How to Apply to Psychology at the University of Hong Kong: Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) Requirements for Gaokao, A-Level/IB/AP, Canadian High School and Transfer Applicants, and Timeline

2026-10-17 · Application guides

HKU’s Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych, programme code 6705) is a four-year programme in the Faculty of Social Sciences with 74 first-year places, and you apply to it directly. Gaokao candidates use HKU’s Mainland Undergraduate Admissions Scheme, separate from the national allocation system, with a deadline of June 28, 2027; international-curriculum applicants apply through the Non-JUPAS scheme with expected lower boundaries of A-Level 2A*1A or IB 38, and BC students should average 90% or more in five Grade 12 subjects. This guide covers 2027 entry requirements, English scores, fees and the timeline based on HKU’s official information.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) offers the Bachelor of Psychology (BPsych) through the Faculty of Social Sciences: programme code 6705, four years, with 74 first-year places listed. You apply directly to the BPsych rather than entering a broad stream first. Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on HKU’s official information, for Gaokao candidates in mainland China, students in international curricula (A-Level, IB, AP), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. The programme

Focus: HKU describes the BPsych as hands-on, research-intensive and multidisciplinary, covering thought processes, personality, psychopathology, social interaction, biological influences on mind and behaviour, and development across life stages.
Research: students can plan or design experiential and research projects that apply psychology to real problems, and work on multidisciplinary research co-supervised by two faculty members from different subfields.
Careers: graduates work in the private and public sectors or education, or go on to professional postgraduate study in clinical psychology, educational psychology or counselling, or to research in areas such as cognitive science and neuroscience.
Other options: the Department of Psychology notes that HKU undergraduates can declare a second major or minor in cognitive science or neuroscience after admission.

2. Gaokao candidates: the Mainland Undergraduate Admissions Scheme

Independent admissions: HKU’s mainland admissions are separate from the national unified allocation system. Applying to HKU does not affect your participation in national admissions or programmes such as the Strong Foundation Plan, but once you accept HKU’s offer you leave the national allocation process.
Scope: in 2027 HKU recruits from all 31 provinces with no provincial quotas. All undergraduate programmes are open to mainland applicants, with no arts/science stream restriction and no subject-selection requirements for new-Gaokao provinces.
How to apply: complete the online application, pay the HK$780 fee (online credit card payment only), and upload your Gaokao results once they are released.
Selection: HKU looks at overall quality, prioritising total Gaokao score and English score, interview performance (if shortlisted), and academic and non-academic qualities. HKU does not publish a psychology cut-off score.
Multiple Excellence Admissions Scheme: after applying to the mainland scheme, students with strong grades, competition awards, rich activities, leadership, or arts or sports talent can apply for early selection with interviews. Strong performers may receive admission bonus points, and outstanding ones a conditional offer before the Gaokao. The first round closes December 31, 2026 and the final deadline is March 22, 2027; online interviews start in January–February and results are released by May.

3. International curricula: the Non-JUPAS scheme

Applicants with A-Level, IB, AP or other non-Gaokao qualifications apply through the International/Non-JUPAS scheme. HKU’s admissions-standards tool lists these expected lower boundaries for the BPsych (the same for schools in mainland China and in Canada):

A-Level: 2A*1A (excluding Chinese and English language-related subjects, Critical Thinking, General Studies, Global Perspectives and Research, Knowledge and Enquiry, Project Work, Thinking Skills and the EPQ), with no specific subject requirements.
IB Diploma: 38, with no specific subject requirements.
SAT / AP: Grade 5 in three AP subjects, plus an SAT superscore of 1500 or Grade 5 in two more AP subjects (AP English Language and Composition, Seminar and Research excluded).
Interview and additional requirements: no additional requirements; the interview field is listed as not applicable.
Advanced standing: A-Level or IB Diploma holders with at least seven years of secondary education who achieve A-Level 2A*1A in their best three subjects or IB 36+ can receive 30 credits of advanced standing, with documents due by August 20, 2027.
Enter your results: all predicted and actual results must be entered in the application system, not just uploaded, or the application may be rejected.

4. Canadian high school students (including BC)

BC Senior Secondary Graduation Diploma: passes in five acceptable Grade 12 subjects with an average of 90% or better in the best five; no specific subject requirements and no interview.
Canadian applicants also use the Non-JUPAS scheme (see the timeline below); those taking IB or AP can apply with the IB and AP standards above.

5. English requirements

IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in writing and speaking, in one sitting, taken within two years before September 1 of your entry year; IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online are not accepted.
TOEFL iBT: for tests from January 21, 2026, 5.0 overall with at least 5.0 in writing and speaking; for earlier tests, 95 with at least 25 in writing and speaking. TOEFL Home Edition and ITP are not accepted.
Other ways: SAT Reading and Writing 610+; for A-Level students, GCSE/O-Level English Language B or 6, IGCSE English First Language (with speaking and listening) B or 6, or AS/A-Level English C; for IB students, English A at 5 or English B at 6.

6. Transfer students

Students transferring from a university in Hong Kong or abroad choose “Bachelor’s or higher degree” as their qualification in the Non-JUPAS application. HKU does not publish a separate transfer standard for the BPsych, and unlisted qualifications are assessed individually, so contact the Faculty of Social Sciences admissions team (socugadmissions@hku.hk).

7. Timeline for September 2027 entry

Gaokao candidates:

October 6, 2026: online applications open (with the Multiple Excellence scheme).
December 31, 2026: first-round deadline for the Multiple Excellence scheme; final deadline March 22, 2027.
Late June 2027: upload Gaokao results; admission interviews.
June 28, 2027, 12 noon: application deadline.
Late June to July 7: offers released.

International-curriculum and Canadian applicants (Non-JUPAS):

September 23, 2026: applications open.
November 25, 2026, noon (HKT): first-round evaluation deadline.
By December 1, 2026: enter predicted or actual grades and submit references and documents.
From December 2026: first-round results. Offer holders confirm within three to four weeks and pay a non-refundable deposit; HKU advises non-local students to allow eight to ten weeks for a visa.
After November 25: rolling review; applications close August 25, 2027, at noon.

8. Fees and scholarships

Tuition: in 2027/28, non-local students in non-STEM faculties, including Social Sciences, pay HK$250,000 a year.
Housing and living: residential halls about HK$17,290 to HK$37,940 a year (285 days, excluding summer); off-campus housing about HK$30,000 to HK$50,000 a year; living expenses up to about HK$50,000 a year.
Scholarships: HKU offers merit-based scholarships for local and non-local students that can cover tuition and, in some cases, living expenses. Specific awards are listed in HKU’s “Find My Scholarships” tool by student type and qualification; the static pages give no amounts.

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