1. The dates to watch right now

• 20 October 2026: PolyU, early-round deadline for September 2027 taught postgraduate entry
• 23 October 2026: PolyU, deadline for January 2027 entry
• 1 December 2026: HKU Faculty of Engineering, main-round deadline for taught MSc programmes

(All dates are taken from official university websites as of 11 October 2026.)

2. What’s different this year

Earlier openings, earlier deadlines. Many universities opened applications in August or September rather than around October. First-round deadlines are now clustered in October and November, roughly two to four weeks earlier than in previous years.

Rolling admissions are the norm. Most taught programmes review applications as they arrive and close once places are filled. Applying early means competing for a larger pool of places.

More rounds doesn’t mean equal chances. A programme may list three or four deadlines, but later rounds usually have far fewer places left. For competitive fields such as business, computer science, AI and data science, aim for the first round.

3. University-by-university overview

PolyU

• September 2027 entry: over 120 programmes, with an early-round deadline of 20 Oct 2026 and a main-round deadline of 25 Feb 2027. Classes begin 30 Aug 2027.
• January 2027 entry: over 30 programmes, deadline 23 Oct 2026.

HKU
HKU has no single university-wide deadline; each faculty and programme sets its own. The Faculty of Engineering, for example, has a main-round deadline of 1 Dec 2026 and a clearing-round deadline of 31 Mar 2027.

CUHK
The Graduate School opens applications every September, and every programme charges a HK$500 application fee. Deadlines vary by programme, and some business programmes run separate early and regular rounds.

Lingnan
According to public reports, the first batch of programmes opened on 1 August and the rest on 1 October. Most list 30 June 2027 as the final deadline, but places are allocated on a rolling basis.

HKUST, CityU, HKBU, EdUHK
Most programmes are open, with deadlines in rounds that vary by programme. Check each programme’s own page on the graduate school website.

4. A six-month plan

• October: Build a balanced shortlist of reach, match and safety programmes, and submit the earliest-closing ones first (e.g. PolyU’s early round).
• November–December: Complete most first-round applications, and gather your reference letters, transcripts and proof of enrolment.
• January–March 2027: Interview season. Submit second-round applications if needed, and respond promptly to any requests for additional documents.
• April–June: Accept your offer, pay the deposit and start your student visa application. Some universities advise allowing about 10–12 weeks for visa processing.
• July–August: Arrange accommodation and prepare for arrival.

5. Three common mistakes

“I’ll apply after my postgraduate entrance exam results.” Popular programmes fill most of their places in the first round, and many may be full by the new year.

“I’ll sort out my English test later.” Most programmes allow you to submit your test score after applying, but complete applications are usually processed first. Some programmes have also stopped accepting online test formats in recent years, so check your target programme’s requirements.

“One deadline fits all.” Deadlines can differ by months between programmes at the same university. Check each programme individually.

6. For families planning undergraduate study

HKU’s admission scheme for mainland undergraduate applicants usually opens in early October. Gaokao candidates can register and choose programmes now, then submit their scores after results are released in June 2027. Please refer to HKU’s official announcements for confirmed dates.

Information is accurate as of 11 October 2026. Admission arrangements may change, so always confirm with each university’s official website. For a personalised shortlist and timeline, book a one-on-one consultation with HK Life Hub.