hong Kong Space Museum.
• Scholarships: admission scholarships, the Undergraduate Research Experience Grant (UREG), and others such as the Physics Prize and the C.N. Yang Scholarship.
• Accreditation (for example by the Institute of Physics) is not given on the pages used for this guide; check the Department of Physics website.
• Related programmes: the Faculty also lists a double major in Aerospace Science and Earth Informatics & Physics (JS4750) and a B.Eng. double major in Materials Science and Engineering & Physics; they are not covered here.

2. What you apply for: two ways in

• SCIENCE (JS4601): the Faculty’s broad-based admission scheme. Physics is one of the participating majors, and students can declare their major at entry, at the end of Year 1 or at the end of Year 2. The website says there is no quota for any specific major; the Faculty FAQ states that entry to the chosen major is guaranteed once its specific requirements are met.
• Enrichment Stream in Theoretical Physics (JS4690, PHYS-ERP): direct admission. The Faculty FAQ gives projected enrolment (subject to University and government approval) of 335 for SCIENCE and 19 for the Theoretical Physics enrichment stream.
• SCIENCE students have a route into the enrichment stream after declaring Physics as their major.
• All programmes interview JUPAS applicants. The Theoretical Physics enrichment stream interviews only before the HKDSE results; SCIENCE interviews both before and after, and only Band A applicants may be invited.

3. How to declare Physics after entry

These are the Faculty’s rules “for 2026 entry” (major declaration page); check the website for the 2027-entry dates and conditions.

• Phase I: entry (October 2026): for Physics, HKDSE Physics at Level 5 or above; or a course exemption for the course specified by the major; or 88% or above in the JEE total score.
• Phase II: end of Year 1 (June 2027): C+ or above in PHYS1111 or PHYS1113 from the Faculty Package.
• Phase III: end of Year 2 (March 2028): having taken PHYS1111 or PHYS1113, plus PHYS1122, PHYS1712 and PHYS2041 (taken, not necessarily all passed).
• Common first year: SCIENCE students take the Faculty Package in Year 1, with five groups of courses (chemistry, life sciences, mathematics, physics and statistics) and at least three 3-unit courses: the first from the student’s most desired major, the second from a relevant subject, and the third from the remaining groups.

4. Admission channels: local, international and mainland Gaokao applicants

• Hong Kong local students (HKDSE): apply through JUPAS. The University’s general minimum is 4 core and 2 elective subjects (4C+2X, or 4C+1X+M1/M2/Other Language subject).
• Local Non-JUPAS (Year 1 admission): local applicants who cannot use JUPAS, or who apply with international or other qualifications, use the Non-JUPAS Local Admissions Scheme. Holders of Hong Kong sub-degree qualifications (associate degree or higher diploma) are also treated as Non-JUPAS applicants.
• International Students Admissions Scheme: for non-local students who need a student visa or entry permit to study in Hong Kong. The Faculty of Science states that, from 2020 entry, all non-local students (whether or not they have HKDSE results) must apply through Non-JUPAS and cannot use JUPAS.
• Mainland Chinese current Gaokao candidates: apply through the National Colleges and Universities Enrolment System rather than submitting a direct application. The details are on the admissions office’s Chinese-language page; see the section for Chinese applicants below.
• Non-JUPAS local and international applicants apply directly to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA), and each application is considered case by case on individual merits.

5. Local students (JUPAS): subjects and score references

• Theoretical Physics enrichment stream (JS4690): the minimums in the 2027-entry JUPAS leaflet are Chinese 3, English 3, Mathematics (compulsory part) 4 and Citizenship and Social Development “Attained”; the 1st elective must be Physics (level 4) and the 2nd elective level 3, with M1 or M2 preferred and Biology, Chemistry, Economics, ICT, Geography or Technology and Living (Food Science and Technology) also accepted. The score uses the best 5 subjects, with Physics weighted 2.0 and Mathematics, M1 or M2 weighted 1.5. In 2026 the median weighted total was 46.75 and the lower quartile 45.25 (out of 59.5), for reference only.
• SCIENCE (JS4601): Chinese 3, English 3, Mathematics 2; the 1st elective must be one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics or M1/M2 (level 3) and the 2nd elective level 3; Biology, Chemistry, Physics and M1/M2 are weighted 2.0. In 2026 the median weighted total was 41.50 and the lower quartile 39.75 (out of 68).
• The Faculty also runs a STEM Talent Scheme: applicants with at least three stars in total across three HKDSE STEM electives (Biology, Chemistry, Physics, M1/M2, Information and Communication Technology, Design and Applied Technology; the website gives 5*5*5*, 5**5*3 and 5**5**5** as examples), who put a Faculty of Science programme among their top JUPAS choices, are reviewed by a dedicated panel, even if they miss the University’s entrance requirement in the four core subjects, and may be given an interview.

6. University general requirements and English requirements for international qualifications

• Accepted qualifications: the Faculty of Science lists GCE/International A-Levels, the IB Diploma, a high school diploma plus SAT/ACT and AP tests, the Alberta/OSSD/BC diploma in Canada, AISSCE/CBSE/ISC in India, SMA in Indonesia, UEC/STPM in Malaysia, or any other equivalent.
• University general requirements (Faculty of Science leaflet, information as of September 2026): 3 A-Level passes, or 2 A-Levels plus 2 AS passes; an IB Diploma with 30 points out of 45; for SAT/ACT plus AP, a senior secondary graduation diploma or certificate, SAT 1190 out of 1600 or ACT composite 24, and a score of 3 in each of 2 AP tests. For other qualifications, including Canadian ones, the leaflet points to “More Qualifications”; check the admissions office website for the exact requirements.
• Programme-specific subject requirements: the leaflet says these differ by programme and that applicants should generally have good grades in advanced science-related subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. The subject-preference table for each qualification is said to be on the Faculty of Science website; it was not found on the pages used for this guide, so check the website.
• English: IELTS Academic overall 6.0; TOEFL iBT 80 out of 120, or 4.5 out of 6 on the newer scale; ACT English Language Arts 23; GCE O-Level/GCSE/IGCSE grade C or 4; GCE A-Level/AS grade E; IB English 4; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 590. Some programmes set higher English requirements.
• Chinese: applicants are expected to show an acceptable level of both English and Chinese; the Chinese admission requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Faculty Dean.
• Advanced standing: applicants with qualifications such as GCE A-Level/International A-Level, IB, or an associate degree/higher diploma who meet the University’s specific requirements may apply for admission with advanced standing. The units needed for graduation can be reduced by up to 24, and the normative period of study by up to one year.

Subject preferences for physics from A-Level or IB (for example, whether Physics or Higher Level mathematics is required) are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the Faculty of Science website, the Department of Physics website or the admissions office.

7. Applicants from China

• Current Gaokao candidates: the Faculty of Science page says that current mainland Gaokao candidates apply through the National Colleges and Universities Enrolment System. The enrolment plan, programme list, score lines and English-subject requirement are on the admissions office’s Chinese-language page (marked as Chinese only), which was not part of the pages used for this guide; check CUHK’s undergraduate admissions website.
• Students in China on international curricula who are not taking the Gaokao: apply through the International Students Admissions Scheme with A-Level, IB, SAT/ACT plus AP and similar qualifications; see the requirements above.
• Special notes for Chinese applicants (Chinese transcripts and school-leaving exam materials, credential verification, interview arrangements) are not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions office.

8. Transfer and sub-degree pathways

• Associate degree / higher diploma: Hong Kong sub-degree holders apply as Non-JUPAS applicants. The Faculty of Science also runs a two-year B.Sc. in Natural Sciences for local sub-degree holders, with concentrations in Biological Sciences, Biotechnology, Chemical and Testing Sciences, Data Science, Environmental Studies, Food and Nutrition, and Physical Sciences.
• International transfer students: the Faculty of Science pages used for this guide do not give a separate entry year, credit-transfer rule or deadline for international transfer students; ask the admissions office. Applicants who qualify for advanced standing are covered above.

9. Fees, deadlines and scholarships

• Tuition, application fee and 2027-entry deadlines: not given on the pages used for this guide. The Non-JUPAS and International Students Admissions Scheme timetable sits on the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA) website; check the OAFA website for the latest 2027-entry dates and tuition rather than relying on earlier years’ figures.
• Admission scholarships: CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine FAQ states that the University offers admission scholarships to both local and non-local new undergraduates on the basis of academic or non-academic performance. No separate application is needed; the University identifies and informs the students. Values range from HK$5,000 to full tuition plus a living allowance, and many can be renewed over the normative period subject to satisfactory progress. Faculties and Colleges also offer admission scholarships.

Checklist

Students on international curricula (including those in China):

• Use the International Students Admissions Scheme, applying directly to OAFA; meet the University general and English requirements; check the website for physics subject preferences
• Choose SCIENCE or the Theoretical Physics enrichment stream; declare the Physics major in phases after entry

Mainland Gaokao candidates:

• Apply through the national enrolment system, not directly; read the admissions office’s Chinese page for details

Hong Kong local students:

• List JS4601 or JS4690 in JUPAS; the Theoretical Physics stream needs Physics at level 4 as the 1st elective

Transfer students:

• Local sub-degree holders apply as Non-JUPAS; rules for international transfers are not given on the pages used, so ask the admissions office

Sources: The Chinese University of Hong Kong websites, Physics programme page; SCIENCE broad-based admission; major declaration; Faculty FAQ; local students; non-local students; STEM Talent Scheme; JUPAS leaflet (PDF); Non-JUPAS and international leaflet (PDF); general requirements; Faculty of Medicine FAQ (admission scholarships). Some pages are labelled for 2026 entry; check CUHK’s website for the latest 2027-entry fees, deadlines and rules.