Applicants must hold a Bachelor degree with a major other than common law with at least second-class honours, or an equivalent qualification. Applicants who do not have a Bachelor degree with English as the medium of instruction are required to satisfy the English language proficiency on the basis of one of the following recognised English tests: Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) - A score of 100 or above (internet-based test); or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) - An overall band score of 7.5 or above with no sub-test below 6.5 and a minimum band score of 7.0 in the academic writing module; In each case, for admissions purposes, the test score report is regarded as valid for two years.

The basic qualification necessary for admission to research postgraduate studies is a good honours degree from this University or an equivalent qualification from a comparable institution. In addition, certain degree courses have more specific requirements. Qualifying examinations to test the applicants’ abilities to follow the prescribed courses and/or interviews may be conducted. Applicants with qualifications other than an honours degree are considered on their individual merits.

Applicants who wish to be admitted to higher degrees on the basis of a qualification from a university or a comparable institution outside Hong Kong where the language of teaching and/or examination is not English are required to obtain the following:

(a) a minimum score in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) as specified below:

Paper-based test

• An overall score of 550 or above
• Additional requirement for applicants to the Faculty of Arts except the School of Chinese and the Centre of Buddhist Studies: 4 or above in the Test of Written English (TWE)

Internet-based test

• An overall score of 80 or above
• Additional requirement for applicants to the Faculty of Arts except the School of Chinese and the Centre of Buddhist Studies: 25 or above in the Writing section; or

(b) a minimum overall band of 6 with no subtest lower than 5.5 in the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic module); or

(c) grade C or above in the Overseas General Certificate of Education (GCE); or

(d) grade C or above in the International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE); or

(e) grade C or above in the Cambridge Test of Proficiency in English Language (CPE);

unless in exceptional circumstances when they are exempted from this requirement.