FAQ - For JUPAS Students

The HKUST School of Engineering offers a dual track admission framework which students can enter the School through either school-based admission or department-based admission.  There are altogether 8 application choices for you to choose from – 

Yes and No, the ENGG+AI Flagship Program is not entirely brand new, but it has been upgraded from the current one.  To meet the skyrocketing global demand for technology leaders, the HKUST School of Engineering (SENG) has revamped the ENGG+AI program into a School-based admissions Flagship Program to nurture the next generation of technological innovators.

If you are a high-achieving student who wants to stand at the forefront of the tech blooming era, the ENGG+AI Flagship Program (JUPAS code: JS5282) is engineered to facilitate your aspirations and support you at every stage of your success journey. This program pathway is built for ambitious minds who are ready to meet the challenges, broaden their horizons with global perspectives and strategically plan ahead to pave their way for the next generation of technology leaders.  This pathway elevates your potential while keeping your academic and career options completely open.

One of the great program features is to allow you to explore various engineering disciplines in Year 1 before freely choosing any major department with no quota restrictions. Combined with benefits, guaranteed global learning opportunities, 6-month co-op programs, industry executive mentorship, and accelerated postgraduate pathways along with scholarships, this program is the launchpad to position you as a next-generation technology leader.

You can drop the Extended Major in AI anytime throughout your 4 years of study with us if you are determined that you don’t like it.  However, you may understand that AI is all around us nowadays.  It is definitely something good for students to learn.  Our Extended Major in AI is not intended to train specialists in AI.  Rather, we want to equip our graduates with knowledge in AI by integrating AI into the engineering curriculum.  Graduates with AI knowledge can apply it to their major engineering domain and enjoy a competitive edge over their peers.

Sure, students admitted through department-based admission will be able to apply for opting in the Extended Major in AI at the end of Year 1, except those admitted to the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), the BEng in Computer Engineering (CPEG) Program, as well as the BSc in Data Science and Technology (DSCT) Program which is jointly offered by our School with the School of Science. The CSE Department, CPEG Program and DSCT Program do not offer the option of Extended Major in AI to their students due to the close proximity of the programs.

From 2027 cohort onwards, students admitted from the revamped school-based ENGG+AI Flagship Program are offered guaranteed choice to all engineering department during the major selection. Given the limited quota the Flagship program will offer, keen competitions for admission are expected.

Students must first fulfill the minimum admission requirements.  For calculating the admission score, we require three subjects (English, Math, and one Best Science Subject).  Students may use ICT in lieu of the Science elective.  Other than these 3 required subjects, the admission score includes any two other Category A subjects, including M1 / M2. Please refer to the 2027 score formulae and the specific subject weightings at the JUPAS webpage for details. Students will also be given bonus points up to 5% if they have taken the 6th subject.

Apart from academic performance, student achievements and participation in activities (especially science or engineering related) recorded in Other Experiences and Achievements in Competitions / Activities (OEA) and Student Learning Profile (SLP) will also be considered.  In general, bonus of not exceeding 5% will be given based on non-academic performance such as OEA / SLP; Admission is largely based on academic results. 

HKUST will continue to adopt the Flexible Admissions Arrangement for the 2027 intake. If you perform well overall in the HKDSE but miss the minimum Chinese Language requirement by exactly one level, you may still be considered under this arrangement. To be eligible, your overall weighted admission score for your chosen HKUST Engineering program must meet or exceed the 2026 intake's admission median score, and the program must be placed in your JUPAS Band A choices. If you meet these conditions, you will be automatically considered for the flexible arrangement without the need for a separate application.

The School takes the best scores that students attained, applying the different weightings for science subject and ICT.  In the end, the School will count the best scores and subject combination in calculating the admission scores.

We require one Science elective (Biology / Chemistry / Physics / ICT).  If students take more than one Science subject, the best Science subject is counted as the first Science subject with a specific subject weighting.  The second Science elective, as well as M1 / M2, can be used in the calculation of scores for the two other best subjects, each with a specific weighting.  Hence, students with a stronger background in Mathematics, Science, or ICT may have some advantages.

Yes, students can sit for HKDSE again and reapply with their new results. Applications that include HKDSE results obtained 4 years or older will be considered on a case-by-case basis. For those who do not choose to retake the exam but enroll in sub-degree programs (e.g. Associate Degree / Higher Diploma), they can seek admission to HKUST directly.  Students who will have completed only the first year of study in a local sub-degree (associate degree or higher diploma) program can apply for Year 1 entry to School-based admission or department-based admission choices.

Those who will have completed the entire sub-degree program can apply for admission to specific programs directly. Places have been reserved for articulation by sub-degree program graduates.  Entry is normally to senior year.  Alternatively, if they wish to explore other engineering disciplines that are different from the sub-degree programs that they have completed, they can also apply for admission to Engineering with Extended Major in Artificial Intelligence for year 1 entry through school-based admission and follow a new engineering discipline after major selection.

It depends on which qualifications you wish to use for applying for admission.  If you apply with HKDSE through JUPAS, we would look at your HKDSE results.  On the other hand, if you wish to apply to us with your Associate Degree / Higher Diploma program, you should apply to us through the Direct Entry route by submitting the application directly to HKUST.  In the case of applying with Associate Degree / Higher Diploma qualification (no matter whether you are in Year 1 or Year 2 of the program), Chinese Language is not required.  Please also read Q.10 above.

To be fair, each student can only compete in one admission route.  You can apply either through JUPAS or Direct Entry.

Our quota for 2027 intake is 667. The ENGG+AI Flagship program has a local quota of 28.

From 2020 onwards, non-local students (i.e. students who need a student visa to study in Hong Kong or apply for a dependent visa for the first time after reaching the age of 18) can no longer participate in the JUPAS exercise.  Instead, they must apply directly to universities.  For enquiries regarding your status in Hong Kong, please contact the Education Bureau of the Government of the HKSAR.

Personal Statement helps us to understand you better.  It is a free writing of student's idea, but if you are interested in our School, you may elaborate more on the reason why you like engineering or science, achievement in recognized competitions, service performance, etc.

If you are applying with HKDSE results that were obtained in or before 2023, we encourage you to detail your education background and learning experiences after taking the HKDSE examination. This will help us evaluate your profile and consider your admission more effectively.