PolyU Admission Scores 2025: JUPAS DSE Scoring Fully Explained

In 2025 (the latest official figures currently available), the median admission score for the Radiography programme was 339.0, while Applied Social Sciences required just 171.5. Both numbers come from the same JUPAS admissions table; both are PolyU undergraduate programmes. The gap is not about the calibre of admitted students — it is about "subject weighting," an invisible ruler that distorts everything.

This article focuses on undergraduate entry routes, admissions requirements and scoring mechanisms at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU). Admissions data age quickly; always defer to the latest official figures for the year in question. The core data here cover 2025 entry (admission scores, verified against the latest official figures in September 2026) and 2026/2027 entry (thresholds/fees/application cycle), with each item dated accordingly. Last compiled: September 2026.

There are four main routes into PolyU's undergraduate programmes:

PolyU has no college system (unlike CUHK's college allocation mechanism). Undergraduates belong solely to their faculty/department and are not assigned to colleges; hence this article has no "college choice" section.

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# 1. JUPAS Admissions (HKDSE)

JUPAS (Joint University Programmes Admissions System)^※ is the main route for HKDSE candidates into UGC-funded degree programmes. The overwhelming majority of PolyU's local places are allocated through it.

# 1.1 Minimum Entrance Requirement: Core Subjects at "3-3-2-2 + Attained"

According to PolyU's JUPAS general entrance requirements page^※, the minimum HKDSE requirement for PolyU's full-time UGC-funded bachelor's programmes is:

PolyU's page adds that "Attained" in Citizenship and Social Development (CSD) is a necessary condition for admission but is "not counted in the admission score." Repeaters of the old curriculum who took "Liberal Studies" in 2023/24 or earlier and have not since taken CSD will have "Level 2 or above in Liberal Studies" treated as "Attained" in CSD (per PolyU's JUPAS general entrance requirements page^※). Meeting the minimum requirement does not guarantee admission; each programme imposes its own specific requirements (e.g. designated electives, weighting, interviews).

# 1.2 How Admission Scores Are Calculated: Grade Conversion and Subject Weighting

To understand PolyU admission scores, two things must be grasped first — grade conversion and subject weighting.

(a) HKDSE grade conversion (PolyU's official scale):

According to PolyU's JUPAS admission score calculation FAQ^※, HKDSE grades convert to "grade points" as follows:

This is the "8.5-point scale" commonly used by Hong Kong's five universities (HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU and CityU): 5** carries 8.5 points (not 7). It cannot be directly compared with the old "7-point scale."

(b) Scoring mechanism: PolyU programmes generally calculate admission scores on 5 subjects. According to PolyU's JUPAS scheme/programme requirements page^※, there are two scoring mechanisms:

• "Any Best 5 Subjects" — used by the vast majority of programmes;
• "Chinese & English Languages + Any Best 3 Subjects" — used only by English and Applied Linguistics (JS3240).

(c) 6th-subject bonus (from 2025/26): From 2025/26 admission onwards, some programmes have added the option of an "additional bonus score for the 6th subject with Level 3 or above" (e.g. Architecture, Civil Engineering, Speech Therapy, Chinese History and Culture, and English and Applied Linguistics state this explicitly — see PolyU's 2025 JUPAS admissions figures PDF^※). After cross-checking the latest official data in September 2026, this site confirms that three health-sciences programmes — Radiography, Medical Laboratory Science and Optometry — also adopted this bonus from 2025/26 (see the table in the next section).

(d) Subject weighting: According to PolyU's admission score calculation FAQ^※, each programme's designated "preferred subjects" receive the highest weighting, with other subjects weighted in rough proportion to their relevance; the exact multipliers are not published in the FAQ — applicants must consult each programme's "score calculator." Because weighting magnifies scores, the nominal "weighted 5-subject score" of a PolyU programme can far exceed the unweighted theoretical maximum of "5 subjects × 8.5 = 42.5." In the admissions figures below, healthcare and nursing programmes routinely exceed 200 or even 300 points precisely because of weighting. Scores across programmes with different scoring rules/weighting cannot be compared horizontally.

# 1.3 Programme Admission Scores (2025 Entry — Latest Official Figures)

PolyU updates its JUPAS (HKDSE) Admissions Figures annually, listing each programme's "average HKDSE scores with subject weighting" plus median and lower quartile. Per PolyU's official JUPAS Admissions Figures PDF^※: "Students admitted through STARS with conditional offers are excluded"; and "The information provided below are the HKDSE examination results of offered applicants in the JUPAS main round." In other words, the figures reflect only the HKDSE results of those admitted in the main round, and all numbers are "weighted" and for reference only (the official page notes that results fluctuate year to year and some programmes also factor in interviews/band choices).

Correction at this refresh (Sept 2026): Following a page-by-page check of the official PDF, the figures this table previously labelled "2025 entry" for the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences were in fact those of the 2024 entry cohort (when Radiography, Physiotherapy and others were admitted in combined schemes and had no 6th-subject bonus). The table below has now been corrected to the true 2025 intake (September 2025 entry; the latest official figures available), with the 2024 cohort retained for historical comparison. As of this compilation in September 2026, PolyU has not yet released actual admissions data for the "2026 entry" (September 2026 intake) — the most recent section of the official PDF still reads "2025." Last year's document (2025 intake) was refreshed in mid-September 2025, so the 2026 figures will likely appear on a similar schedule during 2026; defer to the official page when they do.

Faculty of Health and Social Sciences (healthcare and nursing — PolyU's highest nominal scores)

† In 2024, Medical Laboratory Science was admitted jointly with Radiography under the "Scheme in Medical Laboratory Science and Radiography." From 2025 the two split into separate JS codes (JS3612 / JS3478), each admitting independently. ‡ For Occupational Therapy in 2025, the official PDF lists a lower quartile (279.5) higher than the median (278.0). The figures are reproduced exactly as in the official PDF, which offers no explanation; readers should consult the official PDF for verification.

Faculty of Science / Faculty of Engineering / Faculty of Business (selection, 2025 entry; matching the latest official data, unchanged)

Note: the table shows "weighted" scores. Because weighting factors vary by programme, a higher score does not mean "better students." High-scoring programmes such as Medical Laboratory Science, Radiography, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy tend to weight science subjects (Biology/Chemistry/Physics) and Mathematics heavily, inflating their nominal scores. For the full programme-by-programme list, consult the official PDF.

# 1.4 Interviews / Portfolios

• Per the official admissions figures PDF, some programmes take into account applicants' "other records, interview performance and/or band choices" — i.e. non-academic assessment on top of scores (per PolyU's 2025 JUPAS admissions figures PDF^※).
• School of Design programmes (e.g. JS3569) generally require a portfolio and/or interview;
• Healthcare programmes (Nursing, Radiography, Physiotherapy/Occupational Therapy, Optometry, etc.) and some others hold interviews to assess communication skills and professional suitability (check each programme page for details).

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# 2. Non-JUPAS / International and Other Qualifications Admissions

For local and non-local applicants who do not apply on HKDSE results. Per PolyU's International and Other Qualifications · general entrance requirements page^※, the main accepted qualifications and indicative thresholds are:

# 2.1 Credit Transfer

According to the same page^※, applicants with strong IB or A-Level (or similar) results may receive credit transfer of up to 25% towards the four-year curriculum (theoretically shortening the duration of study); the actual award is determined by the department based on subjects previously completed.

# 2.2 English Language Requirements

Per PolyU's International and Other Qualifications · English language requirements page^※, non-local/international applicants must satisfy one of the following English requirements (results generally valid for two years):

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# 3. Mainland Chinese Gaokao Applicants (JEE · Independent Admissions)

PolyU is one of the few Hong Kong institutions that recruit mainland gaokao candidates independently (outside the mainland's unified admissions system and early-batch arrangements).

# 3.1 Admissions Mechanism (2026 Entry)

Per PolyU's "Mainland China Gaokao Applicants" page^※ and the application procedures page^※:

Unlike CUHK and HKU, which admit mainland students through the mainland's centralized "early batch" (candidates list the relevant codes in their gaokao application form and provincial exam authorities deliver files after results are released), PolyU operates a "direct application + independent admission" route: candidates submit applications and results to PolyU after sitting the gaokao, and PolyU assesses them on its own. The two are different systems; do not confuse them. Status of the 2027 intake: As of this compilation in September 2026, PolyU's mainland gaokao application procedures page^※ still covers the 2026 cycle and has not yet been updated to 2027. In previous years the page has been refreshed around October for the next cycle; applicants eyeing 2027 entry should watch for the official announcement.

# 3.2 Qualification Routes: HKDSE / Gaokao / International Curriculum

Mainland-resident students arrive via different school systems, and the route differs accordingly:

• Students who sit the mainland gaokao → apply via the JEE independent admissions route above, directly to PolyU;
• Students studying HKDSE in Hong Kong → apply via JUPAS if they hold "local student" status, otherwise via Non-JUPAS;
• Students studying IB / A-Level / US high school or other international curricula → apply via the Non-JUPAS/international route (thresholds in Section 2), not through the gaokao unified system.

In short: for two students with mainland household registration, which track they take depends on whether they sit the gaokao — gaokao candidates follow JEE independent admissions; international-curriculum students follow the non-JUPAS/international route. Public debates over whether an international curriculum is a "shortcut around the gaokao" are value judgments; this article makes no factual ruling.

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# 4. HK/Macau/Taiwan and Other Non-local Qualifications

• JEE for HK/Macau/Taiwan Students: total 600/750 or above will be considered (per PolyU's International and Other Qualifications · general entrance requirements page^※);
• Other overseas qualifications (OSSD, ATAR, UEC/STPM, Singapore-Cambridge GCE, etc.): assessed case-by-case via PolyU's online application system, subject to the relevant qualification and English requirements;
• All non-local applicants pay an application fee of HK$500 (per PolyU's undergraduate fees page^※).

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# 5. Coverage Check and Known Gaps

• Official hard data (dated/sourced): the 3-3-2-2 + Attained threshold; the 8.5-point conversion scale; the two scoring mechanisms plus the 6th-subject bonus; 2025 entry admission scores (latest available) — Radiography 339.0 / Physiotherapy 320.0 / Occupational Therapy 278.0 / Optometry 277.8 / Nursing 218.0 / Medical Laboratory Science 309.0, with 2024 historical comparisons alongside; non-JUPAS thresholds of IB 32 / A-Level 3B / SAT 1190 / gaokao 600; English requirements of IELTS 6.0 / TOEFL 80 — all taken directly from PolyU's admissions website and official admissions figures PDF.
• 2026 entry data: as of this compilation in September 2026, PolyU has not released actual JUPAS admissions figures for the 2026 intake (September 2026 entry). This article makes no predictions or fabrications; it will be updated once official data appear.
• Weighting factors: PolyU's official FAQ does not publish subject-by-subject weighting multiples (it says only that "preferred subjects" get the highest weighting), so this article lists no specific multiples — it merely notes that weighting inflates nominal scores.
• Mainland provincial quotas: the official position is that no fixed provincial quotas exist (candidates from all 31 provinces may apply), so no provincial allocation table is given.
• Not applicable to PolyU: PolyU has no college system, so there is no "college allocation" section; mainland recruitment is via independent admissions, not the unified early batch used by CUHK/HKU, and this difference is flagged explicitly.

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# 6. Application Timeline and Key Dates

The following are indicative timelines for the JUPAS and JEE (mainland gaokao) routes (subject to official announcements each year):

# 6.1 JUPAS Timeline (Local HKDSE Candidates — Official Dates for 2027 Entry)

According to the JUPAS official calendar^※ and JUPAS's official key dates page^※, official dates for 2027 entry (September 2027 intake) have been published:

The table covers the 2027 intake (for the next cohort of HKDSE candidates). The now-completed 2026 intake followed the same structure, one year earlier, so it is not repeated here. JUPAS notes that all dates are "subject to change"; defer to the official site for the current cycle.

# 6.2 JEE (Mainland Gaokao) Timeline (2026 Entry Cycle, for Reference)

Actual deadlines and assessment rounds will follow the announcements on PolyU's official website for the relevant year. The 2027 JEE application procedures had not yet been published as of this compilation; this site will track official updates.

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# 7. Scholarships and Financial Support (Before and After Enrolment)

# 7.1 Admission Scholarships (Awarded by PolyU)

Per PolyU's admissions and scholarships pages:

Quotas, amounts and criteria are adjusted year by year; defer to the Scholarships and Financial Assistance Office's announcement for the current cycle.

# 7.2 Government-Backed Loans

Local students may apply for Government-Subsidised Student Loans (GSSL/NLSLS) recognised by the UGC, offering low- or no-interest Government loans to cover tuition and living costs. Applications are processed through PolyU's Student Financial Assistance Office.

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# 8. Pre-enrolment Checklist for Incoming Students

After a formal offer is accepted, new students generally need to complete the following:

1. Offer acceptance: confirm acceptance of the offer online within the stipulated deadline;
2. Deposit / first instalment of tuition: some programmes require an advance payment to secure the place;
3. Enrolment formalities: upload identity documents, submit a health declaration, and sign the enrolment agreement;
4. Hall application: non-local students receive priority in hall placement; applications must be submitted within a specified period after acceptance;
5. Student ID card (iCard): issued at first registration; used for the library, halls, sports facilities, etc.;
6. Visa/entry permit (mainland/international students): mainland students must apply for a "Hong Kong student visa/entry permit" before arriving in Hong Kong, within a limited window;
7. Bank account: opening a local bank account is recommended for receiving grants and scholarships.

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# 9. Special Requirements for Health-related Programmes

PolyU's healthcare programmes (Radiography, Physiotherapy, Optometry, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, etc.) impose additional requirements beyond academic scores:

• Interview: nearly all healthcare programmes hold an interview round, usually around the release of HKDSE results, assessing communication skills, motivation and case-handling ability;
• Police record certificate: programmes such as Nursing and Physiotherapy may require a certificate of no criminal conviction after admission;
• Physical/colour vision requirements: some programmes (Radiography, Optometry, etc.) have vision and colour-vision standards;
• Pre-clinical health check: before commencing clinical placements, students must complete the health examinations specified by the University.

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