Hong Kong Metropolitan University
香港都會大學
Hong Kong's largest self-financing university and its first university of applied sciences, built on career-focused degrees.
- Students
- 21,677
- 18,143 undergraduates
- Tuition
- HK$109.4K
- From · 2027-28 (local); 2026-27 (non-local)
- Founded
- 1989
- QS World Ranking
- 781-790
- 2027 edition
About HKMU
Hong Kong Metropolitan University was set up by the Hong Kong government in 1989 as the Open Learning Institute, a distance-learning provider for working adults. It became the Open University of Hong Kong in 1997, began full-time programmes in 2001, joined JUPAS (Hong Kong's main undergraduate admissions system) in 2007, and took its current name in 2021. In early 2024 the Education Bureau approved it as Hong Kong's first university of applied sciences.
HKMU is the largest self-financing university in Hong Kong: in 2025/26 it had 21,677 students, 17,023 of them full-time. Full-time degrees are taught by five schools: Arts and Social Sciences; the Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration; Education and Languages; Nursing and Health Sciences; and Science and Technology. Most programmes are applied and closely linked to professional bodies, from nursing, physiotherapy and diagnostic radiography to animation, surveying, civil engineering and aviation services management.
Because it is self-financing, HKMU charges higher fees than the government-funded universities, but local students receive a government subsidy on every full-time degree. It suits students who want a practical, career-oriented degree in Hong Kong, with admission scores more accessible than at the older research universities; for non-local students, bachelor's fees start at about HK$109,000 a year.
Disce, Progredere, Crea
“Learn, advance, create (Latin form of the Chinese motto 公誠毅樸．開明進取)” — university motto
Why students choose HKMU
Every full-time undergraduate programme is subsidised for local students, either through the SSSDP (up to HK$89,620 a year for 2027/28 laboratory-based applied degrees) or the NMTSS.
HKMU has the most SSSDP-funded places of any self-financing institution: 1,871 places across 22 degree programmes for 2027/28.
Its creative programmes are ranked 101-150 in the world for Art and Design and for Performing Arts in the QS subject rankings 2026.
A new BBA in World Business from 2027/28 includes a dual-degree pathway: three years at HKMU and two at the University of Birmingham for an LLB in Commercial Law.
Admissions
2027/28 intake (September 2027)
Selectivity
HKMU does not publish an admission rate. For 2026 JUPAS entry, median best-5 HKDSE admission scores ranged from 14 (Human Resource Management) to 23 (Putonghua and Chinese Language Education), with 21 for General Health Care Nursing and 22 for Diagnostic Radiography.
Typical entry requirements
| HKDSE (JUPAS, 2027/28) | Minimum Level 3 in Chinese and English, Level 2 in Mathematics (Compulsory Part), Attained in Citizenship and Social Development, and Level 2 in two electives; admission is competitive on programme-weighted scores |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Minimum 24 points overall, with grade 4 or above in English |
| GCE A-level / International A-level | Minimum grade E in two A-levels, or one A-level plus two AS-levels (English and Chinese normally not counted) |
| American-system high school diploma | SAT 1190+ (of 1600), or ACT composite 23+, or grade 3+ in two AP subjects |
| Australian ATAR | 76 or above |
| English language | IELTS 6 · TOEFL iBT 79 Any one of: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 79 (Home Edition not accepted), IB English grade 4, GCSE/IGCSE English grade C/4, GCE A/AS-level English grade E, HKDSE English Level 3, or Gaokao English 100/150. IELTS Online is not accepted and results must be under two years old. |
Deadlines
- Non-local direct admission, 1st round - PAST CYCLE (2026 entry), for reference Non-binding Passed31 March 2026 (closed)
Applications opened 20 October 2025 and are processed on a rolling, competitive basis; the round may close early when places are filled.
- Non-local direct admission, 2nd round - PAST CYCLE (2026 entry), for reference Non-binding Passed31 May 2026 (closed)
Final deadline for all overseas applicants; late applications were not considered.
- JUPAS (local HKDSE candidates) Non-binding Next deadline · In 57 days2 December 2026
Applications open 7 October 2026; programme choices can be updated until 26 May 2027; main round offers are announced 4 August 2027.
The JUPAS dates are HKMU's published dates for 2027 entry (subject to change; check jupas.edu.hk). HKMU had not yet posted 2027-entry dates for non-local direct applications as of 30 September 2026; for 2026 entry the system opened in late October with deadlines on 31 March and 31 May, so apply early in the cycle.
How to apply
Local HKDSE candidates apply through JUPAS. Non-local applicants, and local applicants with other qualifications, apply directly through the HKMU Online Admission Application System (fee HK$515 for non-local applicants, HK$300 for local), uploading transcripts, certificates and English test results. Shortlisted direct applicants are invited to an interview, and some programmes add a written test.
What admissions looks for
- HKDSE results that meet the general requirements (Level 3 in Chinese and English) and a competitive programme-weighted score; some programmes weight subjects such as Chinese or English at 1.5x or 2x.
- Relevant science subjects for health programmes: nursing preferably wants Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Combined or Integrated Science, or Health Management and Social Care.
- Performance at interview: HKMU says it considers the whole profile, including band choices, preferred subjects and interview performance, not just the HKDSE score.
- For non-local applicants, a recognised secondary qualification and proof of English at IELTS 6.0 or equivalent.
Tips for applying to HKMU
- 1 Use HKMU's published JUPAS admission scores, which list the median and lower quartile for every programme, and check each programme's subject weightings before ranking your choices.
- 2 Place HKMU in your JUPAS Band A if you are borderline in Chinese or English: under its flexible admissions arrangement, a Level 2 can be accepted with a Level 5* elsewhere, but only for Band A applicants who pass an interview (not for nursing, physiotherapy, radiography, medical laboratory science or early childhood education).
- 3 Non-local applicants should apply in the first round, because places are filled on a rolling basis.
- 4 Nursing, physiotherapy and some other health degrees appear only in the local fee schedule; check the non-local programme list before applying from outside Hong Kong.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 (local); 2026-27 (non-local) · figures in HKD
All full-time undergraduate programmes are subsidised for local students under either the SSSDP or the NMTSS, and local students can apply for government and HKMU financial assistance. HKMU awards admission scholarships such as the HKDSE Star Scholarships and the Admission Sports Scholarship, plus university-funded, donated and government scholarships for academic and non-academic achievement; it granted more than HK$43 million in scholarships in 2024/25.
- HK$46,780 (non-laboratory) or HK$81,450 (laboratory-based) a year; up to HK$51,880 / HK$89,620 for recognised applied degrees
- SSSDP subsidy, 2027/28 cohort
- HK$35,120 a year (2027/28 amount to be announced)
- NMTSS subsidy, 2026/27
- HK$44,232,171 across 49 schemes
- HKMU scholarships, bursaries and loans, 2024/25
- HK$515 non-local, HK$300 local (direct applications)
- Application fee
Academics
Bachelor of Nursing with Honours (General Health Care / Mental Health Care)
SSSDP-subsidised nursing degrees with 2026 JUPAS median scores of 21 and 19, extending HKMU's nursing education that began with hospital partners in 2005.
Bachelor of Science with Honours in Diagnostic Radiography
A 4+1 bachelor-master pathway launched in 2026 to tackle Hong Kong's shortage of diagnostic radiographers; 2026 JUPAS median score 22.
Bachelor of Fine Arts with Honours in Animation and Visual Effects
Part of the creative arts portfolio behind HKMU's 101-150 world ranking in Art and Design (QS by Subject 2026).
Bachelor of Applied Science with Honours in Robotics and Automation Engineering
New applied degree from September 2026, funded by a government start-up grant and included in the SSSDP for 2027/28.
BBA with Honours in International Hospitality and Attractions Management
Hospitality and Leisure Management is one of HKMU's three subjects ranked 101-150 by QS in 2026.
Bachelor of Education with Honours in English Language Teaching and Bachelor of English Language Studies with Honours
A double degree that weights HKDSE English at 2x; 2026 JUPAS median score 22.
Research
- In 2026 HKMU won about HK$38.6 million for 58 projects in the Research Grants Council's schemes for self-financing institutions, around 43% of the total and first in the sector for the fourth year running.
- The top-funded 2026 project, led by Dr Fu Yaru, studies 'pinching antenna' technology to improve connectivity in 6G networks.
- A new Ho Man Tin campus, positioned as 'A Hub for Community Health and Wellness', broke ground in June 2026.
Schools & faculties
- Wu Jieh Yee School of Arts and Social Sciences
- Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration
- School of Education and Languages
- School of Nursing and Health Sciences
- School of Science and Technology
- Graduate School
- School of Open Learning
- Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education (LiPACE)
HKMU does not publish a graduate employment rate on its facts pages. It reports more than 6,000 internship and practicum places a year and more than 170,000 graduates since 1989.
Student life
Most full-time students study on HKMU's Ho Man Tin campus, Kowloon, spread across the Main Campus, Jockey Club Campus, Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare and nearby learning centres such as MU Tower. The university opened its first student residence, MU88 in Hung Hom, in August 2026, with about 430 places mainly for non-local and exchange students. Business students take a compulsory Global Immersion Programme with short placements abroad, and internships and practicums are built into many degrees.
- MU88, HKMU's first student hostel, has about 430 places in single, double and triple rooms, plus study rooms, a music room and fitness areas.
- More than 6,000 local, mainland and overseas internship and practicum places are arranged each year.
- The Lee Shau Kee School of Business and Administration runs a compulsory Global Immersion Programme for all its full-time undergraduates.
- The HKMU Museum of Modern Chinese Literature opened on campus with an exhibition on Eileen Chang and Stephen and Mae Fong Soong.
Housing. MU88 in Hung Hom, opened for 2026/27 with about 430 places, is HKMU's first student residence and mainly houses non-local students, exchange students and visiting scholars.
Location
HKMU sits in Ho Man Tin, a residential hillside district in central Kowloon close to Mong Kok, Hung Hom and Kowloon Tong. The campus is well connected by MTR and bus, and everything from Tsim Sha Tsui's harbourfront to the New Territories country parks is within easy reach. Hong Kong is a dense, fast, expensive city where rent is the biggest cost for non-local students.
Nearest airport: Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Notable alumni
- DC David Chung Wai-keungHong Kong's Under Secretary for Innovation and Technology from March 2016, under the Carrie Lam administration; MBA from the Open University of Hong Kong
- EC Eric Chung Chi-kwongTVB sports commentator; BA in Chinese Humanities from the Open University of Hong Kong (2003)
- CH Chi Hong (Sam) WongGeneral authority of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; MBA from the Open University of Hong Kong
- LK Lillian KwokTeacher and former Legislative Council member; Master of Education from HKMU (2021)
- AC Andrew ChiuPolitician, mediator and former district councillor; Bachelor of Social Sciences from the Open University of Hong Kong
Frequently asked questions
Is Hong Kong Metropolitan University a real university?
Yes. HKMU was set up by the Hong Kong government in 1989, became a statutory university (the Open University of Hong Kong) in 1997, and was renamed in 2021. It is self-financing but awards its own degrees and admits local students through JUPAS.
What HKDSE score do you need for HKMU?
The minimum is Level 3 in Chinese and English, Level 2 in Mathematics and two electives, and Attained in Citizenship and Social Development. In 2026, median weighted admission scores ranged from 14 to 23 depending on the programme.
How much are HKMU's tuition fees?
For 2027/28, local JUPAS fees range from HK$85,340 to HK$187,910 a year before the government subsidy is deducted. Non-local Year 1 entrants paid about HK$109,000 to HK$182,000 a year in 2026/27.
Can international students apply to HKMU?
Yes, through direct application on HKMU's online system with a recognised school qualification, such as the IB (24 points) or two A-levels, and IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79. An interview is normally required.
Does HKMU have student housing?
Its first residence, MU88 in Hung Hom, opened for 2026/27 with about 430 places, mainly for non-local and exchange students.
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.
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