How to Apply to Business at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: The Business Administration Degree Scheme and Three BBA Schemes, With Requirements and Timelines for Gaokao, International-Curriculum, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), undergraduate business degrees are offered by the Faculty of Business. All are four-year BBA (Hons) degrees, government-funded and taught in English. Here is what you need to know for September 2027 entry, based on PolyU’s official information, for students at high schools in China (Gaokao and international curricula), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Which programmes you can apply to

PolyU admits business students by scheme: you take a common Year One curriculum and choose your major towards the end of the first year. There are four entry routes:

• Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Business Administration (JS3003): a faculty-level route introduced in 2025/26, with one application leading to nine majors: Accountancy; Accounting and Finance; Digital Finance and Investment; Aviation Management and Finance; International Shipping and Transport Logistics; Supply Chain Management and Analytics; Global Business and Logistics (a dual degree with Copenhagen Business School, Denmark); Management; and Marketing. Majors are allocated after Year One through a ranking that considers your entrance qualification score, Year One GPA and interview performance.
• BBA (Hons) Scheme in Accounting and Finance (JS3060): awards in Accountancy, Accounting and Finance, and Digital Finance and Investment. PolyU says the Accountancy and Accounting and Finance awards are accredited by the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (HKICPA), whose Qualification Programme exemption requirement graduates meet if they take the relevant subjects, and that Accounting and Finance and Digital Finance and Investment are CFA Institute University Affiliation Programmes. You need at least 120 academic credits plus 3 training credits, and every student completes at least one internship before graduating.
• BBA (Hons) Scheme in Global Business and Logistics, Aviation, Maritime, and Supply Chain Management (JS3070): awards in Aviation Management and Finance, International Shipping and Transport Logistics, Supply Chain Management and Analytics, and Global Business and Logistics. Graduation requires 120 academic credits plus 3 training credits; the dual degree with Copenhagen Business School requires 72 academic credits (plus 3 training credits) at PolyU and 120 ECTS at CBS.
• BBA (Hons) Scheme in Management and Marketing (JS3080): awards in Management and in Marketing, with 120 credits plus 3 training credits required.
• Switching: after Year One, students who want to move to another programme in the faculty join a competitive ranking based on entrance score, Year One GPA and interview performance.
• Secondary major: some programmes offer a competitive Secondary Major in AI and Data Analytics (AIDA), with different credit requirements.
• Subjects: none of the four business routes lists preferred subjects.

2. Students at high schools in China: PolyU’s own Gaokao admission

• How it works: PolyU admits current-year Gaokao candidates through its own scheme, with a separate application and timetable. Applying does not affect your applications to mainland universities, and you do not list PolyU on your mainland preference form. Students from all 31 mainland provinces and municipalities can apply, and there are no fixed provincial quotas. Repeat candidates applying with this year’s Gaokao follow the same process.
• Admission standard: PolyU asks for excellent current-year Gaokao results, including a good English score, and sets no provincial cut-off scores in advance; past provincial cut-offs are not published.
• All four business routes accept both arts and science streams. Accounting and Finance (JS3060) does not consider applicants who list it as their second choice; JS3003, JS3070 and JS3080 do consider second-choice applicants.
• Popularity: PolyU lists the Accounting and Finance BBA scheme as the most popular first choice among its 2026 mainland Gaokao applicants.
• Timeline:
  • Applications open on 23 September 2026;
  • Applications close on 13 June 2027; you can change your choices online until then;
  • After results come out in late June, you must enter your Gaokao scores yourself by the set date; late or incorrect entries void the application;
  • Offers go out by email and SMS between late June and 7 July; accepting requires a HK$20,000 deposit. If you have heard nothing by mid-July, assume you were unsuccessful;
  • The 2027/28 academic year starts on 30 August 2027.
• 3D Admission Scheme: for Year 3 senior high students with excellent school results, mock exams at school level or above, and academic proficiency tests. The early round closes on 11 February 2027 and the main round on 14 May 2027. Applicants who apply, pay the fee and enter the relevant results by the deadline are included automatically, and PolyU invites eligible students to interview. Passing the early-round interview brings a conditional offer on favourable terms; passing the main-round interview may bring bonus points. You cannot change your choices after the interview without leaving the scheme.
• Application fee: HK$600, non-refundable.
• Scholarships: PolyU offers 2027/28 entrance scholarships to Gaokao students with outstanding results or who rank highly among applicants to their programme; no separate application is needed. They usually last four years, renewable if you keep the required GPA. Non-academic scholarships are also available.
• Mainland students not taking the 2027 Gaokao: PolyU’s FAQ says students on the mainland Chinese curriculum who do not sit the 2027 Gaokao will generally not be considered; those with other international qualifications are considered further only if they have, or show the potential to achieve, strong results. These students apply under the international requirements below; the enquiry email for non-Gaokao mainland applicants is polyu.njee@polyu.edu.hk.

3. International curricula (A-level, IB, AP)

• A-level minimum: grade B or above in three A-level (or International A-level) subjects.
• IB minimum: the IB Diploma. PolyU says successful applicants have typically scored 32 or higher in recent years, and applicants with a predicted 30 or above may be considered for interview.
• US curriculum and AP, one of:
  • A high school diploma with an overall average of 80% or above, plus SAT 1190 or ACT 24 (one sitting), plus grade 3 or above in two AP subjects;
  • A high school diploma with an overall average of 80% or above, plus grade 3 or above in five AP subjects.
  Precalculus, Calculus AB and Calculus BC count as one AP subject; Latin, English Language and Composition, AP Seminar and AP Research are excluded.
• Actual admission scores: for 2026 entry, the middle 50% (25th to 75th percentile) across the whole university was 144 to 168 UCAS tariff points for three A-levels, and IB 33 to 38 including TOK and EE points. These are university-wide figures, not business-specific.
• Credit transfer: students with good A-level or IB results are normally given 12 credits on entry (including 6 for Cluster Area Requirement subjects and up to 6 for Language and Communication electives), up to a maximum of 25% of the award requirements.
• Online schooling: PolyU does not consider qualifications obtained through online schools or virtual classes.

4. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC and other provinces: a provincial high school diploma with an overall average of 80% or above in your best five Grade 12 courses.
• Ontario: an OSSD with an 80% average in six Grade 12 4U/4M courses.
• Quebec: a DEC with an 80% average.
• English: 80% or above in a Grade 12 English course meets the English requirement, so you do not need IELTS or TOEFL.
• Interviews: Management and Marketing (JS3080) invites selected international-qualification applicants to a 10-minute online individual interview in English between November 2026 and March 2027; Accounting and Finance (JS3060) may also invite suitable applicants to interview.

5. Timeline for international-curriculum and Canadian students

• Applications open on 23 September 2026;
• Early round closes on 17 November 2026 (the deadline shown on the programme pages);
• Main round closes on 11 February 2027;
• An extended round closes on 14 May 2027, for international students only;
• Each applicant submits one application with up to two programme choices, which cannot be changed after submission; both choices are considered at the same time, and you can accept only one offer at a time;
• You can apply before your results are out, as long as you provide them by mid-August; IB and A-level students should ask their school to send predicted results;
• Reference letters and personal statements are optional for most programmes;
• If you hear nothing, assume you were unsuccessful: PolyU’s application notes say by mid-July, while its FAQ says by late July.

6. English requirements for non-local applicants

• IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, in one sitting;
• TOEFL iBT: 80 for tests before 21 January 2026, or 4.5 (out of 6) for tests on or after that date, in one sitting;
• IELTS and TOEFL results must be within two years of the start of study; TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted;
• Also accepted: SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 590, ACT English and Reading 23 each (one sitting), AP English Language or Literature 4, IB English A or English Literature 4 (HL/SL), A-level/AS English E, IGCSE English C/4, and others;
• Studying at an English-medium school does not waive the requirement; you must meet one of the listed options.
• These are university-wide requirements; programme-specific rules take precedence.

7. Transfer students

• If you have studied a bachelor’s degree, associate degree or higher diploma elsewhere, you can apply as a non-local applicant for Year 1, with credit transfer assessed case by case. Credits transferred from other institutions normally cannot exceed 25% of the credits required for the PolyU award, and credits are valid for eight years.
• Credit transfer is normally requested from your department after enrolment, before the end of the add/drop period in your first semester, with transcripts and syllabi. Some advanced qualifications may be considered automatically, and any reduced credit requirement is shown on the Notice of Offer.
• PolyU’s Gaokao pages say it does not encourage applications from students currently in government-funded bachelor’s programmes at other institutions, and considers them only in special circumstances.
• Non-JUPAS Senior Year entry is for local applicants. Whether non-local transfer students can enter a senior year directly is not published; email polyu.intl@polyu.edu.hk to ask.

8. Fees and scholarships

• Non-local tuition (2027/28): HK$240,000 a year, paid in two instalments before each semester.
• Initial fee: HK$20,000 on accepting an offer, non-refundable and non-transferable, credited to first-semester tuition; scholarship recipients also pay it.
• Annual cost estimate: about HK$290,272 for a first-year non-local student living on campus, including tuition, university accommodation of HK$18,515 (2026/27 rate; 2027/28 to be announced), meals of HK$53,040 and personal expenses of HK$18,717. University housing is normally granted for the first year.
• Scholarships: outstanding applicants are automatically considered for merit-based entrance scholarships, with no separate application. One example is the Cultural Ambassador Scholarship for Non-Local Students, renewable at up to HK$60,000 a year. Total university-administered scholarships in a year normally cannot exceed that year’s tuition plus HK$60,000.
• Financial aid: non-local students cannot apply for HKSAR Government or PolyU financial assistance.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China (Gaokao):

• Apply on PolyU’s website between 23 September 2026 and 13 June 2027, with up to two choices; Accounting and Finance ignores second-choice applicants, so put it first if you want it
• Strong students can join the 3D Admission Scheme early round by 11 February
• Enter your Gaokao scores yourself on time in late June

International-curriculum students and mainland students not taking the Gaokao:

• Apply by 17 November 2026 (early round) or 11 February 2027 (main round)
• University-wide middle range: A-level 144 to 168 UCAS points, IB 33 to 38
• IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 4.5 (80 on the older scale)

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

• 80% average in your best five Grade 12 courses; 80% in Grade 12 English waives IELTS/TOEFL
• Apply by 17 November or 11 February; international students can also use the 14 May extended round

Transfer students:

• Apply for Year 1 and request credit transfer after enrolment, up to 25%; email Admissions before applying if you want senior-year entry

Sources: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Bachelor’s Degree Scheme in Business Administration (JS3003); BBA (Hons) Scheme in Accounting and Finance (JS3060); BBA (Hons) Scheme in Global Business and Logistics, Aviation, Maritime, and Supply Chain Management (JS3070); BBA (Hons) Scheme in Management and Marketing (JS3080); International / other qualifications; General entrance requirements; English language requirements; Admission figures for GCE and IB; Credit transfer; Tuition fees; Other fees and expenses; FAQ; Chinese Mainland Gaokao applicants (Chinese); Gaokao entrance requirements summary (Chinese); Gaokao application procedures (Chinese); 3D Admission Scheme (Chinese); Gaokao scholarships (Chinese); Gaokao FAQ (Chinese); Undergraduate scholarships. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check PolyU for the latest details.