The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) Shatin Admission Process

  Shatin   ESTD 1963
  Shatin   ESTD 1963

Admission

For admission to the Doctor of Philosophy, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Music, Doctor of Nursing, Doctor of Psychology, Doctor of Business Administration (Chinese), and Doctor of Social Science in Applied Social Science Programs, applicants should meet these requirements:

  1. Hold a recognised master’s degree.
  2. Hold a bachelor’s degree, generally with Second Class Honours in the upper division or above. They should also be registered in a master’s degree program at the University for at least one year, demonstrating research ability.
  3. Be enrolled in a doctoral program at a recognised university for a minimum of one year and have approval for admission from the Graduate Council.
  4. For Faculty of Medicine programs, hold degrees like M.B., Ch.B., or equivalents, or under specific circumstances, a bachelor’s degree.

For admission to the Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) stream within the “M.Phil.-Ph.D. Programmes,” applicants should meet these criteria:

  1. Possess a master’s degree from a recognised university.
  2. Hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university with honours at least Second Class.
  3. Complete an honours program with a bachelor’s degree at a recognised university, typically achieving an average grade of not lower than “B.”
  4. Successfully finish a course of study at a tertiary educational institution and acquire professional or equivalent qualifications equivalent to an honours degree.

For admission to the Master of Philosophy, Master of Fine Arts, or Master of Music Programs, applicants must meet these requirements:

  1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, typically with honours not lower than Second Class.
  2. Have completed an honours program at a recognised university, achieving a bachelor’s degree with an average grade of not lower than “B.”
  3. Successfully finish a course of study at a tertiary educational institution and attain professional or comparable qualifications equivalent to an honours degree.

For admission to a Taught Master’s Program, excluding the Executive Master of Business Administration (Executive M.B.A.) Program, applicants should fulfill these conditions:

  1. Hold a bachelor’s degree from a recognised university, typically with honours not lower than Second Class, or attain an average grade of not lower than “B.”
  2. Successfully complete a course of study at a tertiary educational institution and achieve professional or equivalent qualifications equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.

For admission to the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) Program, applicants must meet the following criterion:

Hold a bachelor’s degree or possess professional qualifications equivalent to a bachelor’s degree.

For admission to a Postgraduate Diploma Program, applicants are required to:

Have graduated from a recognised university and obtained a bachelor’s degree.

For Admission: English Language Requirements: To satisfy the University’s minimum English language prerequisites for postgraduate programs, applicants should have:

Earned a degree from a Hong Kong university or completed a degree program in English.

Achieved specific scores in English Language tests:

  • TOEFL: 550 (Paper-based)/79 (Internet-based)
  • IELTS (Academic): 6.5
  • GMAT: Band 21 (Verbal)

Passed English in any of these exams:

  • Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level)
  • Hong Kong Higher Level Examination
  • CUHK Matriculation Examination
  • General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level)/Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level)
  • Attained Level 4 or higher in English Language subject of Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination Obtained a recognised professional qualification conducted in English.

Please note:

  • Assumes English as medium of instruction for Hong Kong universities.
  • Graduates need to have met English requisites for admission to their programs.
  • CUHK Graduate School might request further documentation for English proficiency.
  • TOEFL and IELTS scores valid for 2 years; GMAT scores for 5 years.
  • Acceptance of recognised professional qualifications at program’s discretion.
Programme-Specific Admissions Requirements
 
Specific programs might have additional admission prerequisites. Kindly consult the respective program pages for comprehensive details about these program-specific admission requirements.
 

Certainly, here are the steps involved in the admission process for The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) in Shatin:

  1. Application Submission: Submit your application through the official application portal of CUHK. Make sure to provide accurate and complete information, along with any required supporting documents.
  2. Application Review: The university’s admissions team will review your application, considering factors like academic qualifications, relevant experience, letters of recommendation, and other criteria specific to your chosen program.
  3. Program-Specific Requirements: Certain programs might have additional requirements, such as interviews, portfolios, or written assessments. Check the individual program pages for any specific criteria you need to meet.
  4. English Language Proficiency: If English is not your native language or if your previous education was not conducted in English, you might need to fulfill English language proficiency requirements through tests like TOEFL, IELTS, or others.
  5. Admission Decision: After thorough evaluation, the university will notify you of your admission status. This could include acceptance, conditional acceptance, or rejection.
  6. Acceptance Confirmation: If you’re offered admission, follow the provided instructions to confirm your acceptance and secure your spot in the program.
  7. Financial Matters: Review the program’s tuition fees, financial aid options, and any scholarships available. Make necessary arrangements for tuition payment or financial aid applications.
  8. Visa and Immigration: If you’re an international student, apply for a student visa and follow the immigration procedures required to study in Hong Kong.
  9. Orientation and Registration: Once admitted, you’ll receive information about orientation and registration. Attend these sessions to get acquainted with the university’s facilities, services, and academic expectations.
  10. Commencement of Studies: Begin your studies at CUHK and immerse yourself in the academic and cultural experiences offered by the university.

Remember that the specific details of the admission process might vary depending on the program you’re applying to, so it’s essential to thoroughly review the program-specific requirements and guidelines on the CUHK website.

Documents Required:
Copies of Academic and Professional Qualification Certificates
These copies should include certificates of graduation from universities, examination certificates, and evidence of other qualifications. Applicants who have obtained degrees from Mainland China must provide both their degree certificate (學位證書) and graduation certificate (畢業證書) in Chinese.

Submission of Official Transcripts and Grading Schemes for Tertiary Studies

Applicants need to provide copies of official transcripts detailing their course records and exam results, along with the grading schemes for their tertiary studies.

For CUHK Qualifications (Bachelor’s or higher degrees):

  • Photocopies of CUHK-issued transcripts are accepted, except for CUHK (Shenzhen) qualifications.
  • Original transcripts may be required upon request.

Other Qualifications:

  • Starting from the 2020-21 intake, scanned copies of official academic transcripts with an official chop from the Registry or Office responsible for student records are accepted.
  • Documents without proper letterhead and an official chop won’t be accepted.
  • Explanatory notes for grading schemes must be included.
  • Certified English translations should accompany transcripts not in English or Chinese.
  • Upon admission, original documents must be submitted for verification by the specified deadline.
  • Send official transcripts directly to the relevant unit in a sealed envelope.
  • For Mainland China degrees, provide valid Online Verification Reports from CHESICC along with degree and graduation certificates.

For final-year students:

  • Submit the final official transcript before starting postgraduate studies at CUHK.

Proof of English Language Proficiency

Applicants need to satisfy the English Language Admissions Requirement by submitting any of these documents:

  1. Copy of graduation certificate issued by a university in Hong Kong.
  2. Certifying letter issued by the university’s Registry confirming your degree program’s medium of instruction was English.
  3. Original valid official score report of TOEFL^ (University’s institution code: 0812)/IELTS (Academic)^/GMAT (Verbal)^ sent directly from the test organisation to the University (HKPFS only accepts TOEFL or IELTS (Academic) scores).
  4. Certification of Results of English Language subject in Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level), Hong Kong Higher Level Examination, or Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination from Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority.
  5. Certified true copy* of Statement of Results/report of English Language subject in General Certificate of Education (GCE) A-level or AS-level/CUHK Matriculation Examination.
  6. Certified true copy* of certificate of a recognised professional qualification with the examination conducted in English. Different programs might accept various professional qualifications; contact the respective Graduate Division for specifics.

TOEFL and IELTS scores are valid for two years from the test date. GMAT scores are valid for five years from the test date.

*The certified true copy must be issued by the official or relevant test organisation. The University might require original documents for verification.

Confidential Recommendations/Referee’s Report
 
Applicants should arrange for TWO referees to complete the Confidential Recommendations Report. After submitting the application, you can provide the details of the TWO referees using the Online Application System for Postgraduate Programmes. The University will send invitation requests for confidential recommendations directly to the referees.
 
A photocopy of Hong Kong Identity Card or other identity document
 
HKCAAVQ Assessment Report, if Required
 
Applicants holding degrees from overseas universities through distance learning or short-duration curricula need to provide an assessment report from the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic & Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) to ascertain the qualification level. Notifications will be sent separately by the relevant Graduate Division.