How to Apply to Computer Science at City University of Hong Kong: The Four-Year BSc Computer Science With Five Streams and a Year-Long Internship, and What Chinese, Canadian and Transfer Students Should Check

At City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science. The degree is the BSc Computer Science, JUPAS code JS1204 for local HKDSE applicants. This guide is based on the department’s website and the JUPAS site, and covers what to know for September 2027 entry as a student at a high school in China (Gaokao or international curricula), a student at a Canadian high school (including BC and Vancouver), or a transfer student.

Please note: CityUHK publishes entry requirements and deadlines for international and Gaokao applicants on its admissions office website, which could not be read for this guide. Where this guide says “not published”, it means the department and JUPAS sites do not say; check the admissions office’s BSc Computer Science page.

1. Structure

• Four years: Year 1 covers general education and computing foundations; Year 2 is an intensive year of core courses including a summer term; Year 3 is a year-long IT Professional Internship; Year 4 has electives and an independent, year-long final project.
• Five streams: the JUPAS page lists Artificial Intelligence, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Multimedia Computing, and Software Engineering and Project Management. The department’s admissions page lists Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Information Security, Multimedia Computing, and Software Engineering and Engineering Management. The names differ slightly; follow the programme handbook for your year.
• Core areas: computer systems (hardware, operating systems, data communications and networks), algorithms and mathematics (discrete maths, object-oriented programming, data structures), software engineering (the development life cycle, database design), a seminar series, and English communication.
• Accreditation: the department says this was the first computer science programme in Hong Kong accredited by the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE).
• Related degree: the department also offers a BSc Cybersecurity.

2. Mandatory IT Professional Internship

• After two years with satisfactory results, students take the IT Professional Internship (ITPP), a nine-month full-time job in the computing industry, with one day a week off to take elective courses. Each student has an academic supervisor.
• Participating organisations listed by the department include IBM, Hewlett-Packard, HSBC, the Bank of East Asia, the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer, the Hospital Authority, the Housing Authority, Hongkong Electric, Hong Kong Disneyland and the Hong Kong Jockey Club.
• Employment: the department’s admissions page cites 98.9% full-time employment from CityUHK’s 2023 graduate survey; its employment statistics page shows 97.5% full-time employment for 2024 graduates, with about 68% working as systems analysts or programmers. The figures come from different years and both are given here.

3. Joint and double degrees

• Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program with Columbia University (JBDP): students in computer science and some other majors can apply to study at CityUHK first and then spend the final two years at Columbia in New York, earning a bachelor’s degree from each. JUPAS says that from 2026/27 HKDSE applicants can apply for Year 1 entry directly, with a separate application to Columbia after the JUPAS application. Whether non-local students can apply directly at entry is not published.
• Double degree in Computer Science and Computational Finance & Financial Technology (JS1221): run with the College of Business, leading to two BSc degrees, with courses from AI and big data analytics to derivatives pricing, portfolio management and software engineering.
• CityUHK also offers a Bachelor of Laws and BSc in Computer Science (AI stream) double degree, run by the School of Law; its details are on the main CityUHK site, which was not read for this guide.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Gaokao: how CityUHK admits Gaokao candidates to this degree, and its score requirements and deadlines, are not published on the department site; see the Mainland admissions pages of the CityUHK admissions office.
• International curricula (A-Level, IB, AP): minimum requirements, admitted scores and English requirements are not published on the department site.
• Subject background: HKDSE applicants need, besides Chinese, English, Maths and Citizenship and Social Development, level 3 in at least one of Biology, Chemistry, Physics, ICT or Maths Extended Module 1 or 2. This is an HKDSE rule, but it shows the programme values a science or maths background. Equivalent subjects for A-Level or IB are not published.
• Interviews: the department says HKDSE applicants with tied scores may be interviewed in July after results; whether non-local applicants are interviewed is not published.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• Grade and English requirements for BC, Ontario and other Canadian graduates are not published on the department site; see the international requirements on the CityUHK admissions office website.
• You can email the department at csadm@cityu.edu.hk to ask whether Grade 12 maths or science is expected.

6. Transfer students

• Senior-year entry (direct / non-JUPAS, programme code 1561A): holders of a Higher Diploma or Associate Degree in a computing-related discipline (or equivalent) meet the major requirement, normally with a CGPA of 3.0 or above. This route has a three-year structure: foundations, then the year-long internship, then a final-year project. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed.
• Awards: the department has two entrance awards of up to HKD 5,000 each, with at most two recipients per award: one for Advanced Standing II students admitted through the Special Admission Scheme with a CGPA of at least 3.4, and one for Advanced Standing I students admitted by direct application with outstanding entrance qualifications.
• Whether students already in a bachelor’s degree elsewhere can transfer in, and how much credit transfers, is not published on the department site; ask the CityUHK admissions office.

7. Fees

• Non-local tuition (department site, by year of entry): HKD 160,000 a year for 2024 entry, HKD 170,000 for 2025 and HKD 190,000 for 2026. The rate set at entry applies until graduation. The 2027 non-local fee is not listed on the department site; check the admissions office website.
• Local tuition: HKD 49,500 a year for 2027/28 (for reference only; it does not apply to non-local students).
• Scholarships: the department lists scholarships its students have received, such as the HKSAR Government Scholarship, the HSBC Hong Kong Scholarship and the PCCW Foundation Scholarships, awarded by nomination on academic and extracurricular merit. Entrance scholarships are not published.

8. A few numbers

• JUPAS lists a first-year intake of 85 (HKDSE JUPAS).
• In 2026, 3,214 JUPAS applicants placed the programme in bands A to E after modifying their choices, and 59 received main-round offers. These are local HKDSE figures; they show how popular the programme is but do not apply to non-local applicants.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China (Gaokao or international curricula):

• Check 2027 Gaokao or international requirements and deadlines on the CityUHK admissions office website
• Build a solid science or maths background; if you want your final two years at Columbia, look into the joint degree early

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

• Check Canadian requirements on the admissions office website, or email csadm@cityu.edu.hk

Transfer students:

• With a computing-related Associate Degree or Higher Diploma and a GPA of 3.0 or above, apply for senior-year entry; if you are already in a bachelor’s degree, ask the admissions office first

Sources: Department of Computer Science, City University of Hong Kong, BSc Computer Science: aims; Curriculum overview; Admissions for HKDSE students; Admissions for direct / non-JUPAS applicants; IT Professional Internship; Graduate employment statistics; Scholarships; Double degree with Computational Finance & FinTech; Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program with Columbia University; JUPAS, JS1204 programme page. The CityUHK admissions office website could not be read for this guide; check it for the latest requirements for international and Gaokao applicants.