City University of Hong Kong
香港城市大學
A fast-rising Kowloon Tong university with a veterinary college and a Daniel Libeskind-designed creative media centre.
- Tuition
- HK$190K
- From · 2026-27
- Founded
- 1984
- QS World Ranking
- #52
- 2027 edition
- THE World Ranking
- #73
- 2026 edition
About CityUHK
City University of Hong Kong opened in 1984 as the City Polytechnic of Hong Kong, welcoming 480 full-time and 680 part-time students, and became a university in 1994. It is one of Hong Kong's eight statutory universities and has risen quickly in global rankings, reaching joint 52nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 73rd in THE's 2026 table.
The university is organised into 11 colleges and schools: the Colleges of Biomedicine, Business, Computing, Engineering, Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, and Science; the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences; and the Schools of Creative Media, Energy and Environment, and Law, plus a graduate school. Together they offer more than 150 undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, including a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and interdisciplinary tracks such as the GREAT programme and the PRIME engineering pathway listed on JUPAS.
CityU's compact, high-density campus sits directly above Kowloon Tong MTR station and the Festival Walk mall, making it one of the best-connected campuses in the city. It suits students who want a practical, career-focused degree in business, computing, engineering, media or veterinary science, with the convenience of a central Kowloon location.
Officium et Civitas (敬業樂群)
University motto
Why students choose CityUHK
Veterinary medicine through the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, JUPAS code JS1801).
The School of Creative Media is housed in the Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre, designed by Daniel Libeskind and completed in 2011.
The campus connects directly to Kowloon Tong MTR station (East Rail and Kwun Tong lines) and Festival Walk.
Rapid rise in rankings: joint 52nd in QS 2027 and 73rd in THE 2026.
Admissions
Entry in September 2027
Selectivity
CityU does not publish an overall admit rate. HKDSE students apply through JUPAS with programme-specific subject requirements; applicants with international qualifications and Mainland students apply directly to CityU through separate admission routes.
HKDSE students apply via JUPAS (HK$500 fee, 7 October to 2 December 2026). Non-local and international-qualification applicants apply directly through CityUHK's online system, choosing up to three programmes for a HK$450 fee; some programmes interview (online interviews possible), and offers are accepted with a HK$15,000 acceptance fee credited to tuition.
Typical entry requirements
| HKDSE (via JUPAS) | Apply through JUPAS; programme-specific elective requirements apply (e.g. JS1801 Veterinary Medicine has its own subject rules) |
|---|---|
| GCE A-level / International A-level | General minimum: grade E or above in three A-level subjects plus GCSE English C/4 (or IELTS 6.5 / TOEFL iBT 79); competitive programmes expect more |
| IB Diploma | IB Diploma for first-year entry (minimum 30 points for Advanced Standing I entry), plus English at the required grade |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79 IELTS Academic overall 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79 (single test date; home editions and MyBest scores not accepted), taken within two years before the start of Semester A. Alternatives include IB English A grade 4 or English B HL 4 / SL 5, GCSE/IGCSE English C/4, or SAT EBRW 590. |
Deadlines
- JUPAS (HKDSE applicants) Non-binding Next deadline · In 57 days2 December 2026, 5:00 pm HKT
JUPAS application period 7 October to 2 December 2026; programme choices can be modified after HKDSE results in July 2027.
CityUHK had not yet posted its 2027-entry dates for direct (non-JUPAS) applicants in the latest archived copies of its admissions pages (September 2026). For 2026 entry, applications opened 25 September 2025, the Early Round closed 15 November 2025 and the Main Round closed 15 January 2026; check cityu.edu.hk/admo for the 2027 dates.
How to apply
HKDSE students apply via JUPAS (HK$500 fee, 7 October to 2 December 2026). Non-local and international-qualification applicants apply directly through CityUHK's online system, choosing up to three programmes for a HK$450 fee; some programmes interview (online interviews possible), and offers are accepted with a HK$15,000 acceptance fee credited to tuition.
What admissions looks for
- HKDSE results meeting the programme's subject and elective requirements for JUPAS applicants.
- For direct applicants, a recognised school-leaving qualification meeting the general entrance requirements, plus any major-specific subject background.
- English proficiency at the required level (e.g. IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79).
- Interview performance for programmes that interview.
Tips for applying to CityUHK
- 1 For JUPAS, read each programme's elective rules carefully: CityU counts some Category A and C subjects as unspecified electives but excludes them for programmes such as Veterinary Medicine.
- 2 If you are interested in veterinary medicine, look at CityU's Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences and its Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (JS1801).
- 3 Visit the Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre if you are considering creative media; the building houses the School of Creative Media and computer science labs.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in HKD
Non-local applicants are considered automatically for CityUHK entrance scholarships, announced in the offer letter; there are separate entrance scholarships for international students and for Chinese Mainland gaokao entrants. CityUHK reports awarding HK$189 million across 4,190 scholarships, and financial assistance schemes are available to students in hardship.
- HKD20,800
- Student Residence (double room, two semesters)
- HKD50,000-60,000 for two semesters
- Off-campus accommodation estimate
- HKD450
- Application fee (non-local, up to 3 choices)
- 4,190 awards worth HK$189 million
- Scholarships awarded (CityUHK figure)
Academics
Academic calendar: Semesters
Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (JS1801)
Offered by the Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences.
School of Creative Media
Housed in the Daniel Libeskind-designed Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre.
Global Research Enrichment and Technopreneurship (GREAT, JS1200)
An interdisciplinary JUPAS programme combining research and entrepreneurship.
Pathway for Research, Innovation and Multinational Engineering (PRIME, JS1217)
An engineering pathway listed on JUPAS for research-minded students.
Integrative Bioscience and Bioengineering (Bio3, JS1300)
Crosses biology and engineering within the College of Biomedicine.
Research
- Home to the CityU Shenzhen Research Institute and the Hong Kong Institute for Advanced Study.
- Ranked 95th in the world in ARWU 2026.
- Hosts a College of Biomedicine with departments of Biomedical Engineering, Biomedical Sciences and Neuroscience.
Schools & faculties
- College of Biomedicine
- College of Business
- College of Computing
- College of Engineering
- College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences
- College of Science
- Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences
- School of Creative Media
- School of Energy and Environment
- School of Law
- Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies
Student life
CityU's campus is vertical and compact: academic buildings are divided into colour-coded zones and connected by bridges to the student residence halls and the Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre on the hillside. The main academic building alone holds 116 laboratories and 18 lecture halls. Because the campus sits above Kowloon Tong station and Festival Walk, daily life is very convenient, and the rest of Kowloon is a few stops away. Alumni range from former Secretary for Justice Rimsky Yuen to members of the Cantopop group MIRROR.
- Student residence halls on the hillside, connected to the academic buildings
- Run Run Shaw Creative Media Centre by Daniel Libeskind
- Direct link to Kowloon Tong MTR station and Festival Walk
- Colour-coded zones in the main academic building
Housing. Non-local students can apply for the on-campus Student Residence (about HKD20,800 for a double room for two semesters); CityUHK estimates HKD50,000-60,000 for off-campus housing.
Location
CityU sits in Kowloon Tong, a leafy residential district in central Kowloon, with Kowloon Tong MTR station (East Rail and Kwun Tong lines) connected directly to the campus via Festival Walk. The East Rail line runs north towards the Shenzhen border and south to Hung Hom and Admiralty, and the Kwun Tong line crosses Kowloon, so students can reach most of the city quickly.
Nearest airport: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Notable alumni
- RY Rimsky YuenFormer Secretary for Justice of Hong Kong
- CL Christine LohFormer Under Secretary for the Environment
- LK Lau Kong-wahFormer Secretary for Home Affairs
- MW Matthew WongPainter
- FS Fiona SitSinger and actress
- AL Anson LoSinger and actor, member of MIRROR
- KL Keith LamNew media artist, co-founder of Dimension Plus
Frequently asked questions
What is CityU's QS ranking?
City University of Hong Kong is joint 52nd in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 73rd in the THE World University Rankings 2026.
Does CityU have a veterinary school?
Yes. The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences offers a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (JUPAS code JS1801).
How do HKDSE students apply to CityU?
Through JUPAS, which is open from 7 October to 2 December 2026 (5:00 pm) for 2027 entry, with a HK$500 application fee.
How much does CityU cost for international students?
Non-local students admitted in 2026 pay HKD190,000 a year (HKD392,000 for Veterinary Medicine), fixed for the whole degree; CityUHK estimates a further HK$50,000-60,000 a year for living costs.
How do international students apply to CityU?
They apply directly to CityUHK online (up to three programme choices, HK$450 fee) rather than through JUPAS, usually with IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 79 as the English minimum. For 2026 entry the Early Round closed on 15 November 2025 and the Main Round on 15 January 2026; check the admissions site for the 2027 dates.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
- XuanXiao: QS World University Rankings 2027 results
- Macau Business: 5 Hong Kong universities in QS top 100 (2027)
- Times Higher Education: City University of Hong Kong (WUR 2026)
- ShanghaiRanking: City University of Hong Kong (ARWU 2026)
- JUPAS: City University of Hong Kong programmes
- JUPAS: 2027 Application Period and Fee
Explore nearby in the world top 100
Universities ranked close to CityUHK in the QS World University Rankings 2027.