The early admission for research postgraduate programs (MPhil/PhD) at HKU's School of Computing and Data Science for 2027 intake will officially open on April 1, 2026!
The early admission plan is open to outstanding undergraduate and master's students from top universities in mainland China and around the world.
HKU CDS Early Application Details
Application Period: April 1-30, 2026
Deadline: April 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM
Interviews: Mid-May 2026
Admission: September 1, 2027
Required Application Materials
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CV in English
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Optional research statement
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Other supporting documents such as transcripts, class rank, English proficiency proof, academic achievement certificates, optional GRE Subject scores, etc.
*All materials should ideally be provided in English. Official TOEFL or IELTS scores are not required at this stage. Applicants must indicate three research areas of interest in order of priority in their application materials.
Programs Available for Early Application
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Computer Science – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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Computer Science –Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
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Statistics and Actuarial Science – Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
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Statistics and Actuarial Science – Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
Application Process
Selection criteria are primarily based on academic performance, research ability and potential, communication skills, and English proficiency.
Interview Invitations:
Shortlisted applicants will be arranged to attend interviews in Hong Kong or online. International applicants residing outside of mainland China or Hong Kong can have remote interviews via Skype or Zoom.
*Due to the highly competitive selection process, only applicants with outstanding academic records will be invited for interviews. For example, undergraduate applicants from mainland China should be from a top 20 university in China and rank in the top 10% of their relevant major.
Notification of Results:
If you do not receive a reply from the university by the end of May, it means your application was not successful in the first round of screening, and no further notification will be sent.
Unsuccessful applicants from the first round will automatically proceed to the second round of review in September. Please do not resubmit your application.
Scholarships:
Eligible applicants may receive a Postgraduate Scholarship that provides a monthly stipend of HK$19,135 during the study period (4 years for PhD, 2 years for MPhil). In addition, an annual conference and research-related travel allowance of up to HK$13,500 is provided. HKU also encourages PhD applicants to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme and the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship.
Why HKU CDS is Worth Your While
HKU's School of Computing and Data Science boasts a strong faculty with many internationally renowned scholars in the fields of computing and data science.
Research areas cover statistics and actuarial science, machine learning and artificial intelligence, algorithms, bioinformatics, computer forensics, information security, computer vision and graphics, human-computer interaction, databases and data mining, networks, programming languages, quantum information and computing, systems, and more.
The University of Hong Kong is also actively expanding its presence in mainland China, establishing a new strategic base in Shanghai. HKU CDS has taken the lead in implementing dual-campus teaching in Shanghai and Hong Kong, with the first cohort of over 200 undergraduate and postgraduate students commencing their learning journey in Shanghai.
It is believed that the Shanghai-Hong Kong dual campuses will break geographical boundaries, allowing students to flexibly study in two global metropolises and fully experience high-quality educational resources and a broad development platform.
The admission pace of Hong Kong universities is accelerating, and the review process is increasingly moving towards the "holistic review" approach of U.S. graduate admissions. It is recommended that students whose backgrounds match, who have all materials prepared, and who have a clear intention to study at a Hong Kong institution consider applying early.
In any case, early planning, early application, and early offer acquisition remain the timeless "winning formula" for every application season.
CheersYou（清柚教育） wishes all students active preparation and success in securing admission to their dream schools!
