Aside from meeting the financial requirements of studying in a foreign country, international students from non-English-speaking countries may also need to meet the minimum International English Language Testing System, or IELTS, band requirement set by their chosen school. This applies to schools and universities around the world, including those in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China.
Schools in Hong Kong set their own English language requirements, so international students should always check whether their IELTS score meets the requirement for their chosen university, level of study, and program. The following are the IELTS band requirements of some universities in Hong Kong.
Minimum IELTS Band Requirements for Universities in Hong Kong
IELTS requirements can vary by program and study level. Some postgraduate programs also require minimum sub-scores, so applicants should check the relevant admissions page before applying.
| INSTITUTION NAME | MIN. SCORE (UNDERGRADUATE) | MIN. SCORE (GRADUATE) |
|---|
| Chinese University of Hong Kong | 6.0 | 6.5 |
| Hong Kong University of Science and Technology | 6.0 | 6.5, with all sub-scores at 5.5 or above |
| Lingnan University | 6.5 | 6.0 to 6.5, depending on the program |
| Hong Kong Polytechnic University | 6.0 | 6.0 for taught postgraduate programs; 6.5 for research postgraduate programs |
| University of Hong Kong | 6.5 | 6.0 for taught postgraduate programs; 6.5 or higher for research postgraduate programs |
| Education University of Hong Kong | 6.0 | 6.0, although some programs require a higher score |
| City University of Hong Kong | 6.5 | 6.0 for taught postgraduate programs; 6.5 for most research postgraduate programs, with higher requirements for some schools |
1. Chinese University of Hong Kong
The Chinese University of Hong Kong was established in 1963 and grew out of three founding colleges: Chung Chi College, New Asia College, and United College. Many programs use English as the medium of instruction, while Chinese is also used in some courses. CUHK is also known for its college system and its research-oriented academic environment.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong offers programs across a wide range of fields, including arts, business, education, engineering, law, medicine, science, and social science.
2. Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology was founded in 1991 as a research-focused university to support Hong Kong’s growth and innovation. Since then, it has become known for its work in science, technology, engineering, business, humanities, and social science.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology offers programs in areas such as accounting, bioengineering, economics, life science, marketing, environmental science, finance, and social science. As shown above, the IELTS requirement at this university in Hong Kong depends on the study level.
3. Lingnan University
Lingnan University traces its history to Lingnan’s original founding in Guangzhou in 1888. Today, Lingnan University in Hong Kong is a research-focused liberal arts university. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate education with an emphasis on whole-person development, residential learning, and a liberal arts approach.
Lingnan University offers programs in areas such as arts, business, social sciences, data science, interdisciplinary studies, cultural studies, philosophy, visual studies, and business administration.
4. Hong Kong Polytechnic University
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University requires an overall IELTS Academic score of 6.0 for undergraduate and taught postgraduate applicants. Research postgraduate applicants are normally required to have an overall IELTS Academic score of at least 6.5.
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University is a public research university that traces its roots to the Government Trade School, established in 1937. It became Hong Kong Technical College after World War II, was renamed Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1972, and gained university status in 1994. Its main campus is located in Hung Hom, and the university offers programs across fields such as business, applied science, engineering, construction and environment, humanities, design, health and social sciences, and hotel and tourism management.
5. University of Hong Kong
The University of Hong Kong is a public research university founded in 1911. It traces its roots to the Hong Kong College of Medicine for Chinese, which was established in 1887. The university is also known for its contributions to medical research, including work related to identifying the coronavirus that caused SARS.
The University of Hong Kong offers a wide array of programs for its students, including education, medicine, humanities, law, economics, biomedicine, and business, among others.
6. Education University of Hong Kong
The Education University of Hong Kong was originally established as the Hong Kong Institute of Education in 1994. It came under the University Grants Committee in 1996 and was granted university title in 2016. The university is education-focused and offers academic and research programs in teacher education, the social sciences, and the humanities.
The Education University of Hong Kong offers courses in areas such as special education, language studies, creative arts and culture, general studies, Chinese history, and other education-related fields.
7. City University of Hong Kong
The final university in our list of Hong Kong universities and IELTS requirements is the City University of Hong Kong. City University of Hong Kong is a public research university established in 1984. In 1994, it became a fully accredited university. Its colleges and schools include the College of Biomedicine, College of Business, College of Computing, College of Engineering, College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, College of Science, Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences, School of Creative Media, School of Energy and Environment, and School of Law.
The City University of Hong Kong offers a variety of programs for its students, including accountancy, information systems, economics and finance, marketing, and management sciences, among others.
Several universities in Hong Kong are young compared with universities in other parts of the world, but they provide high-quality education to students who decide to study there. As an international student, you can also find English-taught programs in many fields.
We hope this article on IELTS requirements at Hong Kong universities was helpful. If you are interested in studying abroad, check out the Study in Hong Kong and Available Programs for International Students!
