Frequently Asked Questions
Entrance Requirements
1. What are the general entrance requirements for Degree programmes?
2. What are the general entrance requirements for Higher Diploma (HD) programmes?
8. Can IELTS / TOEFL results be used to meet the English Language requirement?
9. Can Applied Learning (ApL) subjects be used to meet the entrance requirement?
10. How would the Extended Modules of Mathematics be considered in meeting the entrance requirement?
Admission Score Calculation
11. What is the admission score calculation mechanism for PolyU programmes?
12. How would the Applied Learning (ApL) subjects be considered in the calculation of admission score?
13. How would the Extended Modules of Mathematics be considered in the calculation of admission score?
14. How would HKDSE attainments be considered in the calculation of admission scores?
16. How are subject weightings determined?
17. How would applicants with the same admission score be prioritized in the merit order list?
18. Will there be any cut-off admission score in considering HKDSE applicants?
Admission Selection
19. Would applicants’ other public examinations e.g. GCE, IB be considered?
20. How would students’ Other Learning Experiences (OLE) be considered?
21. How would PolyU shortlist applicants for interview before the announcement of HKDSE result?
22. Would Student Learning Profile (SLP) be considered?
23. Does PolyU have its own admission tests in addition to HKDSE?
24. How would admission quotas be distributed between JUPAS and Non-JUPAS applicants?
25. Would there be any penalty for applicants repeating HKDSE?
27. How would non-local applicants with HKDSE results be considered under JUPAS?
Entrance Requirements
1. What are the general entrance requirements for Degree programmes?
Please see below a summary table of the general entrance requirements of Degree programmes:
|
HKDSE Subjects |
Core Subjects |
Elective Subjects |
||||
|
Chinese Language |
English Language |
Mathematics |
Liberal Studies |
1st Elective |
2nd Elective | |
|
Level Requirement |
3 |
3 |
2 |
2 |
3 |
3 |
2. What are the general entrance requirements for Higher Diploma (HD) programmes?
Please see below a summary table of the general entrance requirements of HD programmes:
|
HKDSE Subjects |
Core Subjects |
Other Subjects |
|||
|
Chinese Language |
English Language |
1 |
2 |
3 |
|
|
Level Requirement |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
3. Will PolyU consider applicants who fall short slightly from the entrance requirements of degree programmes?
In 2020-21 admission exercise, applicants who fall short slightly on the general entrance requirements of our degree programmes but meet the following conditions will be specially considered for admission: (a) with one HKDSE subject result falling one level below the required level but attain a total score of 28 points* or above in the best five subjects (i.e. deemed equivalent to attaining at least Level 5 in 5 HKDSE subjects); (b) have selected PolyU's degree programmes as their Band A choices, i.e. first 3 priorities, in JUPAS; and (c) passed an admission interview.
* HKDSE level attainments will be converted to score points where Level 5**=8.5, 5*=7, 5=5.5, 4=4, 3=3, 2=2, 1=1 and Unclassified=0
4. If applicants have not taken the preferred subject(s) listed in the entrance requirement of a specific programme, would they be considered?
Yes, there is no mandatory subject requirement for individual programmes. Only preferred subjects, which carry the highest weighting in the calculation of admission scores, are listed. For admittees who have not studied the preferred subjects, they may need to take additional relevant underpinning subjects after admission so as to get the necessary foundation knowledge.
5. For students who have not taken Chinese Language in their secondary education, will they be considered for admission to PolyU?
Since Chinese Language is a core subject in HKDSE, all S6 students sitting for HKDSE are expected to either take the examination of Chinese Language or, where appropriate, the alternative Chinese Language. PolyU adopts a standardized arrangement for handling applicants’ alternative Chinese qualifications i.e. applicants endorsed by schools for meeting EDB’s specified circumstances and having achieved the required grade in Chinese in one of the examinations listed in the table below will be regarded as obtaining a Level 3 in HKDSE Chinese for meeting our entrance requirements for Degree and Higher Diploma programmes, and for calculation of the related admission scores. These cases will also be highlighted to departments concerned for their attention and suitable consideration.
|
Exam |
Level |
Min. Grade |
|
GCE |
O-Level |
C |
|
GCSE |
N/A |
C / 4 |
|
IGCSE |
N/A |
C / 4 |
|
HKDSE ApL(C) |
N/A |
Attained |
|
GCE |
A-Level |
E |
|
GCE |
AS-Level |
E |
6. Would other language subjects offered to students under the New Senior Secondary curriculum (i.e. French, German, Hindi, Japanese, Spanish and Urdu) be considered?
These other language subjects will be accepted as elective subjects. Grade E or above is required.
7. If students cannot get a Level 3 (for degree programmes) / Level 2 (for Higher Diploma programmes) for their HKDSE Chinese Language, could their results in other language subjects be used to replace the Chinese requirement?
No, they cannot.
8. Can IELTS / TOEFL results be used to meet the English Language requirement?
No, they cannot. All applicants seeking admission on the basis of HKDSE results are expected to meet the HKDSE English Language requirement.
9. Can Applied Learning (ApL) subjects be used to meet the entrance requirement?
Individual programmes will accept relevant Applied Learning (ApL) subjects as meeting the entrance requirements. For degree programmes, an attainment at Attained with Distinction (I) or above / Attained with Distinction (obtained in 2017 or before) in one relevant ApL subject can be used for meeting the elective subject requirements. For Higher Diploma programmes, Attained level will also be accepted. A maximum of two relevant ApL subjects can be used in meeting the requirement.
10. How would the Extended Modules of Mathematics be considered in meeting the entrance requirement?
For degree programmes, the Extended Modules of Mathematics will be treated as a single subject in meeting the entrance requirement.
For Higher Diploma programmes, students not having the level requirement for the other subject for meeting the general entrance requirement may be specially considered if they have attained Level 2 or above in one of the Extended modules of Mathematics. Please refer to Admission Selection for details.
Admission Score Calculation
11. What is the admission score calculation mechanism for PolyU programmes?
Individual programmes select either 5 or 6 HKDSE subjects for calculation of admission scores starting from 2017-18 admissions exercise. Admission score calculation mechanisms adopted by programmes looking for 5 subjects are either “Any Best 5 Subjects” or "Chinese & English Languages + Any Best 3 Subjects" while those looking for 6 subjects are either "Any Best 6 Subjects" or "4 Core + Best 2 Elective Subjects”. After all, individual programmes adopt only one of the mechanisms mentioned for calculating the admission score for initial prioritization of applicants.
The different score calculation mechanisms are as follows:
5 Subjects:
(i) Any Best 5 Subjects
The “best” 5 HKDSE subjects (after subject weightings have been applied) will be taken into account.
(ii) Chinese & English Languages + Any Best 3 Subjects
Chinese Language and English Language, plus any 3 “best” subjects (after subject weightings have been applied) will be taken into account.
6 Subjects:
(i) Any Best 6 Subjects
The “best” 6 HKDSE subjects (after subject weightings have been applied) will be taken into account.
(ii) 4 Core + Best 2 Elective Subjects
The 4 core subjects including Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics and Liberal Studies, plus 2 “best” elective subjects (after subject weightings have been applied) will be taken into account.
Applicants should check the admission score calculation mechanism of individual programmes under the respective programme entries at Study@PolyU. Examples illustrating how applicants’ admission scores are derived based on the above calculation mechanisms can be found here.
12. How would the Applied Learning (ApL) subjects be considered in the calculation of admission score?
Individual degree programmes will consider relevant Applied Learning (ApL) subjects. In the calculation of admission score for degree and Higher Diploma programmes, "Attained with Distinction (I)" and "Attained with Distinction" (obtained in 2017 or before) in relevant ApL subjects will be taken as Level 3, while "Attained with Distinction (II)" will be taken as Level 4. "Attained" in relevant ApL subjects will also be taken as Level 2 for consideration for Higher Diploma programmes. Only one relevant ApL subject can be used for calculation of the admission score for prioritization for degree programmes and no more than two relevant ApL subjects will be included in the calculation for Higher Diploma programmes.
13. How would the Extended Modules of Mathematics be considered in the calculation of admission score?
For degree programmes, the Extended Modules of Mathematics (i.e. M1 or M2) will be treated as a single subject in calculating the admission scores of JUPAS applicants. However, if students have taken both M1 and M2, they will only be considered as one subject and the best grade will be taken into consideration in admission score calculation.
For Higher Diploma programmes which have specified the Extended Modules of Mathematics (i.e. M1 or M2) as subjects with the highest weighting (please refer to "Entrance Requirements & Subject Weightings" under the respective programme entries at Study@PolyU), if the weighted subject score of M1 or M2 is higher than that of the "last best weighted subject", the "last best weighted subject", and M1 or M2 will each carry 50% weight in the admission score calculation.
Examples illustrating how applicants’ admission scores are derived with M1 or M2 being considered can be found here.
14. How would HKDSE attainments be considered in the calculation of admission scores?
The following conversion points are applied for HKDSE subjects:
Category A: Core and Elective Subjects Level Attainments |
Converted Level Points for Scores Calculation |
|
5** |
8.5 |
|
5* |
7 |
|
5 |
5.5 |
|
4 |
4 |
|
3 |
3 |
|
2 |
2 |
|
1 |
1 |
|
Unclassified |
0 |
| Category B: Applied Learning (ApL) Subjects Level Attainments |
Converted Level Points for Scores Calculation |
| Attained with Distinction (II) | 4 |
|
Attained with Distinction / Attained with Distinction (I) |
3 |
| Attained (for Higher Diploma only) | 2 |
| Category C: Other Language Subjects Grade Attainments | Converted Level Points for Scores Calculation |
| A | 5 |
| B | 4 |
| C | 3 |
| D | 2 |
| E | 1 |
| Unclassified | 0 |
The following subject weighting will be adopted for scores calculation:
|
Subject Type |
Weighting Value |
|
Core |
10 or 7 |
|
Preferred |
10 |
| Others |
7 or 5 |
15. Other than the subjects selected for calculation of the admission score for initial prioritization, will the remaining subjects be considered during admission selection?
The remaining subjects will be included in the calculation of the reference score which takes all subjects attempted into account.
16. How are subject weightings determined?
“Preferred” subjects of individual programmes will be given the highest weighting. Other subjects will be given appropriate weightings depending on their relevance to the programmes. Subjects with the highest weighting can be found under the programme information of individual programmes at Study@PolyU.
17. How would applicants with the same admission score be prioritized in the merit order list?
All HKDSE applicants will initially be prioritized based on the admission score. For applicants with the same admission score, programmes will make reference to their reference score which is an aggregation of all HKDSE subject results with subject weightings applied. An average score which is an average of all HKDSE Category A subject attempts without subject weightings applied, and interview / test performance may also be taken into account by some programmes when determining applicants’ priority on the merit order list, if any.
18. Will there be any cut-off admission score in considering HKDSE applicants?
Not for 2021.
Admission Selection
19. Would applicants’ other public examinations e.g. GCE, IB be considered?
For JUPAS applicants, only HKDSE subject attainments would be included in the admission score calculation. Attainments in other public examinations would be taken as reference only.
20. How would students’ Other Learning Experiences (OLE) be considered?
To support the all-round development of students, applicants with very outstanding performance in their other experiences and achievements (e.g. with awards / prizes attained in prominent competitions) will be favourably considered for admission if they have chosen PolyU programme(s) as their Band A choice(s) and meet the general entrance requirements of the University. For other students, their Other Learning Experiences (OLE) information may be used by departments as one of the references for shortlisting applicants for admission or interview / aptitude test.
21. How would PolyU shortlist applicants for interview before the announcement of HKDSE result?
Departments would consider information available in the JUPAS application form such as information provided by school principals in the Reference Report, academic performance of applicants in school, applicants’ band choice, other experiences & achievements (OEA) and additional information provided by the applicants.
22. Would Student Learning Profile (SLP) be considered?
Submission of Student Learning Profile (SLP) is optional. Applicants may submit it to the JUPAS Office or present their Student Learning Profile (SLP) during interview.
23. Does PolyU have its own admission tests in addition to HKDSE?
Some programmes may conduct their own aptitude tests to ascertain applicants’ specific aptitudes / competencies for particular disciplines.
24. How would admission quotas be distributed between JUPAS and Non-JUPAS applicants?
The proportion of non-JUPAS admittees would generally be around 20%.
25. Would there be any penalty for applicants repeating HKDSE?
PolyU all along considers multiple attempts without penalty. Similar subjects will be considered once and the best grade will be taken into consideration during admission selection.
26. Would JUPAS applicants who are studying a programme or have attained qualifications at the same level as the programmes for which they are applying be considered?
The study places offered by PolyU through JUPAS are intended primarily for admission of local school leavers. Applicants who are studying a programme or have attained qualifications at the same or above level as the programmes for which they are applying will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
27. How would non-local applicants with HKDSE results be considered under JUPAS?
Please note that local and non-local applicants are considered under different admission routes with different intake quotas. Non-local applicants seeking admission on the basis of HKDSE results should submit their applications directly to PolyU. Please click here for details on the admission requirements for non-local applicants.