FAQs
| A. General Information | B. Programme Information |
| C. Admission Requirements | D. Application Procedures |
| E. Credit Transfer / Course Exemption | F. Fees |
| G. Student Visa & Employment |
A. General Information
Please click here for key dates and deadlines for the application period.
No late application will be accepted after Late Round application deadline.
Please refer to Key Dates and Deadlines for details.
Late application may be accepted subject to the discretion of relevant departments and availability of places during Late Round. No applications will be accepted after Late Round application deadline. As such, it is advised that applicants should submit their applications within the Early Round and Main Round application period.
There is no pre-set intake quota for non-JUPAS admission. Applicants from different schemes will be considered equally. The academic units will give the admission offers to the best qualified applicants as long as they fulfil the relevant entrance requirements.
The University will take into consideration all information provided by applicants, such as academic qualifications as indicated by their public examination results (including the relevancy of the subjects to the study programmes concerned), the preference order of their study programme choices, interview performance (if applicable), professional qualifications, interests, working experience, suitability, potential, personal qualities and other factors which individual academic units consider relevant.
There is only one intake in every September.
Non-local applicants are holders of:
| a) | Student visa / Entry permit | |
| b) | Visa / Entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) | |
| c) | Dependant visa / Entry permit who were 18 years old or above when they were issued with such visa / entry permit by the Director of Immigration of the HKSAR (This definition has been reviewed and redefined by the Education Bureau (EDB) in November 2018.) |
Applicants applying for admission on the strength of the Joint Entrance Examination for Universities in PRC (Gao Kao) in 2024 should visit the Mainland Admissions website for details.
B. Programme Information
Please click here for details.
Yes. The University offers full-time self-financed undergraduate programmes. Please click here for details.
Apart from language courses and courses in the Chinese and the Translation Departments, the University uses mainly English as the language of instruction, and this may be supplemented with Cantonese/Putonghua where appropriate.
The University academic year starts at the beginning of September and ends at the end of August in the following calendar year. The academic year consists of two terms, each covering approximately 15 weeks of academic activities, and where appropriate there may be an intensive summer term usually of a shorter duration.
The normal study load of a full-time first year student should be 15 in a term and the maximum study load should be 30 credits in an academic year. For a second year or above full-time student, the normal study load in a term should be in the range of 15 to 18 credits and the maximum study load in an academic year should be 33 credits.
C. Admission Requirements
Please click here for admission requirements. For details, please refer to the Admissions Brochure.
Applicants with qualification other than the admission requirements of the University will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants are advised to submit document proof of all equivalent qualifications such as transcripts, certificates and public examination results via the Online Admission System when they apply for admission.
The University adopts a credit-based system in undergraduate studies. An applicant who has successfully graduated from a recognised full-time Associate Degree (AD)/Higher Diploma (HD) programme with duration of at least two years offered by a post-secondary institution with suitable credit transfers is considered to be eligible for admission to Year 3 (senior year places) and/or Year 2. Applicants holding other academic qualifications are considered to be eligible for admission to Year 1.
The designated year of admission does not reflect the number of credits the student earned for fulfilment of curriculum requirements and the expected duration before he/she can graduate. The actual number of transfer credits to be granted for fulfilment of curriculum requirements will follow the relevant academic regulations regarding credit transfer, which is subject to a maximum of 60 credits (for Year 3 students)/30 credits (for Year 2 students). As such, the student may require longer period than normative programme duration for fulfilling the curriculum requirements (i.e. may require more than two years for Year 3 students/three years for Year 2 students). Please click here for details.
Yes. Chinese Mainland citizens are eligible to apply for Non-local Student Scholarships.
However, applicants for self-financed undergraduate programmes are not eligible for scholarships.
The University will take into consideration all information provided by applicants, such as academic qualifications as indicated by their public examination results (including the relevancy of the subjects to the study programmes concerned), the preference order of their study programme choices, interview performance (if applicable), professional qualifications, interests, working experience, suitability, potential, personal qualities and other factors which individual academic units consider relevant.
No. The University adopts a merit-based admission policy by which the best qualified candidates are admitted to our undergraduate programmes irrespective of the announcement dates of applicants’ public examination results.
Except those specified in Admission Requirements, there is no specific requirement on cumulative GPA or results of particular public examination.
Please click here for the English language requirements.
If the public English examination result is not available at the time of application for admission, applicants can submit the result to the University after submission of the application via the Online Application System once the result is released. Applicants can arrange for their public English examination results to be sent directly to Lingnan University.
The institution codes for LU are as follows:
| AP/SAT | 4791 |
| TOEFL | 9303 |
| IELTS | 4662 |
| ACT | 2850 |
No. Overseas applicants are NOT required to have a good command of written and spoken Chinese (Cantonese/Putonghua) for admission. Our Chinese Language Education and Assessment Centre (CLEAC) will assess the Chinese language ability of each overseas admittee and decide whether they need to take the required Chinese language courses or take some other courses to fulfil the curriculum credits requirement. The students can take any other Chinese language courses, third language courses or free electives.
CLEAC also offers several courses for our international non-Chinese speaking students who need a basic understanding of Cantonese or Mandarin.
Starting from 2020 intake, non-local applicants who seek admissions to undergraduate programmes on the strength of Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) examination should apply for admission directly to the University.
D. Application Procedures
Submitting Online Application
Please click here for details of application procedures.
For UGC-funded undergraduate programmes
Applicants may indicate their preferences for up to three different study programmes. However, only one offer will be made to applicants if they are selected for admission.
Applicants can make up to three choices of study programmes by submitting up to three different applications in ONE application account. Their fourth and subsequent applications will not be accepted by the Online Application System (System).
Applicants are advised to read carefully the Instructions for Completing Online Application and make thorough consideration accordingly before submission of their applications.
For Self-financed undergraduate programmes
There is no limit on number of programme choices for application for admission to self-financed undergraduate programmes. Applicants can apply for both UGC-funded and self-financed undergraduate programmes at the same time in ONE application account.
No. Applicants can make up to three choices of study programmes in ONE application account. Please note that only the first submitted application account will be processed. Duplicate application account(s) or programme choice(s) will not be processed, and the application fees paid will NOT be transferred and/or refunded.
Applicants may indicate clearly their public examination and examination subjects to be taken in the coming year in the fields of "Examination/Qualification/Level" and "Exam Subject" respectively, and enter "Pending" in the field of "Grade/Score" under the section of "Results in other public examinations and/or in subjects not listed above". Applicants could then submit their applications via the Online Admission System before the application deadline. Once the public examination results are released, applicants could upload such examination results to the System.
If applicants have any outstanding grades/scores available and need to change the data stored in the System after submission of application, they should inform the Registry by email ([email protected]) with proof of amendment/update immediately. Please quote the application number and full name in all enquiries and correspondence with the University.
You could submit your application via the Online Admission System before the application deadline. You may indicate clearly your public examination to be taken and enter "Pending" in the field of "Grade". Once your public examination result is released, you could upload such examination result to the System, and inform the Registry by email ([email protected]) for updating the results in the application form.
Please note that the deadline to upload additional supporting documents is 31 August 2024 as the System will close accordingly.
Applicants are advised to submit document proof of all equivalent qualifications such as transcripts, certificates, testimonials and public examination results via the Online Admission System when they apply for admission. Each application will be considered on an individual basis, taking into consideration all relevant information provided by applicants. Please note that submitted documents will NOT be returned.
If applicants are studying or have completed a post-secondary programme, they should request each institution they have attended to send an official transcript DIRECTLY to the Registry of the University in a sealed envelope by post (Undergraduate Admissions and Records Section, Registry, Lingnan University, 8 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong) if they are offered admission. Please note that submitted documents will NOT be returned.
Applicants can upload/submit their reference letters/employment certificates provided by their school principal(s)/academic referee(s) or employer(s). Please note that submitted documents will NOT be returned.
In support of an application for the Non-local Student Scholarships, applicants should provide a letter(s) of reference on their non-academic performance and at least one Confidential Report. The letter of reference must be in hard copy on official letterhead, signed and dated by the person providing the recommendation on applicants' non-academic performance. Meanwhile, they should invite their school principal(s)/academic referee(s) to complete and send the Confidential Report in a sealed envelope to Undergraduate Admissions Office, Registry, Lingnan University, 8 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong.
For application to be considered, applicants should submit officially translated copies of the documents certified by the issuing institutions/relevant authorities, together with photocopies of the documents.
Applicants can view and check their supporting documents in their application account by login to the Online Admission System.
Applicants should complete all sections in the online application and are responsible for ensuring the information given in support of the application is accurate and complete. The University reserves the right not to process any incomplete applications.
After Submitting Application
An acknowledgement with an assigned application number will be sent to the applicants by email after they have submitted the application. Submitted application(s) will also be shown in the "Submitted Application" section of the Application Menu in the Online Admission System. If applicants have submitted application(s) successfully but do not receive any acknowledgement email(s), please contact the Registry at [email protected].
Applicants are advised to print/save a copy of the completed application form submitted for retention. Applicants can also check their application status via the System.
No. Any request on change or re-prioritisation of the programme choices after submission of application for admission will NOT be accepted.
Yes. If you have wrongly submitted the programme choice(s), you may create a new application account (i.e. a new login ID) to submit correct programme choice(s) and pay the application fee again. You MUST inform the Registry by email ([email protected]) your correct application number immediately, otherwise all your application account(s) will NOT be processed.
In support of applications for admissions, applicants are advised to select the most relevant supporting documents to be provided.
Applicants can provide additional supporting documents after they have submitted their applications. Applicants may login to the System and upload the supporting documents once ready or send us the information or documents by email ([email protected]) or by fax ((852) 2572 5178 or (852) 2454 4379) or by post (Undergraduate Admissions and Records Section, Registry, Lingnan University, 8 Castle Peak Road, Tuen Mun, Hong Kong) as soon as they can. Please note that the deadline to upload additional supporting documents is 31 August 2024 as the System will close accordingly.
For any additional documents submitted via email/fax/post, the Registry will upload them to the System within 7 working days. Applicants are advised to check the uploading status via the System and not to contact the Registry within the said timeframe.
Before submission of application, if applicants need to change the data stored in the System, they may amend/update and save data directly via the System. Yet, after submission of application, they should inform the Registry by email ([email protected]) with proof of amendment/update immediately. Please quote the application number and full name in all enquiries and correspondence with the University.
If applicants have forgotten their password after submitted online applications, they may click "Forgot Password" on the System. The password will be sent to applicants via email shortly.
No. Applicants are responsible for using the correct application route, and ensuring the information given in support of the application is accurate and complete. Applicants are not allowed to transfer their submitted applications to other application routes, and the application fees paid are non-refundable and/or non-transferable.
Applicants may wish to re-apply via the correct application route and pay the application fee again if the application period of the said route is still open. If the application period of a particular application route was closed, the University will not be held responsible for any consequences that may arise.
Interview Arrangement
Admission criteria for different programmes vary and applicants may either be admitted directly or shortlisted for interview to determine their eligibility for admission. For some programmes, applicants may also be required to take an oral and/or written test.
If an interview is required, the University will inform applicants by phone, email or by post. For non-local applicants, interviews may be conducted by phone or through tele-conferencing. Applicants can also check their application status by login to the Online Admission System.
Application Results
Applications will be processed on a rolling basis in which successful applicants will normally be informed of the application results within one month after all necessary application materials and supporting documents are submitted properly. Successful applicants who are given an offer/conditional offer of admission will be informed via email/phone from November 2023 onwards. Successful scholarship applicants will normally be informed from December 2023 onwards.
To accept and secure the offer/conditional offer of admission, successful applicants must pay a down payment before the stipulated deadline. They will receive information on offer acceptance procedures when received admission offer, and visa application (for non-local students) and reporting procedures at a later stage.
Applicants shall assume their applications are unsuccessful if they do not receive our notification by 4 September 2024.
Applicants with conditional offers are required to provide documentary proof to substantiate their fulfilment of the stipulated condition(s) before the specified deadline. They will be considered as having met the admission condition(s). No confirmation proof will be issued subsequently.
Down payment paid will ONLY be refunded if an applicant has accepted a conditional offer but unable to fulfil the stipulated admission condition(s). In such case, applicants should apply to the Registry in writing with document proof.
Admission offers of Lingnan University cannot be deferred to subsequent years under any circumstances.
E. Credit Transfer / Course Exemption
If an applicant submits an online application and has qualifications from post-secondary institutions (such as Associate Degree, Higher Diploma, etc.) and wishes to apply for credit transfer/course exemption upon admission, please complete an Application for Credit Transfer/Course Exemption form. Please read the instructions of the form carefully before apply. When an applicant completed the form, please upload it, together with copies of academic results, in the "Upload Center" of the System.
The number of credits transferred depends on whether an applicant has completed courses which correspond to (and at comparable levels as) the courses in the study programme concerned at Lingnan University. Normally, a student may not be granted more than 50% of the required number of credits for an academic award or the Minor Programme.
For more details, please refer to Credit Transfer and Course Exemption for Undergraduate Programmes.
Applicants are advised to submit the completed Application for Credit Transfer/Course Exemption form along with their applications for direct admission. When applicants completed the form, please upload it, together with copies of academic results, in the "Upload Center" of the Online Admission System.
When a student is granted credit transfer for a course, the student will be exempted from taking a similar course offered by the University and he/she will be granted with equivalent credits.
When a student is granted course exemption for a course, the student will be exempted from taking a similar course offered by the University. However, credits are not granted, and he/she needs to take another course to make up for the total number of credits required for graduation.
If the results of some courses are not available at the time of application, you may mark "Pending" in the section of "Grade/Score" of the course in the Credit Transfer/Course Exemption form.
F. Fees
Please click here for details of application fees.
Applicants can settle the application fee by using a VISA/MasterCard credit card or UnionPay credit/debit card. They will receive an acknowledgement by email once they have paid and submitted their applications online.
No. We only accept VISA/MasterCard credit cards and UnionPay credit/debit cards for online application.
If you do not have a credit/debit card, you may ask a third party (e.g. your relatives/friends) to settle the online payment.
Please click here for details of tuition fees.
Non-local students for UGC-funded programmes can apply for a residential place during their period of study at Lingnan University. Please click here for details of hostel fee.
Non-local students are not eligible for Hong Kong government grants or loans. However, as non-local applicants of UGC-funded (Government-funded) programmes, they may wish to consider applying for our Non-local Student Scholarships. Full Scholarship (covering tuition, hostel and partial academic and living expenses), Half Scholarship, Full-tuition Scholarship or Half-tuition Scholarship per academic year will be awarded to successful applicants. Each Scholarship is offered on an annual renewable basis and is tenable for a period of up to the normative duration of study, subject to continued outstanding academic performance.
Late applications for Non-local Student Scholarships will be considered on availability basis.
Other Scholarships and Prizes are available here.
Applicants of self-financed programmes are not eligible for scholarships.
G. Student Visa & Employment
The University will assist non-local students to apply for a student visa (if applicable) upon admission. Students will be informed of the details of visa application if they are offered admission to one of the undergraduate programmes.
According to the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government, full-time non-local students of programmes at undergraduate level or above whose study period is not less than one academic year may take up part-time on-campus employment, as well as full-time summer jobs on or off campus. Working hours, however, shall not exceed 20 hours per week, and that any unused hours cannot be rolled over from one week to another. As for summer employment during the period from 1 June to 31 August, there is no restriction on the work hours/type/location of part-time employment. Please visit the website of the Immigration Department for latest information.
According to the Immigration Department of the HKSAR Government, full-time non-local graduates of programmes at degree level or above may apply to stay and work in the HKSAR. Under the "Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates" (IANG), full-time non-local graduates can apply for 12 months' stay upon graduation without first securing an offer of employment upon application. Successful applicants are free to take up and change employment during their permitted stay. Please visit the website of the Immigration Department for latest information.