JUPAS Applications Open Next Month; Six HKUST Programs Raise Admission Thresholds by Over 7 Points
SingTao · 1 SOURCESabout 3 hours ago2 MIN
Summary
The Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) will open for applications next month, with universities reporting notable increases in admission score thresholds for the 2026/27 academic year. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has recorded median score increases exceeding 7 points across six programs, including its Electronic and Computer Engineering programme, which rose by 8.9 points. The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) saw even more dramatic changes, with its Applied Mathematics and Financial Analysis Honours BSc programme experiencing a 64-point jump in average admission scores. Experts are cautioning students that competition for tertiary places is intensifying and recommend applying to multiple institutions offering similar programmes.
Key Points
- Six HKUST programmes—including Electronic and Computer Engineering, Industrial Engineering and Decision Analytics, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering—recorded median admission score increases of 7 or more points
- PolyU's Applied Mathematics and Financial Analysis programme saw its average score rise by 64 points, with the median and lower quartile increasing by 71.5 and 55.5 points respectively
- Student Guidance Centre consultant Ng Po-shing advised candidates to apply to multiple universities offering similar programmes, noting that "even if admission scores continue to rise, not all Band A choices will be unsuccessful"
- Six universities have introduced eight new programmes for the 2026/27 academic year, with three directly related to artificial intelligence development
- HKU's Engineering (Robotics) programme includes a third-year study component in Shanghai, with the university offering a HK$50,000 scholarship covering airfare, accommodation, and living expenses
Why It Matters
Rising admission thresholds reflect both improved student performance in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examinations and heightened competition for limited university places. This trend has significant implications for secondary school graduates making critical decisions about their higher education pathways, particularly as new AI-focused programmes emerge to meet industry demands for technically skilled graduates .
Rising admission thresholds reflect both improved student performance in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examinations and heightened competition for limited university places. This trend has significant implications for secondary school graduates making critical decisions about their higher education pathways, particularly as new AI-focused programmes emerge to meet industry demands for technically skilled graduates .