How to Apply to Chemistry at the Chinese University of Hong Kong: B.Sc. in Chemistry Mostly Through the SCIENCE Broad-based Scheme, with a Chemistry–Biology Double Major and a Dual Degree with the University of Manchester, and Admission Routes and Prerequisites for Local, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Applicants

The chemistry undergraduate degree at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is a B.Sc. offered by the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science. This guide sets out how to apply and what prerequisites the website gives, for Hong Kong local applicants, applicants with international qualifications (including those studying international curricula in China), Mainland Gaokao candidates and transfer applicants. Most pages are labelled for 2026 entry; please check the version that applies to 2027 entry.

1. What the programme offers

• Degree and faculty: B.Sc. in Chemistry, run by the Department of Chemistry in the Faculty of Science. Science programmes use a credit-unit system with a normative study period of four years and 123 units to complete (general requirements page). The department page says it has about 170 undergraduate students.
• Content: analytical, inorganic, organic, physical and theoretical chemistry, with specialised areas such as bioinorganic, organometallic and polymer chemistry; many required courses come with laboratory courses. Applied electives are listed in areas such as forensic science, food safety, environmental analysis, pharmaceutical chemistry and coating chemistry.
• Two streams: for students admitted in 2024-25 and later, the Chemistry Main Stream (described as the most flexible, with the fewest required major units) or the Science, Technology and Research Stream (STARS) for students with strong ability and interest who want earlier research exposure.
• Capstone: in Year 4, problem-based learning (PBL) or an undergraduate thesis. The department page says students with good academic standing may choose an individual research project for a thesis; the Faculty page says students choose between PBL and a thesis; the Main Stream outline on the curriculum page lists only PBL. Check the department website for the current arrangement.
• Experiential learning: local and overseas research programmes; internships at chemical R&D laboratories and start-ups, testing and certification companies and local secondary schools; short-term visits to overseas universities; exchange scholarships for students with strong results (the department’s own wording).
• Chemistry and Biology Double Major: offered jointly with the School of Life Sciences, described below.
• Dual degree with the University of Manchester: two years at CUHK and two at Manchester, leading to a chemistry bachelor’s degree from each university, described below.
• Accreditation: accreditation by bodies such as the Royal Society of Chemistry or the American Chemical Society is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the department (chemistry@cuhk.edu.hk).

2. What to apply for: the SCIENCE broad-based scheme

• SCIENCE (JUPAS code JS4601): Chemistry is one of the majors under this broad-based admission. The website states there is no quota for a specific major and that academic advising is provided; students admitted to SCIENCE are guaranteed entry to their chosen major provided they meet the major’s specific requirements (SCIENCE page, Faculty FAQ).
• The Faculty FAQ gives a projected intake of 335 for SCIENCE (subject to University and Government approval, so it may change).
• Chemistry has no separate JUPAS code of its own; the Faculty’s programme-based lines (for example Earth and Environmental Sciences, Enrichment Mathematics) do not include chemistry.
• First-year common courses: students go through the Faculty Package in Year 1, with five course groups (chemistry, life sciences, mathematics, physics, statistics). They take at least three 3-unit courses: the first from the group of their most desired major, the second from a relevant subject, and the third from the remaining groups.

3. Declaring Chemistry as a major

The rules below are the Faculty of Science’s rules for 2026 entry (major declaration page); check the website for 2027 entry dates and conditions.

• Phase I: entry (October 2026): HKDSE Chemistry Level 5 or above; or exemption from the course specified for Phase II declaration; or 88% or above in the JEE total score.
• Phase II: end of Year 1 (June 2027): grade C+ or above in the Faculty Package course CHEM1070.
• Phase III: end of Year 2 (March 2028): having taken CHEM1070; any one laboratory course from CHEM1870 / CHEM2860 / CHEM2870; and any two lecture courses with a CHEM2XXX code (the website says “taken, not necessarily all passed”).
• The website says that, depending on preparation, students may declare at entry, at the end of Year 1 or at the end of Year 2 (except for double major programmes).

4. Chemistry and Biology Double Major

Offered jointly by the Faculty of Science, the Department of Chemistry and the School of Life Sciences; the degree is titled “Chemistry and Biology” or “Biology and Chemistry” depending on the page. Per the Double Major page (labelled for students admitted in 2022-23 and thereafter; check the 2027 version) and the Faculty note that double majors are excluded from end-of-Year-2 declaration (the page lists only Phase I and Phase II):

• Phase I (admission stage): HKDSE Chemistry and Biology with a total score of at least 10, in one of these combinations: Level 5* or above in Chemistry and Level 4 or above in Biology; Level 5* or above in Biology and Level 4 or above in Chemistry; or Level 5 or above in both. Alternatively, qualifications eligible for exemption from CHEM1070 and LSCI1002, or 88% or above in the JEE total score.
• Phase II (end of Year 1): grade B or above, or an exemption, in CHEM1070 and LSCI1002.
• Outstanding students who declare the Double Major at entry are eligible for an admission scholarship, selected on public examination results. The School of Life Sciences brochure gives 76 major-course units for the double major.

5. Dual degree with the University of Manchester

• Four years: Years 1 and 2 at CUHK, Years 3 and 4 at the University of Manchester, ending with a chemistry bachelor’s degree from each university.
• Students apply after entering the CUHK B.Sc. programme. The website lists: outstanding secondary-school performance with emphasis on chemistry and English; English (GCSE English Language grade C, or grade 4 for reformed English GCSEs; or IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with no component below 6.0; or TOEFL iBT 90 with no sub-score below 20, or the revised 4.5 overall with 4.5 in one sub-skill and none below 4; or an acceptable equivalent); outstanding major and overall GPA in CUHK Years 1 and 2; and passing oral interviews by CUHK and Manchester panels.
• The programme is not available to students admitted with advanced standing or to senior-year entrants.
• Fees: per the website, Hong Kong local students pay in Years 3 and 4 at Manchester the same tuition as CUHK local students, with the difference covered by the Department of Chemistry; non-local students pay full tuition to both universities in Years 3 and 4. Other costs such as accommodation and textbooks are extra.

6. Routes: local, international and Mainland China applicants

• Hong Kong local applicants (HKDSE): apply through JUPAS for JS4601. The University’s general minimum is 4 core and 2 elective subjects (4C+2X, or 4C+1X+M1/M2/Other Language subject) (local students page).
• Local Non-JUPAS (Year 1 admission): for local applicants not eligible for JUPAS or applying with international or other qualifications; holders of Hong Kong sub-degree qualifications are also treated as Non-JUPAS applicants.
• International Students Admissions Scheme: for non-local students who need a student visa/entry permit to study in Hong Kong. The Faculty FAQ states that since 2020 entry all non-local students, whether or not they hold HKDSE results, must apply through the non-JUPAS scheme and cannot use JUPAS.
• Non-JUPAS local and international applicants apply directly to the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA); applications are considered case by case on individual merit.
• The website also lists SNDAS (School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme) and SALSA (Student-Athlete Learning Support and Admission Scheme), not covered here.

7. Local applicants: subjects and scores

• JS4601 minimum requirements (JUPAS leaflet, information as of October 2026): Chinese 3, English 3, Mathematics 2, Citizenship and Social Development “Attained”; first elective one of Biology / Chemistry / Physics / M1 or M2 (level 3), second elective any Category A subject (level 3).
• Scoring: best 5 subjects, with at most 3 weighted more heavily; Biology, Chemistry, Physics and M1 or M2 carry a weighting of 2.0, and English or Mathematics, Economics, Geography, ICT and Technology and Living (Food Science and Technology) carry 1.5.
• 2026 admission reference: median weighted total 41.50 and lower quartile 39.75 (out of 68), for reference only; the formula and scores change every year.
• Interviews: for JS4601 only Band A applicants may be invited, with interviews both before and after the HKDSE results; those before the results are tentatively in May, with invitations by email in February or March.
• STEM Talent Scheme: the Faculty FAQ says applicants with a broad and good STEM background who do not meet the minimum core-subject requirements may still be considered, and may be offered interviews, if they show a strong passion for science.

8. International qualifications and language requirements

• Accepted qualifications (Non-JUPAS leaflet, information as of September 2026): GCE/International A-Levels, IB Diploma, Associate Degree or Higher Diploma, high school diploma plus SAT/ACT and AP, OSSD/BC in Canada, AISSCE/CBSE/ISC in India, SMA in Indonesia, UEC/STPM in Malaysia or any other equivalent.
• University general requirements: A-Level — 3 A-Level passes, or 2 A-Levels plus 2 AS passes; IB — Diploma with 30 points out of 45; SAT/ACT plus AP — a senior secondary school graduation diploma/certificate, SAT 1190 out of 1600 or ACT composite 24, and a score of 3 in each of 2 AP tests.
• Programme-specific requirements: the leaflet says requirements differ by programme and that applicants should in general obtain good grades in advanced-level science subjects such as Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics and Physics. Chemistry-specific subjects and grades (for example whether advanced-level chemistry is required), and the subject-preference tables for A-Level/IB and SAT/ACT/AP, are not given on the pages used for this guide; check the Faculty website or ask the admissions office.
• English: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall; TOEFL iBT 80/120 or 4.5/6; ACT English Language Arts 23; GCE O-Level/GCSE/IGCSE grade C or 4; GCE A-Level/AS grade E; IB 4; SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 590. Some programmes have higher English requirements.
• Chinese: applicants should show an acceptable level of both English and Chinese; the Chinese requirement may be waived at the discretion of the Faculty Dean.
• Advanced standing: applicants with GCE A-Level/International A-Level, IB, Associate Degree/Higher Diploma and similar qualifications who meet the University’s specific requirements may be considered for admission with advanced standing, with up to 24 fewer units for graduation and up to one year less in the normative study period.

9. Applicants from Mainland China

• Current Gaokao candidates: the Faculty page says they apply through the National Colleges and Universities Enrolment System rather than directly to the University. The enrolment plan, programmes, score and English-subject requirements are on the admissions office’s Chinese-language page (marked as Chinese only), which is not among the pages used for this guide; check the CUHK undergraduate admissions website. The website does not say whether Chemistry has any additional Gaokao subject or score requirement.
• Mainland students on international curricula who do not sit the Gaokao: apply under the International Students Admissions Scheme with A-Level, IB, SAT/ACT plus AP and similar qualifications, as above.
• Specific guidance for Chinese applicants on transcripts, school-leaving examination materials, credential verification and interviews is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the admissions office.

10. Transfer and sub-degree pathways

• Associate Degree / Higher Diploma: local sub-degree graduates apply as Non-JUPAS applicants. The Faculty also offers a two-year B.Sc. in Natural Sciences for local sub-degree holders, whose concentrations include Chemical and Testing Sciences; details are not given on the pages used for this guide.
• International transfer applicants: the pages used for this guide give no separate entry year, credit-transfer rule or deadline for international transfer students; ask the admissions office. Applicants eligible for advanced standing are covered above.

11. Fees, deadlines and scholarships

• Tuition, application fee and 2027 application deadlines: not given on the pages used for this guide. The Non-JUPAS and international application timetable and fees are on the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid (OAFA) website; check the latest information for 2027 entry and do not rely on earlier years’ figures.
• Department of Chemistry scholarships (scholarships page): Professor Wai-Kee Li Memorial Scholarship (amount set annually); Lau Oi Wah Memorial Award for Scholastic Excellence (Chung Chi College, $20,000, for the academically best graduating student with First Class Honours); Dr. Wong Kam Han Memorial Prize ($5,000, final-year Chung Chi College Chemistry students with outstanding organic chemistry results); Chemistry Alumni Scholarship ($5,000, non-final-year Chung Chi College Chemistry student with the highest cumulative GPA, not less than 3.0); Anna Leung-yee Tang Scholarships ($3,100, best male and female final-year students). The page shows “$” without naming a currency, so check; several awards are limited to a college or year.
• STARS admission scholarship: STARS students entering in Phase I can receive an admission scholarship; the amount is not given on the pages used for this guide.
• Admission scholarships: the School of Life Sciences brochure gives HKD 6,000 to 50,000 for local and non-local students and HKD 20,000 to 50,000 for an International Admission Scholarship; these are School of Life Sciences figures. Whether the Faculty of Science or the Department of Chemistry offers comparable amounts is not given on the pages used for this guide; ask the Faculty.

12. STARS entry conditions

• An add-on stream for Faculty of Science students; Chemistry is among the eligible majors (STARS page, last updated August 2025). No interview is required.
• Phase 1 (start of Year 1): JUPAS admittees with at least 3 stars in the science subjects Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics/M1/M2 and Physics in the HKDSE; non-JUPAS admittees with excellent performance in public examinations and/or international competitions, considered case by case.
• Phase 2 (after Year 1 Term 2 results): Year 1 GPA of 3.7 or above; at least 3 Faculty Package courses taken or exempted from 3 different groups; and A- or above in 2 Faculty Package courses from different groups.
• Students must keep a cumulative GPA of 3.3 or above (with a two-regular-term grace period), and can take part in research, international conferences and at least 4 consecutive weeks of outgoing exposure, with financial support available for research-related outgoing exposure.

Application checklist

Applicants with international qualifications (including those on international curricula in China):

• Apply under the International Students Admissions Scheme directly to OAFA; meet the University general requirements and the English requirement; check chemistry subject preferences on the Faculty website
• Choose the SCIENCE broad-based scheme and declare Chemistry in the phases after entry; the Chemistry and Biology Double Major can be declared only at entry or at the end of Year 1, not at the end of Year 2

Current Mainland Gaokao candidates:

• Apply through the national enrolment system, not directly to the University; see the admissions office’s Chinese-language page for details

Hong Kong local applicants:

• Choose JS4601 in JUPAS; to declare Chemistry at entry you need HKDSE Chemistry Level 5 or above

Transfer applicants:

• Local sub-degree holders apply through Non-JUPAS; rules for international transfer applicants are not given on the pages used for this guide, so ask the admissions office

Sources: The Chinese University of Hong Kong websites, Faculty of Science Chemistry page; Department of Chemistry undergraduate page; Chemistry major curriculum page; Double Major page; Manchester dual degree page; Department scholarships page; Major declaration page; Faculty FAQ; Local students page; Non-local students page; JUPAS leaflet; Non-JUPAS leaflet; STARS page; General requirements page. Check the website for the version that applies to 2027 entry.