How to Apply to Computer Science at Hong Kong Baptist University: Entering Through the Bachelor of Science (Hons) and Choosing the Computer Science Major After Year 1, With Requirements and Timelines for Chinese (Gaokao), International-Curriculum, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), undergraduate computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science in the Faculty of Science. The degree is the BSc (Hons) in Computer Science, a four-year, government-funded programme taught in English, with 128 credits required to graduate. This guide covers September 2027 entry for students at high schools in China (Gaokao and international curricula), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students, based on HKBU’s official website.

1. How to get into computer science: apply to the Bachelor of Science

• Faculty-based Year 1 admission: there is no separate Year 1 entry for computer science. You apply to the Bachelor of Science (Hons), JUPAS code JS2510, listed as “*BACHELOR OF SCIENCE” for non-JUPAS applicants. The 2027 first-year intake for the whole faculty is 197.
• Year 1 covers broad science and technology, and before it ends you choose from six majors: Applied Biology, Bioresource and Agricultural Science, Biochemical and Testing Sciences, Computer Science, Mathematics and Statistics, and Green Energy and Smart Technology.
• Major allocation: the Gaokao programme page says the faculty allocates majors by grades in relevant Year 1 courses, Year 1 cumulative GPA, and interview performance where applicable. Admission does not guarantee computer science, so Year 1 results matter.
• Non-local, non-Mainland applicants: the programme page says applicants who list the Bachelor of Science as their second choice will not be considered, so put it first.
• Related programme: the department and the School of Business co-offer the BSc (Hons) in Business Analytics and Artificial Intelligence (JUPAS JS2910). It replaces the title BSc in Business Computing and Data Analytics for Year 1 entry from 2027, and students enter it directly in Year 1.

2. What the Computer Science major covers

• Four concentrations: Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computing and Software Technologies (CST), Data and Media Communication (DMC, with the Department of Journalism), and Information Systems and Analytics (ISA).
• Double concentrations: from 2024-25, students who meet the requirements for CST+AI, ISA+AI or CST+ISA can apply at the end of March in their final year to graduate with both. Timetable constraints mean this is not guaranteed.
• Practice and exchange: options include summer internships (some overseas), a one-year placement, overseas summer research and study exchange.
• Accreditation: HKBU’s pages disagree. The English programme page says AI, CST and ISA, and the double concentrations AI+DMC, CST+DMC and ISA+DMC, have full accreditation from the Hong Kong Institution of Engineers (HKIE). The Chinese Gaokao page says CST and ISA, and CST+DMC and ISA+DMC, have passed HKIE academic accreditation, and does not mention AI. If accreditation matters to you, confirm with the department at cs@comp.hkbu.edu.hk.
• Employment: HKBU says Faculty of Science graduates had a 98% employment rate over the past five years, including 21% in further study. This is a faculty-wide figure; computer science data alone are not published.

3. Students at high schools in China: HKBU’s own Gaokao admission

• How it works: HKBU admits Gaokao candidates independently and is not part of the national unified admission. Current-year candidates (including repeat candidates) from all 31 provinces can apply directly. Once you confirm an HKBU offer, Mainland universities will not admit you.
• Requirements: a Gaokao score at or above your province’s first-tier (yiben) line or the special-type control line, and at least 110 in English (out of 150).
• The Bachelor of Science takes science-stream students only; in provinces without arts and science streams, you must have taken at least one of Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Technology as an elective subject.
• Interview: under HKBU’s published 2026 arrangements, the Bachelor of Science had no admission interview; 2027 arrangements are to be confirmed.
• Popularity: in HKBU’s 2026 Mainland figures, the Faculty of Science accounted for 36.79% of all applicants, and the Bachelor of Science (Hons) was among the five most-applied programmes.
• Timeline:
  • applications open 2 October 2026;
  • deadline 13 June 2027;
  • late June: programmes without interviews announce admission lists;
  • mid-August: registration; classes start in early September.
• Application fee: HKD 450 online, non-refundable.
• Scholarships: HKBU offers full and other entrance scholarships to Mainland students. For programmes without interviews they are based on Gaokao results, and the top performers in each faculty with at least 120 in English may be awarded. You are told with your offer and do not need to apply separately.
• Mainland students not applying with the current Gaokao: those with earlier Gaokao results or the joint exam for Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and overseas Chinese apply through the non-JUPAS route; international-school students apply under their curriculum, as below.

4. International curricula (A-Level, IB, AP)

• A-Level minimum: grade E or above in three A-Levels (or International A-Levels), or two A-Levels plus two AS Levels; Chinese and English do not count.
• IB minimum: the IB Diploma.
• US curriculum: high school graduation plus one of: SAT 1190 or above, at least two AP exams at 3, or ACT composite 23 or above.
• Programme requirements: the programme page’s section on international-qualification requirements lists no specific subjects, so these are not published. For HKDSE applicants it says good results in science electives are preferred, which is a useful pointer.
• Actual scores: HKBU’s 2026 university-wide middle 50% was 128 to 160 UCAS points for three A-Levels, 30 to 34 for the IB and 1460 to 1540 for the SAT. Scores for the Bachelor of Science alone are not published.
• Interviews: HKBU’s FAQ says most programmes invite shortlisted applicants to an interview or test, usually between February and July, by phone or online for applicants outside Hong Kong.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC: the BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood) with an average of 70% or above in five Grade 12 courses.
• Ontario: OSSD with an average of 70% or above in six Grade 12 U or M courses; Alberta and other provinces require an average of 70% or above in five Grade 12 courses; Quebec requires a DEC.
• English: 70% or above in Grade 12 English meets the English requirement.
• These are minimums; admission is competitive. For computer science, taking Grade 12 maths and science is a sensible choice.

6. Timeline for international-curriculum and Canadian applicants

• International students (non-local, non-Mainland): the early round opens 2 October 2026 and closes 16 November, with offers from late December 2026; the main round closes 1 February 2027; the extended round closes 31 May.
• Mainland students applying with non-Gaokao qualifications: the main round closes 4 January 2027, and the extended round closes 31 May.
• One application per year with up to two programme choices; international applicants should put the Bachelor of Science first.
• Transcripts and other documents can be uploaded until 31 August.

7. English requirements

• IELTS Academic 6.0; TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) 79. From 2027 entry, scores must be from tests taken on or after 1 September 2025.
• Also accepted: SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing 590, ACT English and Reading 23 each, AP English Language or Literature 4, IB English A 4, A-Level or AS English E, and others.
• Gaokao applicants: 110 or above in Gaokao English meets the requirement.

8. Transfer students

• HKBU says students already in a bachelor’s or higher degree may apply. Under UGC guidelines on inter-institutional transfer, however, repeating a government-funded degree at another institution is generally discouraged and considered only in very exceptional cases with surplus places.
• Senior-year entry: all four Computer Science concentrations offer Year 3 entry (two years of study) through the post-secondary route. These places are intended for local Associate Degree and Higher Diploma students. Whether non-local transfer students can enter a senior year is not published; email cs@comp.hkbu.edu.hk.
• Students who have taken equivalent courses can apply for credit transfer after enrolment.

9. Fees and scholarships

• Non-local tuition (2027/28): HKD 240,000 a year, paid by semester and reviewed annually.
• Entrance scholarships for non-local students (non-JUPAS route), with no separate application: a full scholarship (full tuition plus a HKD 55,000 living allowance), a full-tuition scholarship and a half scholarship. Indicative scores from past years for non-local, non-Mainland applicants: A-Level AAA or above for full and AAB or above for half; IB 37 or above for full and 35 or above for half.
• Gaokao scholarships are covered in section 3.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China (Gaokao):

• Apply online for the Bachelor of Science (Hons) between 2 October 2026 and 13 June 2027, with the HKD 450 fee
• Science stream, at or above the first-tier line, English 110 or above; aim for 120 in English for scholarships
• Your Year 1 results decide whether you are allocated to computer science

International-curriculum students:

• Early round 16 November 2026, main round 1 February 2027; the Bachelor of Science must be your first choice
• University-wide middle 50%: A-Level 128 to 160 UCAS points, IB 30 to 34; IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 79

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

• BC: an average of 70% or above in five Grade 12 courses; 70% in Grade 12 English waives the English test
• Early round 16 November, main round 1 February, extended round to 31 May

Transfer students:

• You can apply for Year 1, but repeating a government-funded degree elsewhere is generally discouraged; email the department first about senior-year entry

Sources: Hong Kong Baptist University, Bachelor of Science (Hons), Year 1 entry; Bachelor of Science (Hons) for Gaokao applicants (Chinese); BSc (Hons) in Computer Science, senior-year entry; Department of Computer Science: undergraduate programmes; International qualifications; Chinese Mainland Gaokao admission (Chinese); Post-secondary qualifications; Fees and scholarships; FAQ. Information is for September 2027 entry. Check HKBU for the latest details.