2026
| Expected Lower Boundary for Admissions | 41 |
| -------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Subject Requirements | Grade 6 or better in English A (HL/SL) or Grade 7 in English B (HL/SL); and
Grade 6 or better in Mathematics: Analysis and Approaches (HL/SL) or Mathematics: Applications and Interpretation (HL/SL)
Grade 6 or better in all other subjects (HL/SL) |
| English Language Requirement |
| --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Grade 4 in HL / SL English Language A: Language and Literature; or
Grade 4 in HL / SL English Language A: Literature; or
Grade 4 in SL English - Text and Performance; or
Grade 4 in SL English - Literature and Performance (A1 syllabus); or
Grade 4 in HL English Language (B Syllabus); or
Grade 5 in SL English Language (B Syllabus); or
Grade 4 in HL / SL English Language (A1 or A2 Syllabus);
(Note: "Higher Level" is referred to as "HL", and "Standard Level" as "SL")
or
Fulfill ONE of the requirements [here](https://admissions.hku.hk/apply/international-qualifications/english-language-requirement) |
| Additional Requirements | No additional requirements |
| ----------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Interview | For shortlisted candidates applying with international qualifications: December 2025 onwards |
The Mainland Undergraduate Admission Scheme for 2026 continues to uphold a holistic and diversified selection standard, with admissions expected nationwide. There is no quota limit per province or municipality; candidates are selected strictly on merit.
All undergraduate programmes offered by the University of Hong Kong (HKU) are open to mainland students\, and Gaokao candidates applying to any HKU undergraduate programme are not required to have studied either arts or science streams in senior secondary school. For provinces implementing the new Gaokao system, there are no subject selection requirements for applying to any HKU undergraduate programme. [View HKU’s undergraduate programme list and descriptions](https://admissions.hku.hk/zh-hans/programmes/undergraduate-programmes)[.](https://admissions.hku.hk/zh-hans/programmes/undergraduate-programmes)
In addition to HKU’s standalone undergraduate programmes, Gaokao candidates may also apply for joint undergraduate programmes co-organized by HKU and world-renowned universities. [View details and application procedures for joint undergraduate programmes](https://admissions.hku.hk/zh-hans/programmes/university-collaborative-programmes)[.](https://admissions.hku.hk/zh-hans/programmes/university-collaborative-programmes)
Pursuant to directives issued by China’s Ministry of Education, higher education institutions in Hong Kong are authorized to conduct independent admissions across all 31 provinces, municipalities directly under the Central Government, and autonomous regions on the mainland: Shanghai, Shanxi, Shandong, Tianjin, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Beijing, Sichuan, Gansu, Jilin, Anhui, Jiangxi, Jiangsu, Tibet Autonomous Region, Hebei, Henan, Qinghai, Chongqing, Hainan, Zhejiang, Shaanxi, Hubei, Hunan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Heilongjiang, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Fujian, Guangxi, Guangdong, and Liaoning. Should the scope of admissions change, it will be adjusted in accordance with the Ministry of Education’s latest guidance.
\Note: In the 2026 academic year, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme admits both local and non-local students.
Applicants to the “Diversified Excellence Admission Scheme” may apply for all HKU undergraduate programmes [listed here](https://admissions.hku.hk/zh-hans/programmes/undergraduate-programmes)\.
Applicants to the “Diversified Excellence Admission Scheme” may also participate in the selection processes for the Faculty of Engineering’s [“HKU–University of Cambridge Joint Undergraduate Recruitment Scheme”](https://admissions.hku.hk/zh-hans/programmes/university-collaborative-programmes/hku-cambridge-joint-recruitment-scheme-engineering-and-computer-science) and the Faculty of Science’s [“Undergraduate Research Enrichment Scheme”](https://www.scifac.hku.hk/prospective/ug/6901-bsc/yss "\(opens in a new window\)"), and may receive early admission advantages under these two special schemes prior to the Gaokao results announcement. Applicants interested in applying for the [HKU–UC Berkeley Dual Degree Programme](http://hku.berkeley.edu/ "\(opens in a new window\)"), the [HKU–Sciences Po Dual Degree Programme](https://admissions.hku.hk/zh-hans/programmes/university-collaborative-programmes/hku-sciences-po-dual-degree-programme), or the [HKU–University of British Columbia Dual Degree Programme](https://admissions.hku.hk/zh-hans/programmes/university-collaborative-programmes/hku-university-of-british-columbia-dual-degree-programme) may also join the “Diversified Excellence Admission Scheme”; outstanding performers will be recommended by HKU.
\Note: In the 2026 academic year, the Bachelor of Dental Surgery programme admits both local and non-local students.
According to regulations set by China’s Ministry of Education, candidates sitting the 2026 National College Entrance Examination (Gaokao) or the Joint Entrance Examination for Mainland, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Students are eligible to apply for admission to HKU. The application deadline for the 2026 Mainland Undergraduate Admission Scheme is 28 June 2026. HKU’s mainland admission scheme operates independently from the mainland’s unified admission system and follows its own distinct application procedure. Applicants must complete the following steps via HKU’s official mainland admission website (www.hku.hk/mainland):
Complete the [online application form](https://extranet.hku.hk/admission2/servlet/prc_register/get_login "\(opens in a new window\)")
Pay the non-refundable application fee of HK$600
After the Gaokao results are released, log back into the online application system to upload your official Gaokao scores
Note 1: Applying to HKU does not affect participation in the mainland’s unified admission process; applicants may simultaneously apply to mainland university admission schemes (e.g., the “Strong Foundation Plan”).
Note 2: An application is only considered valid upon successful payment of the application fee. The application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances. Payment must be made online using MasterCard, VISA, or UnionPay credit cards; no other payment methods are accepted.
HKU selects candidates based on a comprehensive assessment of both academic and non-academic qualities. Applicants meeting any one of the following criteria are eligible for admission advantages through the “Diversified Excellence Admission Scheme”:
Consistently outstanding academic performance;
Awards or distinctions in competitions or subject-specific excellence—for example: Olympiad competitions, national/provincial/municipal subject contests, English language competitions, writing contests, or invention patents;
Rich extracurricular experience—for example: volunteer service, study-abroad programmes, Model United Nations;
Demonstrated leadership ability—for example: exemplary student cadre, outstanding student, leader of student societies;
Exceptional talent in arts or sports