How to Apply to Business at HKUST: Gaokao, A-level/IB/AP, Canadian High School and Transfer Requirements and Timelines for the Business and Management School-Based Choice and Majors in Economics, Finance, Accounting and More

Undergraduate business degrees at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) are offered by the School of Business and Management (SBM), which HKUST describes as the first business school in Asia accredited by both AACSB and EQUIS. Degrees are normally four years. Here is what you need to know for 2027 entry, based on HKUST’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. Two ways to apply

• School-based: Business and Management: for students who want to explore first. You take business core courses in your first three terms and choose a major in the Major Selection Exercise at the end of Year 2 fall term. HKUST says about half of planned major places are reserved for this route and about 80% of business students got their first- or second-choice major.
• Program-based: if you already know your area, apply directly to a BBA in Economics, Finance, Global Business, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, Operations Management or Professional Accounting, or to the BSc in Economics and Finance or Quantitative Finance. Both routes share the same curriculum in the first three terms.
• Other combinations: joint BSc programs with Science and Engineering (Biotechnology and Business, Mathematics and Economics, Risk Management and Business Intelligence, Sustainable and Green Finance), the five-year Dual Degree Program in Technology and Management, and the self-financed World Bachelor in Business and BBA in Eurasian Business. Double majors, minors and extended majors in AI, Creative Arts and Digital Humanities or Sustainability are possible.
• HKUST says SBM has exchange agreements with 165+ institutions and sends more than 400 students on exchange each year.

2. Gaokao students: independent admissions, apply directly

• Outside the national system: HKUST recruits in mainland China independently, not through the national unified enrolment system, so it does not use one of your national application choices. Apply directly through HKUST’s online system before the deadline. Admission is merit-based, with no provincial or stream quotas.
• Dates: applications open 2 October 2026 and close 10 June 2027. After results are released HKUST invites applicants to interview; interviews for current Gaokao candidates are in late June 2027, and offers go out from late June to early July.
• Selection: after results are out, HKUST sets an interview score line for each school, with reference to provincial first-tier lines and cut-offs of leading mainland universities. Reaching your school’s line earns an interview, held entirely in English, assessing composure, logical thinking, expression and communication; passing the interview leads to an offer.
• Choices: you submit one application with one application choice; some choices have an alternative. Before your interview you can change your choice in mid-June when HKUST notifies applicants.
• Foreign language: your Gaokao foreign language must be English; otherwise you need a valid IELTS, TOEFL or similar result.
• Subject-track requirements: these are shown in a filter on the Gaokao admissions page; the pages we read did not show SBM’s requirements, so check that page directly.
• HKUST has a separate admissions scholarship page for Gaokao students; applicants are considered automatically.

3. International qualifications

• Minimum requirements: passes in at least three A-level subjects (or a BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma); the IB Diploma; for the US system, high school graduation plus SAT 1190 or ACT 24 (with Science) and two AP subjects at 3 or above, or five AP subjects at 4 or above.
• Admission score reference (university-wide, 2026 intake, middle 50%): A-level best three subjects 144–168 UCAS points (AAA to 3A*); IB 35–41 including bonus points; SAT 1480–1540. HKUST notes programs vary from year to year and figures are for reference only. Separate figures for business programs are not published.
• Subject requirements and interviews:
  • Business and Management (school-based), Global Business, Information Systems, Management, Marketing, Operations Management and Professional Accounting: no specific subjects.
  • Economics and Finance BBAs: Mathematics; BSc Economics and Finance and BSc Quantitative Finance: senior-level Mathematics.
  • Global Business and Quantitative Finance require an interview; for other programs interviews are not compulsory.
• For A-level students, school predicted grades, IGCSE/GCSE and AS results are used in preliminary assessment.

4. Students at Canadian high schools (including BC)

• BC / Yukon: Certificate of Graduation with passes in five Grade 12 academic courses. Ontario needs six 4U/4M courses; most other provinces need five Grade 12 academic courses.
• Competitiveness reference: HKUST gives an overall average of 85% or above. Mathematics requirements for Economics and Finance programs apply as above.
• English: Canadian Grade 12 English at 70% or above (English 12 in BC) meets the English requirement.

5. English requirements

• IELTS Academic: overall 6.0; IELTS for UKVI is accepted.
• TOEFL iBT: total 80 for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4.5 for tests from that date, in one sitting.
• Duolingo English Test: overall 125.
• These are the University’s English admission requirements.

6. Transfer students

• If you are in a bachelor’s program at a university in Hong Kong or overseas, apply through the Post-secondary Qualifications route; a GPA of B+ or 80% is normally expected.
• Credit transfer is assessed case by case, and your year of entry depends on the credits granted. A separate 158 senior-year articulation places are only for local associate degree and higher diploma graduates.
• The timeline is the same as for international qualifications (below); the application guide lists which majors accept first-year or senior-year entry. Enquiries: ugenquiry@ust.hk.

7. Timeline (2027 entry, international and post-secondary)

• 2 October 2026: online applications open.
• 25 November 2026: Priority Round deadline; rolling review from 26 November.
• From late December 2026: offers announced.
• 30 June 2027: applications close.
• You choose programs from a pull-down menu; some have an alternative choice considered if the first is unsuccessful. Qualifications and choices cannot be changed after submission.

8. Fees and scholarships

• Application fee: HK$600 online for international qualifications, payable by credit card, Alipay or WeChat Pay.
• Tuition: HK$260,000 a year for non-local students in 2027/28.
• Housing and living: university accommodation about HK$21,000–51,000 a year (the rate for fall 2026 entrants; the 2027/28 rate is not yet announced). Non-local undergraduates get university housing in their first year and may need to rent off campus afterwards. Personal expenses are about HK$65,000 a year.
• Scholarships: all applicants are considered for academic admissions scholarships automatically. Non-academic scholarships (such as sports or arts) need a separate application: for international-qualification applicants by 25 November 2026, with later applications considered case by case until late March 2027.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Gaokao route: apply directly to HKUST by 10 June 2027, outside your national choices; one application choice; reach your school’s interview line and take an English-language interview
• International curriculum: reference A-level AAA to 3A* or IB 35–41; Mathematics for Economics and Finance; IELTS 6.0; apply by 25 November 2026 for the Priority Round

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

• Five BC Grade 12 academic courses, with an average of 85% or above being competitive; English 12 at 70% meets the English requirement; apply by 25 November for the Priority Round

Transfer students:

• Apply through the post-secondary route; a GPA of B+ or 80% is normally expected, with credits and year of entry assessed case by case

Sources: HKUST undergraduate admissions, School of Business and Management programs; International qualifications and requirements; Mainland Gaokao admissions (Chinese); Post-secondary qualifications and transfer; Fees and scholarships; A-level/IB admission scores; International online application guide; Gaokao online application guide (Chinese). Information is for 2027 entry. Check HKUST for the latest details.