How to Apply to Business at the University of Hong Kong: Gaokao, A-level/IB/AP, Canadian High School and Transfer Requirements and Timelines for the BBA, Accounting and Finance, Economics and Finance, Quantitative Finance and Other Programmes

Undergraduate business degrees at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are offered by HKU Business School. More than ten government-funded programmes admit students for 2027, all four years long, and you apply directly to a specific programme (each code has its own requirements). Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on HKU’s official information, for Gaokao students in mainland China, students taking A-level, IB or AP, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

1. The programmes

• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA, 6755): choose a major in year two from Entrepreneurship, Design and Innovation (subject to selection by the Programme Coordinator), Finance, Human Resource Management, Information Systems and Analytics, or Marketing; a second major is possible. HKU lists 226 first-year places combined for 6755, 6767 and 6781.
• BBA in Accounting and Finance / BBA in Accounting Data Analytics: both under code 6781, preparing students for professional accounting qualifications; HKU lists recognition by HKICPA, ACCA and CPA Australia.
• Bachelor of Economics / Bachelor of Economics and Finance: both under code 6767.
• Other programmes: BBA (Business Analytics) (6793), BBA in International Business and Global Management (6896), BBA (Law) and LLB (6808), Bachelor of Finance in Asset Management and Private Banking (6860), BSc in Marketing Analytics and Technology (6846) and BSc in Quantitative Finance (6884). There is also the new self-financed Bachelor of Global Leadership, Innovation and Society (BGLIS).
• Dual degrees: BBA students can take the HKU–Sciences Po dual degree or the HKU–UBC dual degree (years one and four at HKU, years two and three at UBC Sauder in Vancouver, graduating with an HKU BBA and a UBC Bachelor of Commerce). Both need a separate application.
• HKU says students from both arts and science streams are welcome.

2. Gaokao students: Mainland Undergraduate Admissions Scheme

• Independent admissions: HKU recruits in mainland China through its own process, separate from national unified admissions. Applying to HKU does not affect your national applications, but once you accept an HKU offer you leave the mainland admissions process.
• Scope: for 2027 HKU recruits in all 31 provinces with no provincial quotas; there are no arts/science stream restrictions and no subject-combination requirements in new-Gaokao provinces.
• How to apply: complete the online form, pay the HK$780 application fee (online credit card payment only) and upload your Gaokao results after they are released. The deadline is 28 June 2027; offers are released between late June and 7 July 2027.
• Selection: priority goes to total Gaokao score and English score, interview performance (if invited) and overall academic and non-academic qualities. HKU does not publish Gaokao cut-offs for its business programmes.
• Diversified Excellence Admissions Scheme: open to applicants who have registered for the mainland scheme. Strong performers may receive bonus points, and outstanding applicants may get a conditional offer before the Gaokao. The first round closes on 31 December 2026 and the final deadline is 22 March 2027. Gaokao students interested in dual degrees such as HKU–UBC can also seek an HKU recommendation through this scheme.

3. International qualifications: non-JUPAS

Students with A-level, IB, AP or similar qualifications apply through the International/Non-JUPAS Admissions Scheme. These are HKU’s expected lower boundaries from its admissions standards tool (the same for schools in mainland China and Canada):

• BBA (6755), Accounting and Finance / Accounting Data Analytics (6781), Economics / Economics and Finance (6767): A-level 3A*, with an A or above in Mathematics, Further Mathematics or Pure Mathematics; IB 38, with Mathematics AA HL 5 or SL 6 or equivalent (6767 asks more for Mathematics AI) plus English A 5 or English B 6; AP: four 5s plus an SAT superscore of 1500 or two more 5s, with one 5 in Calculus AB/BC, Macroeconomics, Microeconomics or Statistics.
• Business Analytics (6793) and Marketing Analytics and Technology (6846): A-level 2A*1A, with an A in Mathematics and an A in a science or computing subject (6846 also accepts Accounting, Business or Economics); IB 36; AP: four 5s plus SAT 1470 or two more APs at 4 or above.
• Asset Management and Private Banking (6860) and Quantitative Finance (6884): A-level 3A*1A (Quantitative Finance needs A* in both Mathematics and Further Mathematics); IB 40 (Quantitative Finance needs Mathematics HL 7); AP: four 5s plus SAT 1520 or two more 5s.
• International Business and Global Management (6896): A-level 3A*1A; IB 41, with 6 or above in English, Mathematics and all other subjects; AP: four 5s plus SAT 1560 or three more 5s.
• BBA (Law) and LLB (6808): A-level 3A* with an A in Mathematics; IB 41, with 6 or above in Mathematics and English.
• Additional requirements and interviews: every programme gives priority to first-choice applicants. Quantitative Finance and IBGM also review past results, personal statements and references to shortlist for interview; interviews for international-qualification applicants run from December 2026.
• Advanced standing: students admitted with A-level or the IB Diploma after a seven-year secondary curriculum can apply for up to 42 credits of advanced standing.
• Enter your results: predicted and actual results must be entered into the application system, not just uploaded as documents.

4. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• BC graduation diploma: every business programme expects passes in five acceptable Grade 12 (or BC provincially examinable) subjects with an average of 90% or better in the best five, including Mathematics. Business Analytics also needs one of Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, ICT or Physics; Marketing Analytics and Technology also accepts Accounting, Business or Economics.
• You apply through the non-JUPAS scheme on the timeline below. Canadian students taking IB or AP can also apply on the IB or AP standards above.
• HKU–UBC dual degree: open only to secondary school applicants (not to students with previous post-secondary study). You submit a UBC online application plus a dual degree supplemental application with a 250–500-word essay on your motivation. Unsuccessful applicants are still considered for UBC’s Bachelor of Commerce. Admitted students are automatically considered for the HKU Foundation Entrance Scholarship, which can cover up to full tuition and living expenses.

5. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: overall 6.5, with at least 6.0 in Writing and Speaking in the same sitting, taken within two years before 1 September of entry; IELTS Indicator and IELTS Online are not accepted.
• TOEFL iBT: for tests from 21 January 2026, overall 5.0 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 or above; for A-level students, GCSE/O-level English B or 6 or above, among other options; for IB students, English A 5 or English B 6.

6. Transfer students

• If you have studied at a university in Hong Kong or overseas, choose “Bachelor’s or higher degree” as your qualification in the non-JUPAS application.
• The expected lower boundary for business programmes is completion of one year of a full-time bachelor’s programme at a recognised university with a cumulative GPA of at least 70% of the institution’s maximum or 3.0, whichever is higher, plus Mathematics.
• HKU does not publish separate second-year entry arrangements for business. Credit transfer is handled under University rules after admission; contact HKU Business School undergraduate admissions (fbe.ugenquiry@hku.hk).

7. Timeline (September 2027 entry, non-JUPAS)

• 23 September 2026: applications open.
• 25 November 2026, noon (HKT): first-round evaluation deadline.
• By 1 December 2026: enter predicted or actual results and submit references and supporting documents.
• 1 December 2026 – 31 March 2027: interviews for first-round applicants as needed; first-round offers from 28 December.
• 25 August 2027, noon: applications close. Applications after the first round are reviewed on a rolling basis as places allow.
• HKU advises non-local students to allow four to six weeks for assessment and eight to ten weeks for a visa after receiving an offer.

8. Fees and scholarships

• Tuition: for 2027/28, non-local students (and local students not eligible for government-subsidised fees) pay HK$250,000 a year for Business and Economics programmes. On the HKU–UBC dual degree, years one and four are paid to HKU and years two and three to UBC.
• Living costs: HKU estimates HK$17,290–37,940 a year for halls, HK$30,000–50,000 for off-campus housing and up to about HK$50,000 a year for living expenses.
• Scholarships: applicants are automatically considered for University entrance scholarships, generally without a separate application, and results usually come with the offer. You can filter schemes by student type and qualification in HKU’s scholarship finder.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Gaokao route: register for the Mainland Undergraduate Admissions Scheme by 28 June 2027 and pay HK$780, then upload results; consider the Diversified Excellence Admissions Scheme (first round 31 December)
• International curriculum: apply through non-JUPAS; the BBA expects A-level 3A* (A in Mathematics) or IB 38, IELTS 6.5 (6.0 in Writing and Speaking); apply by 25 November 2026 for the first round

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Best-five Grade 12 average of 90% including Mathematics; apply through non-JUPAS by 25 November 2026 for the first round
• For the HKU–UBC dual degree, submit a UBC application and the dual degree supplemental application

Transfer students:

• One full-time year of a bachelor’s degree with GPA of 70% of the maximum or 3.0 (whichever is higher) and Mathematics; choose “Bachelor’s or higher degree” in non-JUPAS

Sources: The University of Hong Kong Admissions Office, Bachelor of Business Administration; Mainland Undergraduate Admissions Scheme (Chinese); International/Non-JUPAS Admissions Scheme and admissions standards; Tuition and living expenses; Scholarships; HKU-UBC Dual Degree Programme; HKU Business School, Degree programmes; Non-JUPAS key dates; FAQ for non-JUPAS applicants. Information is for September 2027 entry; standards are HKU’s published expected lower boundaries. Check HKU for the latest details.