Hong Kong Metropolitan University

About Hong Kong Metropolitan University

Hong Kong Metropolitan University began in 1989 as The Open Learning Institute of Hong Kong, initially concentrating on part-time degree education for working adults. It became The Open University of Hong Kong in 1997, introduced full-time degree programmes in 2003, and adopted the Hong Kong Metropolitan University name on 1 September 2021. The governing statutory body continued through the renaming rather than being replaced by a new institution. HKMU is financially independent and describes itself as a self-financing statutory university. This position differs from Hong Kong’s universities funded through the University Grants Committee, so prospective students should examine programme-level tuition and government-subsidy eligibility rather than assume one standard public-university fee. The university has self-accrediting authority and was approved by the Education Bureau as Hong Kong’s first University of Applied Sciences in March 2024. Official figures for 2025/26 record 21,677 students: 17,023 studying full time and 4,654 studying part time. The same institutional snapshot lists 101 bachelor’s, 39 master’s, and five doctoral programmes. For 2026/27, 49 programmes participate in JUPAS, while 21 first-year-entry degree programmes provide 1,365 places through the government’s Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors. These figures show a substantial campus-based institution that still retains flexible and distance-learning pathways. Applicants should nevertheless compare delivery mode, campus, professional recognition, and subsidy arrangements for their particular programme.

Admission route depends on the applicant’s qualifications and residency status. For 2026/27, HKMU lists 54 undergraduate programmes. Forty-nine accept local HKDSE applicants through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System. Local applicants holding other qualifications may use the non-JUPAS route for first-year or senior-year entry, while non-local applicants apply directly. Local applicants relying only on HKDSE results are directed to JUPAS for first-year honours degrees and cannot pursue the same intake simultaneously through both JUPAS and non-JUPAS routes. The published 2026/27 non-local undergraduate cycle opened on 20 October 2025. Its first-round deadline was 31 March 2026 and its second-round deadline for overseas applicants was 31 May 2026, with term commencement listed as 1 September 2026. Those dates have already passed as of 20 August 2026 and should not be reused for a later intake. Applications were assessed competitively and normally on a rolling basis, with the possibility of earlier closure when places filled. Taught-postgraduate applicants generally need a bachelor’s degree from a recognized institution or an equivalent qualification. Applicants to English-medium or bilingual programmes whose prior qualification was not taught in English normally must provide specified language evidence; the general page lists IELTS Academic 6.0 or TOEFL iBT 79 among its options, with different rules for certain programmes. Programme-specific academic, language, interview, and professional requirements take precedence, so applicants should use the live programme page rather than treating these general thresholds as universal.

HKMU’s academic provision covers arts and social sciences, business and administration, education and languages, nursing and health sciences, science and technology, open learning, postgraduate study, and professional and continuing education. The university’s 2025/26 institutional figures list 101 bachelor’s, 39 master’s, and five doctoral programmes. For the 2026/27 undergraduate intake, the admissions site presents 54 programmes across JUPAS and direct-admission routes. The University of Applied Sciences designation signals an emphasis on programmes that connect academic theory with professional practice. HKMU describes this model as involving industry participation, workplace learning, internships, and applied research. The exact practical component is programme-specific, however, and applicants should check the curriculum, placement requirements, professional accreditation, and teaching location for their intended degree. The portfolio includes established areas such as business, creative arts, education, languages, nursing, physiotherapy, medical laboratory science, computing, engineering, environmental science, and testing and certification. Teaching infrastructure reflects several of these specialisms. Official facilities information identifies creative-arts studios; nursing and physiotherapy laboratories; testing and certification laboratories; virtual-reality and digital-dissection systems; and conventional libraries, computer facilities, and learning commons. Research is organized through institutes and centres covering areas such as innovative technology and sustainability, open and innovative education, bilingual learning and teaching, digital culture and humanities, international business and governance, and public and social policy. Students considering research degrees should verify supervisor availability and the active projects within their proposed field before applying.

Key Highlights

• Founded by the Hong Kong Government in 1989 and renamed Hong Kong Metropolitan University in 2021
• Hong Kong’s first designated University of Applied Sciences since March 2024
• Official 2025/26 enrolment was 21,677 students, including 17,023 full-time students
• A statutory, self-financing university with self-accrediting authority

Student Life & Environment

Student life is distributed across several urban teaching sites rather than a single enclosed residential campus. The Student Affairs Office coordinates counselling, student support, career development, experiential programmes, global-learning activities, scholarships, and financial assistance. The university’s student-life information reports a Students’ Union and more than 20 student societies, alongside leadership, entrepreneurship, cultural, sports, and wellness opportunities. Facilities vary by site. Across the principal campuses, students have access to libraries, learning commons, computer workstations, catering outlets, sports halls, a gymnasium, fitness and combat-sports rooms, creative studios, and discipline-specific laboratories. Students should confirm where their own programme is taught because regular travel between facilities may be necessary. Housing changes materially for 2026/27. MU88, a converted hotel at 84–102 Wuhu Street in Hung Hom, is scheduled to begin operation during that academic year with 434 residential places. Official eligibility information states that non-local and exchange students admitted or conditionally admitted for 2026/27 may apply. A place is therefore not automatic, and applicants should consult the current allocation process, fees, and conditions. HKMU also provides information about independently arranged accommodation but warns that it does not guarantee third-party listings or providers.

Location & Surroundings

HKMU’s main academic cluster is in Ho Man Tin, a built-up residential area of Kowloon. The Main Campus is at 30 Good Shepherd Street and contains teaching rooms, laboratories, a library, a computer centre, administrative offices, and a multipurpose hall. The nearby Jockey Club Campus and Jockey Club Institute of Healthcare are also in Ho Man Tin, allowing access to additional arts, sports, healthcare, and specialist teaching facilities. The university also operates locations in Kwai Hing and Lai King, as well as MU Tower and the MU88 student residence in Hung Hom. Campus assignment depends on the programme and activity, so applicants should not assume that all classes take place at the Main Campus. Hong Kong’s rail, bus, and minibus networks serve these urban districts, but cross-campus journeys can add time to a weekly schedule. MU88 is at 84–102 Wuhu Street in Hung Hom. The university describes it as about an eight-minute walk from either Ho Man Tin or Whampoa MTR station and a short drive from the Ho Man Tin campus cluster. The surrounding area offers restaurants, supermarkets, and other daily services.

Costs & Career Outcomes

HKMU does not have one institution-wide tuition figure suitable for every applicant. Fees vary by programme, study mode, entry year, and local or non-local status. Some local students on designated undergraduate programmes may benefit from the Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors or the Non-means-tested Subsidy Scheme for Self-financing Undergraduate Studies, subject to government eligibility rules. For 2026/27, HKMU reports 21 first-year-entry SSSDP degree programmes with 1,365 subsidized places. Applicants should compare the programme’s full estimated cost, annual adjustment terms, compulsory practicum or laboratory charges, and subsidy eligibility before accepting an offer. Postgraduate costs also differ considerably. The official 2026/27 taught-postgraduate brochure publishes a separate estimated programme fee for each degree and distinguishes local from non-local eligibility and full-time from part-time study. This programme-level source is more reliable than applying a single headline fee across the graduate portfolio. Housing, transport, visas, insurance, and daily living expenses require separate budgeting. MU88 operates on a non-profit basis, but accommodation charges and allocation conditions should be confirmed from the current residence offer. Career preparation reflects HKMU’s applied orientation. The university arranges local and overseas internships, on-campus work, industry projects, job-board opportunities, workshops, coaching, and employer engagement. Its 2024/25 student-life figures report more than 9,500 internships, placements, and global-exposure opportunities. This measures opportunities arranged rather than graduate employment outcomes, so prospective students should ask individual programmes for current placement structures and professionally relevant outcome data.