How to Apply to Art and Design at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: The BA (Hons) Scheme in Design (JS3569) With Nine Design Specialisms and a Required Portfolio, With Portfolio Requirements and Timelines for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), undergraduate design is taught by the School of Design through the BA (Hons) Scheme in Design (JUPAS code JS3569, non-JUPAS programme code 73416): four years, full-time and government-funded, with 120 credits to graduate (plus 6 training credits for Product Design and Interaction Design). The School of Design lists an indicative Year 1 intake of 81 for 2027. It is based on PolyU's official pages for September 2027 entry and is written for students at high schools in China (Gaokao and international curricula), students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver) and transfer students.

1. Structure: a common foundation, then nine specialisms

• Nine specialisms: Advertising Design, Environmental Design, Information Design, Interaction Design, Interior Design, Immersive Media and Game Design, Product Design, Service Design and Social Design. Graduates receive one award, such as BA (Hons) in Design (Product Design).
• Year 1: everyone takes a common Design Foundation covering design history, theory, design thinking and skills courses.
• Year 2: the School of Design's structure page says students join one of five Design Clusters (Communication Design, Immersive Media and Game Design, Environment Design, Product Experience Design and Service Design) and choose their specialism at the end of Year 2; Years 3 and 4 focus on the specialism, ending with a capstone project.
• How places are allocated: the admissions programme page says the School decides majors based on students' own choice, portfolio evaluation, interview performance, GPA and individual subject results, and students list their choices in order of preference in Semester 2 of Year 1 (probably before final examinations). The two pages describe different points in time (assessment at the end of Year 1 versus choosing the specialism at the end of Year 2), so check with the School before enrolling.
• Secondary majors: all students may apply for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; Product Design and Interaction Design students may also apply for AI and Data Analytics. Both are competitive and change the credit requirements.

2. Portfolio: required from every applicant

• Mandatory: the programme page says a portfolio is required and applications without one will not be considered.
• Two portfolio types, chosen by background:
  • Creative Portfolio: for applicants with an art or design background. It can include collage, drawing, illustration, painting, photography, storyboards and visual diaries; photographed handcraft, installations, models and sculpture; and apps, websites, animation and video shown through links or QR codes.
  • STEAM/MAKER Portfolio: for applicants without an art or design background who want to study design. It can include creative concepts, personal insights, research, scripts, storytelling, creative coding, models or prototypes, and projects in community, entrepreneurship, STEM, applied maths and physics, or app design.
• Format (2027/28 guidelines):
  • a cover page with your application number and name in English and Chinese;
  • an A3 portfolio of 20 to 30 pages, a PDF in English of no more than 20 MB, showing five to ten of your best projects, including development work for one;
  • a title and a one-sentence or short description for each project, stating whether it was group or individual work;
  • a 200-word personal statement on your interests and why you want to study design;
  • work must be your own; the last page must carry a tool-usage declaration in the format the guidelines set out.
• Interview: shortlisted applicants are invited to an interview with a physical or digital portfolio and any models or prototypes; bring your own device for videos.

3. Students at high schools in China: PolyU's own Gaokao scheme

• How it works: PolyU admits Mainland Gaokao students through its own application scheme.
• JS3569 rules: both streams are accepted; applicants who list the programme as a second choice are not considered; the portfolio must be submitted with the application or the application is not considered.
• Portfolio: the Mainland guidelines match the international ones (A3, 20–30 page PDF, 200-word personal statement), and the portfolio must be submitted through the School's online system by the application deadline; late submissions are not accepted.
• Interview: every June, online, in English, about 15 minutes; the School uses the portfolio and Gaokao results to judge design potential, language and communication.
• Score lines: the JS3569 page gives none; not published by PolyU, so ask PolyU admissions.
• Timeline: applications open 23 September 2026 and close 13 June 2027; after results come out in late June, enter your scores yourself on time. Application fee HKD 600, non-refundable.
• Scholarships: PolyU considers Gaokao applicants for entrance scholarships automatically.

4. International-curriculum and Canadian applicants: deadlines and portfolio dates

• Early consideration: apply by 17 November 2026, portfolio by 19 November, results by mid-December.
• Normal consideration: apply by 11 February 2027, portfolio by 14 February, results by end of March. Later applications are considered on a rolling basis until 14 May, subject to places.
• Submission: through the School of Design's online portfolio submission system; allow at least three working days for account setup. Late submissions are not accepted.
• Interview: Zoom, in English, about 15 to 20 minutes, arranged between October and June according to the programme page.
• Wait-listed applicants compete in later rounds; the guidelines say that with no news by mid-July you should assume the application was unsuccessful.

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

• A-Level: three A-Levels (or International A-Levels) at B or above; IB: the IB Diploma; US curriculum: high school graduation with an 80% average plus SAT 1190 or ACT 24 and two AP exams at 3, or five AP exams at 3 (PolyU general requirements).
• JS3569's own score lines and subject requirements for international curricula are not published on the programme page.

6. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC and similar provinces: provincial graduation, preferably an 80% average in five Grade 12 courses; Ontario: six Grade 12 4U/4M courses averaging 80% (PolyU general requirements).
• English: 80% in Grade 12 English meets the English requirement.
• Whether the design scheme has extra subject requirements for Canadian students is not stated; email sd.badesign@polyu.edu.hk.

7. English requirements (non-local applicants)

• IELTS (Academic) 6.0; TOEFL iBT 80 for tests before 21 January 2026, 4.5 (out of 6) after.
• Interviews are in English and the portfolio must be in English.

8. Transfer students

• The School of Design's senior-year places (such as Advertising Design 73416-SYV and Product Design 73416-SYD) are listed under local non-JUPAS senior-year admission, for local Associate Degree and Higher Diploma students.
• Non-local students from other universities can apply for Year 1, with credit transfer assessed case by case and usually capped at 25% of the degree. Whether non-local transfer students can enter a senior year is not published; email sd.badesign@polyu.edu.hk.

9. Fees and scholarships

• Non-local tuition (2027/28): HKD 240,000 a year, in two instalments.
• Scholarships: strong applicants are considered for PolyU entrance scholarships automatically; the School of Design has its own scholarships, listed on its scholarships page.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China (Gaokao):

• Apply on PolyU's site between 23 September 2026 and 13 June 2027, with JS3569 as your first choice
• Submit the portfolio with the application (A3, 20–30 page PDF, 5–10 projects, 200-word personal statement)
• Prepare for the online English interview in June

International-curriculum students:

• Early round: apply by 17 November 2026, portfolio by 19 November; normal round: apply by 11 February 2027, portfolio by 14 February
• Set up the portfolio system account at least three working days ahead; prepare for a Zoom interview
• IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 4.5 (80 on the old scale)

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

• BC: preferably an 80% average in five Grade 12 courses; 80% in Grade 12 English waives the English test
• Prepare the portfolio to the international guidelines; due 19 November (early) or 14 February (normal)

Transfer students:

• Apply for Year 1 and seek credit transfer after enrolment; email the School of Design first about senior-year entry

Sources: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design: BA (Hons) Scheme in Design; Programme structure; School of Design: undergraduate admissions information (2027/28 entry); Portfolio guidelines (international applicants); Portfolio guidelines (Mainland applicants); JS3569 programme page (international / other qualifications); JS3569 for Gaokao applicants (Chinese); General entrance requirements; English language requirements; Credit transfer; Tuition fees; Chinese Mainland Gaokao applicants (Chinese); Gaokao application procedures (Chinese); Gaokao scholarships (Chinese). Information is for September 2027 entry. Check PolyU for the latest details.