HKUST JUPAS calculator: DSE cut-off scores and the 8.5-point quick-conversion scale

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is one of the nine participating institutions under the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS), through which it admits local secondary-school leavers sitting the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination. This article gives an overview of HKUST's JUPAS admissions system, covering the basic entrance requirements, the scoring mechanism, historical admissions scores by school and programme, the competitive landscape of popular programmes, the early-admission School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS), and programmes that require a compulsory interview.

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# 1. Basic Entrance Requirements

According to the HKUST official admissions page^※, JUPAS applicants for 2026 entry must meet the following minimum threshold (the "332A33" combination):

# Flexible Admission Arrangement

As set out in the official admissions guidelines^※, if an applicant falls one level short of the above requirement in a single core subject (Chinese, English, or Mathematics Compulsory Part) but achieves a composite score higher than the 2025 admissions median score^※ for the programme to which they have applied, and that programme is listed in Band A of their preference list, the University will still consider the application. This arrangement aims to prevent capable students from missing out on a place because of one weak subject.

Non-Chinese-speaking students may substitute the HKDSE Chinese Language subject with an alternative Chinese-language qualification; the specific substitute subjects should be confirmed with the University.

# Scoring System and Weighting Algorithm

HKUST converts HKDSE grades into an 8.5-point scale^※ (for Category A subjects):

Each programme also applies its own programme-specific weighting formula, assigning heavier weight to particular subjects (e.g. the School of Engineering applies a ×2 weight to English and Mathematics; the School of Business and Management applies a ×2 weight to English). Final admission scores are calculated using these weighted converted scores, not by summing raw HKDSE levels directly. The University also operates a "best sixth subject" bonus mechanism, bringing the best-performing sixth subject (from qualifying Category A or extended-module subjects) into the calculation.

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# 2. 2025 Admissions Scores by School and Programme

The data below are drawn from the 2025 HKUST JUPAS Admissions Scores table^※ (converted scores calculated using each programme's weighting formula) and are provided for reference. All figures are given as "median" and "lower quartile" and apply to home students.

Note: The scores listed are converted scores based on each programme's specific weighting formula and cannot be compared directly with raw HKDSE grades or with the total of raw subject marks. A higher converted score indicates stronger performance.

# School of Engineering

The School of Engineering also offers a school-based admissions route (JS5282 — Engineering with an Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence), under which students choose their specialist stream after admission. With a median score of 46.48^※, it is on a par with Computer Science and is one of the most competitive engineering admissions pathways.

# School of Science

Among these, Biomedical & Health Sciences is the most competitive programme within the School of Science: its median score of 40.50^※ is markedly higher than those of the general science programmes. This programme also has a compulsory interview (see below).

# School of Business and Management

The Business School's BSc Quantitative Finance (JS5332) posts the highest JUPAS admissions score across the whole University: the 2025 median reached 56.06^※. It is followed by BBA Global Business (JS5313), with a median of 50.40^※. Both require a compulsory interview (see below).

# School of Humanities and Social Science

# Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies and Joint-School Programmes

The Dual Degree in Technology & Management (Engineering/Science & BBA, JS5901) is the single most competitive JUPAS programme at HKUST. The 2025 median was 60.23 and the lower quartile 62.48^※, far ahead of every other programme. This five-year dual-degree programme requires candidates to meet the admissions standards of both the Engineering/Science schools and the Business School, and also includes a compulsory interview.

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# 3. Hottest and Most Competitive Programmes

Based on the 2025 admissions scores^※, the JUPAS programmes with the highest competition ranked by median weighted score are:

1. JS5901 Dual Degree in Technology & Management — Median 60.23; historically the hardest programme to enter across the entire University
2. JS5332 BSc Quantitative Finance — Median 56.06
3. JS5313 BBA Global Business — Median 50.40
4. JS5240 Computer Science — Median 46.45
5. JS5282 Engineering with an Extended Major in AI — Median 46.48
6. JS5331 BSc Economics & Finance — Median 46.50

The programmes with the most accessible entry thresholds (relatively lower medians) include BBA Operations Management (JS5317, median 32.05) and Global China Studies (JS5411, median 28.80). Bear in mind, however, that these scores have already gone through the weighting conversion and cannot be compared directly with raw HKDSE grades.

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# 4. Early Admissions: School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS)

According to the HKUST SNDAS official page^※, the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS), introduced by the Education Bureau (EDB) with effect from the 2022/23 intake, allows local secondary-school principals to nominate students who demonstrate exceptional potential (with emphasis on abilities beyond academic results) for early admission.

# Participating Programmes

For the 2026/27 intake, HKUST has 25 programmes participating in SNDAS, spanning five schools:

• School of Science: 4 programmes (including AI extended-major options)
• School of Engineering: 8 programmes (including AI extended-major options)
• School of Business and Management: 6 programmes
• School of Humanities and Social Science: 2 programmes
• Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies: 3 programmes
• Joint programmes: 2 programmes

# Quota per School

Each local secondary school may nominate a maximum of 2 students for HKUST SNDAS.

# Eligibility

Applicants must satisfy all of the following:

• The programme applied for is their Band A first preference on the JUPAS form
• They meet the programme's basic subject requirements
• They have submitted the Other Experiences and Achievements (OEA) record and the Student Learning Profile (SLP) within the JUPAS application
• They attend the compulsory interview
• They are local students sitting the 2026 HKDSE examination

# Timeline (2026 Entry)

# Advantages of SNDAS

Successful SNDAS applicants will retain their offer even if their final HKDSE results fall below the programme's normal admissions threshold — in effect, a "locked-in" place. Each successful applicant also automatically receives a one-off HK$50,000 SNDAS Scholarship.

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# 5. Programmes Requiring a Compulsory Interview

According to the HKUST JUPAS admissions page^※, the following nine programmes require a compulsory interview for 2026 entry (interviews are scheduled around the HKDSE results release; exact dates vary by programme):

1. BBA Global Business
2. BSc Quantitative Finance
3. BSc Economics & Finance
4. BSc Sustainable and Green Finance
5. BSc Risk Management and Business Intelligence
6. BSc Innovation, Design and Technology (IDT)
7. International Research Enrichment (IRE, JS5101)
8. BSc Biomedical and Health Sciences
9. Dual Degree in Technology & Management

The format and content of the interview differ by programme. Some (e.g. IDT, Dual Degree) emphasise the assessment of multiple competencies, whereas others (e.g. Quantitative Finance, Global Business) focus on analytical and communication skills.

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# 6. Key Points on Preference-Ordering Strategy

According to HKUST's official admissions information^※, the University observes the following when processing preferences:

• The JUPAS preference form is divided into Band A (roughly 5 choices) and Band B; the University processes choices in Band A order after the HKDSE results are released.
• The flexible admission arrangement applies only to the highest preference in Band A: if an applicant's score exceeds the 2025 median for that programme, the University will consider the application even if one core subject falls one level below the minimum requirement.
• School-based admissions routes (e.g. JS5300 Business and Management school-based, JS5102 Science Group A) follow a "first enter, then specialise" model. The entry threshold is generally lower than for specialist programmes, making them a suitable choice for applicants whose results fall in the middle band.

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# 7. Scholarships for HKDSE Holders

Under the University Admissions Scholarship Scheme for HKDSE Holders^※, HKDSE applicants who attain 5 or above in one or more Category A subjects or M1/M2* will automatically be considered for the following entrance scholarships — no separate application is required:

Additionally, the WISE Scholarship (Women in Science and Engineering) is available to female STEM applicants. Eligible female JUPAS applicants (who have attained 5** in at least one Category A subject) can receive HK$10,000 to HK$20,000 per year, renewable.

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# Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is HKUST's minimum JUPAS entry threshold?

A: For 2026 entry the "332A33" combination is required: English and Chinese at Level 3, Mathematics Compulsory Part at Level 2, Citizenship and Social Development at Attained, and Category A Elective 1 at Level 3 plus Elective 2 (or M1/M2) at Level 3. If a single core subject falls one level short but the overall score is higher than the 2025 admissions median for the programme, and it is the applicant's first Band A choice, the University will still consider the application.

Q: How are HKUST's DSE admission scores (converted scores) calculated?

A: HKUST converts Category A HKDSE subjects using an 8.5-point scale: 5** = 8.5, 5* = 7.0, 5 = 5.5, 4 = 4.0, 3 = 3.0, 2 = 2.0. Each programme then applies its own weighting formula (e.g. ×2 for English and Mathematics in Engineering, ×2 for English in Business), plus a "best sixth subject" bonus. Final admission scores are the weighted converted scores.

Q: Which HKUST programmes have the highest JUPAS score cut-offs?

A: According to 2025 data, the Dual Degree in Technology & Management (JS5901) has the highest median in the University at 60.23; BSc Quantitative Finance (JS5332) tops the chart within the Business School at 56.06; BBA Global Business (JS5313) follows at 50.40. All three require a compulsory interview.

Q: How does HKUST's JUPAS scoring relate to SNDAS early admission?

A: SNDAS (School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme) operates in parallel with the JUPAS scoring pathway. For 2026/27, 25 programmes are participating. Each school may nominate at most 2 students, who must place the programme as their first Band A choice and meet the basic subject requirements. SNDAS candidates who receive an offer retain their place even if their final HKDSE results do not meet the programme's normal threshold; they also automatically receive a one-off HK$50,000 scholarship.

Q: Can HKUST's JUPAS admissions scores be compared directly with raw HKDSE grades?

A: No. The medians and lower quartiles listed here are converted scores calculated using each programme's specific weighting formula. They are not expressed in the same units as raw HKDSE grades or raw subject totals. A higher converted score indicates stronger performance, but the figures cannot be compared straightforwardly with the score cut-offs used by other institutions.

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