Non-local Student Admissions

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) admits non-local undergraduates through two main routes: independent recruitment of students taking the gaokao (mainland China's national university entrance exam), and applicants holding international qualifications such as the IB Diploma, GCE A-Levels, or SAT/AP. The cap on non-local undergraduate enrolments was recently raised from 20% to 40% (effective from 2024/25)^※ under a Hong Kong government policy drive, and the 2025 Policy Address further announced an increase to 50% from 2026/27 onwards^※. HKUST has also announced it admitted roughly 800 non-local undergraduates for the 2025/26 academic year^※ and received nearly 20,000 international applications, a year-on-year increase of over 40%^※, with candidates hailing from more than 85 countries and regions^※.

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# 1. Evolution of the Non-local Student Cap

# The Old Cap (20%)

Before the 2023 Policy Address^※, UGC-funded institutions (including HKUST) were subject to a non-local undergraduate cap set at 20% of locally funded places. According to an HKUST press release (circa the 2011/12 academic year)^※, the non-local proportion at that time stood at around 18%, close to the ceiling.

# Doubled to 40% (from 2024/25)

As stated in a Hong Kong government press release (November 2024)^※, the Chief Executive declared in the 2023 Policy Address that the admission ceiling for non-local undergraduates at UGC-funded institutions would be raised to 40% of locally funded places, effective from the 2024/25 academic year. In 2024/25, the total number of non-local undergraduates across all funded institutions exceeded 17,000^※, representing roughly 23% of locally funded places (the 40% cap was not fully reached, as institutions are expanding intakes progressively). The government stressed that 40% is a ceiling, not a target.

# Further Raised to 50% (from 2026/27)

According to Hong Kong Free Press (September 2025)^※, the 2025 Policy Address announced that the cap for non-local undergraduates at funded institutions would be further lifted to 50% from the 2026/27 academic year.

# HKUST's Expansion Timeline

A South China Morning Post report (2023)^※ indicated that HKUST planned to increase its non-local undergraduate intake for 2024/25 by approximately 20% compared to 2023/24, taking it to around 600 students. The University's Director of Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions described a "phased expansion" strategy, with parallel efforts to ensure that supporting provisions—scholarships, accommodation, teaching, and student services—kept pace.

According to an official HKUST news release (2025)^※, around 800 non-local undergraduate places were available for the 2025/26 academic year, with a level of competition of roughly 25:1 (close to 20,000 applications for 800 places). Among UGC-funded institutions in Hong Kong, HKUST has the highest proportion of international students (i.e., those from outside mainland China), with nearly half of its non-local students originating from regions beyond the mainland^※.

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# 2. Independent Gaokao Admissions for Mainland China

# Nature of Admissions

According to the official HKUST gaokao admissions page^※, HKUST recruits students independently within mainland China and does not participate in the national unified university admissions system (統招). Admission through this route does not take up a candidate's place or preferences in the national unified system. There are no upper or lower quotas set for any province, municipality, or subject stream; candidates are selected on merit based on comprehensive results.

# Intake Scale

As specified in the HKUST 2026 admissions booklet for mainland students^※, around 700 non-local students were planned for admission in the 2025/26 academic year, among whom approximately 250 were expected to be gaokao candidates. All five Schools—the School of Science, School of Engineering, School of Business and Management, School of Humanities and Social Science, and the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies—accept gaokao applications, offering more than 45 programmes of study.

# Eligibility

• Any student taking the national unified gaokao for the current year (including those retaking the exam) is eligible to apply. No additional qualifications are required.
• The foreign language subject sat for the gaokao must be English. Applicants who took a different foreign language must separately provide a valid English proficiency test score (IELTS, TOEFL, etc.).

# Three Admission Criteria

Per the official HKUST gaokao admissions booklet^※ and third-party data on interview shortlisting scores^※, admission is evaluated on the basis of three components:

1. Gaokao Score: Must meet the threshold for an interview invitation (determined each year by the University based on the applicant pool and the first-tier cutoff lines of each province; the threshold is not announced in advance).
2. English Subject Score: Generally 120 or above (out of 150). Those who do not meet this must submit a replacement score such as IELTS.
3. Interview Performance: Candidates who clear the threshold are invited to a panel interview conducted entirely in English.

Data collated by a third-party source^※ suggest a reference range for 2024 interview shortlisting scores of approximately 630–670 (for science-stream candidates) and 595–635 (for humanities-stream candidates); the exact thresholds vary by province and have fluctuated from year to year—these figures are for reference only. HKUST does not publicly announce province- or programme-specific minimum admission scores in advance.

# Application Process and Timeline (2026 Entry)

Based on the official gaokao admissions page^※:

# Interview Format

According to the admissions booklet^※, interviews are conducted in English and take the form of group discussions. Assessment covers: psychological resilience, logical reasoning, communication and presentation skills, self-awareness, and analytical perspective. HKUST emphasises that it values "clear expression, logical argumentation, and respectful interaction."

# Special Channel for Competition Awardees

As stated on the School of Engineering's gaokao admissions page^※, applicants who have won gold, silver, or bronze medals in certain national secondary-school subject Olympiads (Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Biology, Informatics, etc.) and whose Olympiad subject is relevant to their chosen programme may be given early interview arrangements. Final admission outcomes are still determined by a comprehensive assessment.

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# 3. Applicants with International Qualifications

# Accepted Qualifications

Per the official international qualifications admissions page^※, the University accepts a broad range of international qualifications, chiefly:

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma
• GCE A-Level / International A-Level
• US-pattern qualifications (SAT / ACT / AP)
• National curricula from Canada, Australia, and various European countries
• Regional qualifications: Sijil Tinggi Persekolahan Malaysia (STPM), Indian Class XII (Senior Secondary) examinations, and others

# Basic Entry Requirements

Based on the School of Engineering's 2026 international qualifications requirements^※:

US-pattern (SAT/AP):

• A total SAT score of 1,190 or above plus at least two AP subjects at Grade 3 or above; or
• Five AP subjects each at Grade 4 or above
• An ACT composite score of 24 or above (must include the science component)

UK-pattern (GCE A-Level / International A-Level):

• Passes in at least three A-Level subjects; or equivalent BTEC qualifications

International Baccalaureate (IB):

• The IB Diploma is required. According to reference material collated by a third-party^※, competitive applicants typically present a total score in the 35–40 range (the world average is around 29.5).

# English Language Proficiency

Per the School of Engineering's international qualifications page^※, applicants must meet one of the following standards:

# Subject Requirements by School

Different Schools impose different subject baselines; per collated reference material^※:

# Application Process (2025/26 Entry)

Based on the HKUST international qualifications admissions page^※:

Assessment of international applicants is conducted on a holistic basis; decisions are not made solely on examination results.

# Comparison: Gaokao vs. International Qualification Applicants

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# 4. Summary of Admissions Routes

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