26Fall Hong Kong school review upgraded again

With Hong Kong universities collectively soaring in the 2026 QS World University Rankings, competition for applications has intensified this year, especially for the “top three” universities in Hong Kong (HKU, CUHK, and HKUST) and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, which have already begun accepting early admissions for Fall 2026. At this critical juncture, the University of Hong Kong Business School has introduced more detailed and stringent requirements for “internship certificates” in application materials, sparking widespread attention.

1.HKU: Internship certificates must be submitted in one of three ways!

This year, the HKU Business School has clarified that only the following internship certificates will be accepted:
·Internship certificates/letters stamped and signed on company letterhead;
· Officially signed contracts;
· Pay slips showing the company name.

Key Points:
Recommendation letters must be uploaded to the system personally by the recommender; self-uploaded letters will be invalid. Letters must be on company letterhead and stamped; otherwise, they will be invalid.

A qualified internship certificate must include the following seven core elements:

·Must be on company letterhead
· Include company contact information (address, phone number, email address)
· Indicate the applicant’s full name and position title
· Indicate employment dates (start and end dates)
· State the nature of the job (full-time, part-time, etc.)
· Provide a brief description of the position
· The signature or company seal of a person with signing authority (such as HR, supervisor, or employer) is required

It can be seen that HKU has stricter requirements for internship materials. Essentially, it expects students to provide authentic supporting documents and avoid falsification. We encourage everyone to adhere to these requirements during the preparation stage to avoid unnecessary trouble.

2.HKUST: Completely Paperless!

Starting this year, HKUST will no longer accept paper documents for verification. All documents must be submitted through the official online platform to ensure traceability.

Transcripts and degree certificates must be sent directly to the admissions office by the university. If you submit them yourself, they will likely be rejected by the system! Furthermore, letters of recommendation must be submitted online, and recommenders must submit them within 14 days.

3.Hong Kong Polytechnic: Transcripts Must Be CSSD-Certified

This year, Hong Kong Polytechnic has also introduced new certification requirements:

Core Requirements for Graduation/Degree Certificate Verification:
· An online verification code issued by the China Higher Education Student Information and Career Center (CHSI) of the Ministry of Education must be provided;
· The verification report must include both Chinese and English versions and be valid throughout the admission review period.

Special Requirements for Transcript Submission:
· Transcripts issued directly by the institution will not be accepted;
· The “Chinese Higher Education Student Transcript Verification Report” issued by the Center for Student Services and Quality Development (CSSD) of the Ministry of Education must be submitted.

For applicants to overseas undergraduate programs, Hong Kong Polytechnic also does not accept self-submitted degree certificates and transcripts. These must be sent directly by the graduating institution to a designated email address. Only official verification materials (such as MyeQuals and Parchment) will be accepted.

Concurrently, Hong Kong Polytechnic has also introduced new requirements for recommender email addresses in its online application system: only official email addresses are accepted, not email addresses like QQ!

4.Two Major Trends in Hong Kong Master’s Applications During Fall 2026

Overall, two major trends emerged in Hong Kong university applications during Fall 2026:

On the one hand, Hong Kong universities have launched a fierce competition for early admissions, each striving to attract high-quality students. On the other hand, the Hong Kong government continues to offer preferential benefits, such as:

Relaxing the quota for non-local students: The Secretary for Education previously announced that the quota for non-local students at the eight subsidized universities will be increased from 20% to 40%. This is not the “ceiling” yet! Further relaxations may be made in the future based on actual circumstances, specifically to attract international students to Hong Kong universities.

The Hong Kong government is also actively addressing the shortage of student dormitories: To attract more international students, the Hong Kong Development Bureau and the Education Bureau jointly launched the “Private Student Hostel Pilot Scheme,” encouraging the conversion of hotels and commercial buildings into student dormitories.

The Fall 2016 application campaign has begun, and applying early is no longer a recommendation; it’s a must! Finally, Guigui has compiled the application process for a Master’s degree in Hong Kong and key application deadlines for the eight universities in Hong Kong for your reference.

5.Application Process for a Master’s degree in Hong Kong and Key Application Deadlines for the Eight Universities in Hong Kong

Applications for a Master’s degree in Hong Kong generally require a year in advance. The general application process is as follows:

March-September:
· School planning: Understanding the application requirements and required application materials for target universities
·Obtaining documents before summer vacation, including printing transcripts and proof of enrollment
· Preparing language scores (IELTS/TOEFL, etc.)
· Determining an application plan based on your individual circumstances
· Preparing documents, including a personal statement (PS), letters of recommendation (RL), and a resume (CV), etc.
·Background enhancement plans, such as internships, research, and thesis-related projects
· Language test planning: Understanding the latest score release dates and planning accordingly
· Consolidating all materials, including finding recommenders, optimizing your resume, and translating various documents
· Editing and proofreading documents, etc.

September-December:
· Finalizing documents before deciding on a major
· Checking the university’s official website for program availability Avoid missing out on the best opportunities.
·Open an online application account and submit your application according to the opening hours of Hong Kong universities.
·Follow up on your application progress.
·Check your email for interview notifications or supplemental documents.

November – May of the following year:
·Check your email for written test/interview notifications.
·Follow up on your application progress and submit additional documents.
·Update and optimize your scores (IELTS, TOEFL, GMAT, GRE, etc.) during the application process.
·Add new universities and programs to your application; Hong Kong universities offer new programs every year.
·Pay a retention fee upon acceptance (time limit applies).
· If you receive an offer, confirm whether to wait for or decline offers from other schools.

May-September of the following year:
·Reserve a dormitory or rent an apartment
·Prepare visa documents and deposit
·Obtain a student visa
· Pack your luggage and purchase air tickets
· Prepare all entry documents

Key application deadlines for Hong Kong’s eight universities

The University of Hong Kong
Business School
·Early admissions are open from July 2 to July 25, 2025;
·Secure your admission and receive priority consideration for scholarships;
· Regular admissions are expected to open in early September.

The estimated opening times for other colleges are as follows (based on the official website):
· School of Architecture: Mid-September
· School of Arts: October 22
· School of Engineering: October 21
· School of Science/Society: Opening in stages from mid-October
· School of Education: November 6
· School of Medicine: November 1
· School of Law: November 13
· School of Computing and Data Sciences: October
· School of Dentistry: December
Note: Admission times vary across HKU colleges, so please be sure to confirm the college in which your desired program belongs.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong
· Applications for master’s programs at major colleges are expected to open on September 1;
· The Business School’s early admissions round opened at 10:00 AM on June 26, 2025, covering popular business majors such as finance, accounting, and business administration.

Two new master’s programs added for Fall 2026:
· Master of Aviation Management;
· Master of Experiential Economic Leadership;
Applications are expected to open in October, but will not be part of the early admissions round.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
· Most Engineering and Business programs are expected to open on September 1st;
· However, some Business programs have already opened for early admission on July 2nd;
· The early admissions process secures offers and prioritizes scholarships;
· The deadline is generally August 15th.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University has seen the biggest changes!
All Fall 2026 master’s programs have been moved up to July and opened on July 2nd.
· Early admissions deadline: October 15th
· Regular admissions deadline: January 15th, 2026
· Final admissions deadline: April 30th, 2026
Students seeking scholarships and priority admission are advised to apply for the early admissions process.

City University of Hong Kong
Applications are not officially open yet, but the estimated deadlines are as follows:
·Applications open: mid-September (most likely September 16 in 2025)
·Deadlines: Applications typically close in separate rounds on March 31, April 30, and May 31 of the following year.

Hong Kong Baptist University
Master of Research (MPhil/PhD)
·Applications open: September 1, 2025
·First round deadline: December 1
·Second round deadline: April 15, 2026 (some programs subject to availability)

Master of Arts (MA/MSc) by Coursework
·English-taught programs open: September 10, 2025
·Latest application deadline: July 24, 2026
It is recommended to focus on the early application round (September-December), as there are more scholarship opportunities.

Lingnan University, Hong Kong
·MPhil/PhD: Opens November 1, 2025, Deadline January 17, 2026
·Taught Master’s Programs (MA/MSC): Opens October 1, 2025, Ends June 30, 2026, with extensions available until July 15 for some programs.

The Education University of Hong Kong
·Expected Application Opening Date: Most programs open in mid-November;
·Deadline: Application closes January of the following year.

The competitive recruitment campaign among Hong Kong universities not only tests students’ academic prowess but also challenges their ability to integrate information, plan long-term, and develop strategic strategies for the application process. If your background and qualifications meet the application requirements, apply now to secure an offer from your dream university!