#33 in the world · QS 2027

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology

香港科技大學

A young research university on a seaside hill in Clear Water Bay, strong in engineering, business and science.

Hong Kong, Clear Water Bay, Sai Kung, New Territories, Hong Kong SAR, China Public research university Founded 1991 Official website

See my chances at HKUST Admissions office

Photo: Hkust pao · CC BY-SA 3.0

Students: 20,475; 11,765 undergraduates
International: 48%; of students
Tuition: HK$260K; Non-local students · 2027-28
Founded: 1991

About HKUST

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology opened in 1991 as a research-focused university teaching in English. Its 60-hectare campus sits on a hillside above the sea at Tai Po Tsai on the Clear Water Bay peninsula, and it has since added a sister campus, HKUST (Guangzhou), in mainland China.

Teaching is organised into the Schools of Science, Engineering, Business and Management, Humanities and Social Science, a new School of Medicine, and the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies. In December 2025 HKUST had 11,765 undergraduates and 8,710 postgraduates; engineering and business together account for nearly two-thirds of undergraduates, and 48% of all students are non-local.

HKUST is known for turning research into companies: by May 2026 its members had founded more than 1,900 active start-ups, including 11 unicorns, and alumni include DJI founder Frank Wang. International applicants apply directly with IB, A-level, SAT/AP or national qualifications; the middle 50% of 2025 entrants scored IB 35-40, A-level AAA to 3A* or SAT 1480-1540. It suits quantitatively strong students who want a campus-based experience with a startup and industry bent.

Why students choose HKUST

Computer Science has been ranked No. 1 in Hong Kong in THE's subject rankings for ten consecutive years, according to HKUST.

An entrepreneurial ecosystem with more than 1,900 active start-ups founded by HKUST members, including 11 unicorns and 22 exits.

Interdisciplinary joint programmes such as Mathematics and Economics, Biotechnology and Business, and Sustainable and Green Finance.

All non-local undergraduates are provided with university accommodation in their first year on a seaside campus.

Admissions

Entry in September 2027

Selectivity

HKUST does not publish an admit rate. It publishes middle-50% scores of admitted students with international qualifications (2025 intake): IB 35-40 including bonus points; A-level 144-168 points (AAA to 3A*); SAT 1480-1540.

SAT 1480–1540

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Middle 50% of admitted students scored in this range.

Testing SAT or ACT required for US-curriculum applicants (minimum SAT 1190 or ACT 24 with Science, plus 2 AP subjects at 3+, or alternatively 5 APs at 4+); not required for IB or A-level students.

Grades Middle 50% of 2025 international-qualification entrants: IB 35-40 (incl. bonus points), A-level AAA to 3A*, SAT 1480-1540. School/programme-specific subject requirements and interviews apply to some programmes.

Typical entry requirements

HKDSE (via JUPAS)	Apply through JUPAS; programme score calculators on join.hkust.edu.hk
IB Diploma	Middle 50% of 2025 intake: 35-40 points including bonus points
GCE A-level / International A-level	Minimum 3 A-level passes; middle 50% of 2025 intake AAA to 3A*
SAT / ACT + AP	Minimum SAT 1190 or ACT 24 plus 2 APs at 3+ (or 5 APs at 4+); middle 50% of 2025 intake SAT 1480-1540
Mainland gaokao	Separate admissions scheme for gaokao candidates
English language	IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 80 IELTS Academic overall 6.0 (IELTS for UKVI accepted). TOEFL iBT total 80 in one sitting for tests taken before 21 January 2026, or 4.5 on the new scale from 21 January 2026. HKUST also accepts Duolingo, PTE, SAT, IB English, A-level/IGCSE English and others; minimum scores are listed per test on the admissions site.

Deadlines

Priority Round (international qualifications) Non-binding Next deadline · In 50 days

25 November 2026

Online application opens 2 October 2026; offers announced from late December 2026. Also the deadline for non-academic scholarship applications.
JUPAS (HKDSE applicants) Non-binding In 57 days

2 December 2026, 5:00 pm HKT

JUPAS application period 7 October to 2 December 2026.
Rolling admissions (international qualifications) Non-binding In ~9 months

30 June 2027

Applications considered on a rolling basis from 26 November 2026 until the system closes on 30 June 2027.

Dates from HKUST's International Qualifications page (2027 intake) and the JUPAS 2027 application period, checked 28 September 2026.

How to apply

HKDSE students apply via JUPAS. International-qualification applicants apply online at join.hkust.edu.hk (HKD 600 fee), choosing programmes as listed in the Application Guide, and submitting school results and predicted grades (IB, A-level or Indian board students add a separate school report). Non-academic scholarships need a separate application.

What admissions looks for

Academic results that meet the general, school/programme-specific and English requirements.
Competitive scores relative to the published middle-50% ranges of recent entrants.
For scholarships, academic merit, non-academic achievements and other criteria; all applicants are considered for academic scholarships automatically.
Interview performance for programmes that interview.

Tips for applying to HKUST

1 Apply by the 25 November 2026 Priority Round deadline, which is also the deadline for non-academic scholarships such as the Future Leaders Award.
2 If you study IB, A-levels or an Indian board, make sure your school submits the separate school report, or your application will be incomplete.
3 Check the programme-specific subject requirements (e.g. maths and physics for engineering) before choosing programmes.
4 Plan for housing after year one: HKUST suggests budgeting HKD 4,500-18,000 a month for off-campus accommodation.

Costs & financial aid

2027-28 · figures in HKD

Local students eligible for government-subsidised fees Tuition HK$49,500

+ estimated personal expenses per academic year (excluding accommodation) HK$60,000 ≈ HK$109,500 per year

Non-local students Tuition HK$260,000

+ estimated personal expenses per academic year (excluding accommodation) HK$60,000 ≈ HK$320,000 per year

Tuition Estimated personal expenses per academic year (excluding accommodation)

Financial aid

All applicants are automatically considered for academic admissions scholarships, including the University Admissions Scholarship for Other Qualifications, the Global Learners Scholarship and a scheme for International/Asian Olympiad medallists. Non-academic awards such as the Future Leaders Award and the Beyond Academic Admissions Scholarship need a separate application. Financial aid is available to students in financial difficulty.

About HKD 21,000-51,000 per residential year (rate for fall 2026 entrants; 2027/28 fee not yet announced)
Non-local on-campus accommodation (first year): About HKD 4,500-18,000 per month
Off-campus housing after year one: HKD 600
Application fee (international qualifications)

Academics

Academic calendar: Semesters

Computer Science and Engineering

HKUST says its Computer Science discipline, including AI and machine learning, has been No. 1 in Hong Kong in THE's subject rankings for ten years running.

BSc in Mathematics and Economics (joint programme)

One of HKUST's cross-school joint programmes, for quantitatively strong students interested in economics.

BSc in Data Science and Technology (joint programme)

Combines statistics, computing and applications across schools.

BSc in Sustainable and Green Finance (joint programme)

Joins finance with environmental science and policy.

BSc in Biotechnology and Business (joint programme)

Pairs life sciences with business training.

Research

Over 80% of HKUST research was rated 'internationally excellent' or 'world leading' in the UGC's Research Assessment Exercise 2020.
External research funding reached HK$1,127 million in 2025-26.
As of May 2026, HKUST members had founded over 1,900 active start-ups, including 11 unicorns and 22 exits by IPO or M&A.

Schools & faculties

School of Science
School of Engineering
School of Business and Management
School of Humanities and Social Science
School of Medicine
Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies

HKUST states its graduates consistently rank among the world's top 30 most sought-after employees.

Student life

HKUST is a self-contained campus on a hillside overlooking the sea, so daily life revolves around the halls, the central Atrium with its red bird sundial, canteens and sports facilities. Non-local undergraduates get university accommodation in their first year, which helps international students settle in quickly. With about 20,000 students and nearly half from outside Hong Kong, the community is diverse, and the university's start-up record (over 1,900 active companies founded by its members) shapes student ambitions. The trade-off is distance: the campus is quieter and further from the city centre than the urban universities.

Seaside campus on the Clear Water Bay peninsula
University accommodation for non-local students in year one
More than 1,900 active start-ups founded by HKUST members
Nearly half of all students (48%) come from outside Hong Kong

Housing. Non-local undergraduates receive on-campus accommodation in their first year (about HKD 21,000-51,000 per residential year at the fall 2026 rate) and usually move off campus afterwards.

Location

HKUST is in Tai Po Tsai on the Clear Water Bay peninsula in Sai Kung District, on Hong Kong's eastern edge. The campus looks out over the sea and is surrounded by green hills and country parks, and bus and minibus routes connect it with the MTR network for trips into Kowloon. It offers a quieter, greener life than the urban universities, with the city still within reach.

Nearest airport: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Notable alumni

FW
Frank Wang

Founder and CEO of DJI, the world's largest commercial drone maker
DW
Douglas Woo

Chairman of Wheelock and Company
SL
Starry Lee

Hong Kong legislator and leader of the DAB party
SB
Sun Binyong

Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences
TD
Tinglong Dai

Professor of operations and analytics at Johns Hopkins Carey Business School
MW
Myolie Wu

Actress and recording artist

Frequently asked questions

What SAT score do you need for HKUST?

The minimum is SAT 1190 (or ACT 24) plus two APs at 3 or above, but the middle 50% of 2025 international entrants scored 1480-1540.

What IB score do you need for HKUST?

HKUST's 2025 intake had a middle-50% IB range of 35-40 points including bonus points.

How much is HKUST tuition for international students?

Non-local students pay HKD 260,000 per year in 2027/28; local students pay HKD 49,500. HKUST estimates about HKD 60,000 a year for personal expenses.

When is the HKUST application deadline for 2027 entry?

International-qualification applicants should apply by the Priority Round deadline of 25 November 2026; after that applications are considered on a rolling basis until 30 June 2027. HKDSE students apply via JUPAS by 2 December 2026.

Does HKUST guarantee housing for international students?

Non-local students are provided with university accommodation in their first year only, so plan for off-campus housing from year two.

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.