How to Apply to Economics at the Chinese University of Hong Kong: B.Soc.Sc. in Economics in the Faculty of Social Science, No High School Economics Required, with Admission Routes and Prerequisites for Local, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The economics undergraduate degree at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is run by the Department of Economics in the Faculty of Social Science and leads to a Bachelor of Social Science in Economics. 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. The department’s pamphlet is labelled 2027-28. Business administration and computing have separate programmes and are outside this guide.

1. What the economics programmes offer

• Three undergraduate programmes in the department (department undergraduate page): the Bachelor of Social Science in Economics (JUPAS code JS4824, Non-JUPAS code ECONN); the CUHK-Tsinghua University Dual Undergraduate Degree Programme in Economics (launched in 2021, four-year full-time); and the Bachelor of Science in Global Economics and Finance (GLEF). This guide focuses on the first; for the other two, see their own websites.
• Faculty: Economics sits in the Faculty of Social Science. The FAQ explains that economics applies to many topics beyond business and finance, so it is housed in Social Science rather than the Business School.
• Curriculum (curriculum page): the normative period of study is four years and at least 123 units are required. The major needs at least 72 units: Faculty Package 9 units, required courses 27 units and electives 36 units. Graduates receive the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours). The recommended 12 core courses include ECON2011 Basic Microeconomics (under the Faculty Package) and ECON1902, ECON2021, ECON1101, ECON1111, ECON2121, ECON3011, ECON3021, ECON3121, ECON2901, ECON4901 and ECON4903. The Faculty Package requires ECON2011 plus two more courses offered by two different programmes, departments or schools.
• Study paths and resources (2027-28 pamphlet): the pamphlet says core courses are at most 50% of the programme and describes five concentrations (Economic Theory, Financial Economics, Business Economics, Chinese Economy and Data Analytics). It also lists a data laboratory with financial databases such as Bloomberg, a project exhibition, an academic advisory system and peer tutors, and department exchange programmes with Utrecht University, Universität Mannheim, the University of Bath and Keio University. For alumni destinations it gives about 50% in banking and finance, about 20% as local secondary school teachers and about 20% in postgraduate studies.

2. Prerequisites: is high school economics needed, and how strong must the mathematics be?

• High school economics is not required: the department’s FAQ (FAQ) says applicants who have not taken economics in high school can still apply, and that many students did not; the university programme builds a foundation in mathematics, statistics, theory and quantitative analysis.
• Mathematics: JUPAS requires a minimum level in the Mathematics compulsory part (below) and weights it 1.5. The pamphlet stresses mathematics, statistics and programming skills, and the required courses include two Mathematical Methods in Economics courses, statistics and econometrics.
• For international qualifications (A-Level, IB, AP and others), the department pages say only that these qualifications are welcome. Any subject requirements in mathematics or economics are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the undergraduate admissions website or ask the department.

3. 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.

4. How each route works (from the department’s pages)

• JUPAS (JS4824) (JUPAS page): the minimums are Mathematics (compulsory part) 3, English 3, Chinese 3, any two electives at level 3 (which may include M1 or M2) and Citizenship and Social Development “Attained”. The score uses the best 5 subjects, with the Mathematics compulsory part and the best of M1/M2/Chemistry/Economics/Physics each multiplied by 1.5. The University’s Category A conversion is 5**=8.5, 5*=7, 5=5.5, 4=4, 3=3, 2=2 and 1=1. Only applicants who list JS4824 in Band A are invited to interview, and outstanding interview performance earns bonus marks. Applicants nominated under the School Principal’s Nominations who put the department in Band A may be given an interview and a conditional offer. Awards and activities related to economics or mathematics (for example the S.T. Yau High School Science Award in Economic and Financial Modelling, or the Mathematical Olympiad) can be submitted through the JUPAS account and earn bonus points.
• Non-JUPAS local Year 1 (page): applicants with GCE A-Level/International A-Level, IB, SAT/ACT/AP (USA), OSSD/BC Diploma (Canada) and similar qualifications are welcome; for other qualifications see the University’s general requirements.
• International students (including Macau and Taiwan) (page): the department welcomes applicants from all over the world and points to the admissions office’s international requirements page. It says suitable applicants receive an offer directly without an interview, and that if it wants to know more it invites applicants to interview between December and August of the following year.
• All Non-JUPAS routes: applicants who put Economics as their first choice receive higher admission priority; awards or activities related to economics or mathematics earn bonus points and can be submitted through the online admission system, and each application is reviewed case by case.
• Intakes covered in 2027-28: the pamphlet says the programme is open to JUPAS, Non-JUPAS Year 1, Non-JUPAS senior year, mainland (Gaokao) and international applicants.

5. 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.

The general and English requirements above come from the University’s Non-JUPAS leaflet, which is published by the Faculty of Science but lists University-wide requirements. The Department of Economics’ own pages point international applicants to the undergraduate admissions website, which takes precedence.

6. Applicants from China

• Current Gaokao candidates (mainland Gaokao page): apply through the National Colleges and Universities Enrolment System; the timeline and application details are on the admissions office’s Chinese-language page. The department says that candidates who put Economics as their first choice receive higher priority; besides examination results, contributions to school clubs and achievements in competitions or activities on and off campus are appreciated, awards related to economics or mathematics (such as the Mathematical Olympiad) earn bonus points, documents can be submitted through the online admission system, and each application is reviewed case by case.
• 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.
• Gaokao score lines, the English-subject requirement, Chinese transcripts and school-leaving exam materials, and credential verification are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the Chinese-only mainland Gaokao page on the undergraduate admissions website or ask the admissions office.

7. Transfer and sub-degree pathways

• Local sub-degree (senior year admission) (page): final-year students or recent graduates of local sub-degree programmes are eligible; they must meet the University-wide language requirement, and all disciplines are welcome. Details are on the admissions office’s Hong Kong sub-degree page.
• International transfer students: the department pages give no separate rule for international transfers. The University-level advanced standing (up to 24 units and one year shorter) is described above; other transfer details are not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask the admissions office.

8. Scholarships, fees and deadlines

• Department admission scholarship (scholarships page): first-year Economics students admitted via JUPAS and Non-JUPAS are eligible, with awards of HK$5,000 to 10,000. JUPAS applicants who put JS4824 in Band A are automatically considered; Non-JUPAS applicants who choose Economics as their first choice in the CUHK Undergraduate Admissions Intranet are automatically considered. Selection criteria include the admission interview, academic merit and excellent extracurricular performance related to economics or mathematics.
• Excellent Undergraduate Paper Awards: up to 7 a year, 4 in the senior division and 3 in the junior division.
• University admission scholarships: CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine FAQ states that the University offers admission scholarships to local and non-local new undergraduates on the basis of academic or non-academic performance, with no separate application; values range from HK$5,000 to full tuition plus a living allowance, and many are renewable subject to satisfactory progress.
• 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 is on the OAFA website; check it for the latest 2027-entry dates and tuition rather than relying on earlier years’ figures.

Checklist

Students on international curricula (including those in China):

• Use the International Students Admissions Scheme, applying directly to OAFA; put Economics as your first choice and submit evidence of economics or mathematics awards; meet the English requirement
• High school economics is not required, but a solid mathematics foundation is expected

Mainland Gaokao candidates:

• Apply through the national enrolment system; list Economics as your first choice for priority; read the admissions office’s Chinese page for details

Hong Kong local students:

• List JS4824 in Band A; Mathematics (compulsory part) at level 3 or above, weighted 1.5

Transfer students:

• Local sub-degree holders can apply for senior year admission; ask the admissions office about international transfers

Sources: The Chinese University of Hong Kong websites, department undergraduate page; Economics admissions; admission routes; JUPAS; Non-JUPAS Year 1; senior year admission; international; mainland Gaokao; curriculum; scholarships; FAQ; 2027-28 pamphlet (PDF); Non-JUPAS and international leaflet (PDF); Faculty of Medicine FAQ (admission scholarships). The economics pamphlet is labelled 2027-28; other pages are undated or labelled 2026, so check CUHK’s website for the latest fees, deadlines and rules.