Hong Kong

If you’re from Hong Kong and interested in studying in the UK, the University of Portsmouth is a great place to fulfil your ambitions. And if you’re ready to take the next step, we’re ready to help you get here.

On this page, you'll find information about where you can meet us in your region, what you need to do to apply for a course with us and contact details for our people in your area.

Entry requirements for students from Hong Kong

If you're joining us from Hong Kong, the entry requirements you need to meet will depend on the course you want to study.

When you join us, it’s important that you can speak and understand English to the level that your course requires. The specific English language requirements will be on your chosen course page.

We accept IELTS, IGCSE and several other certificates, but don’t worry if you're currently short of the standard required – we offer English Language Programmes that will get you to the necessary level.

If you hold the HKDSE Diploma, you can apply to study at the University of Portsmouth. The HKDSE Diploma is comparable with the UK A Level, so your application will be based on UCAS tariff point equivalency (including subject-specific requirements where appropriate). UCAS tariff point equivalency is outlined in the table below.

We accept HKDSE English in lieu of IELTS. You will need to achieve a minimum overall score of 4 with no component lower than 3 (equivalent to IELTS 6.0), although this may vary depending on your chosen course.

More information regarding the entry requirements for specific courses can be found on the courses page of our website.

If you do not meet the entry requirements, we recommend that you enrol on a Foundation course. Our Engineering foundation BEng (Hons) Engineering and Technology is delivered in our Faculty of Technology, whilst foundation programmes in all other subjects are held at our associated college International College Portsmouth (ICP).

If you don't have the HKDSE Diploma, you can apply with:

A Levels

Please check your specific course page to find the exact number of points needed. Your A level grades should equal or exceed the total points required. You can use the UCAS Tariff Calculator to work out your total points.
Some courses will require you to have studied specific subjects at A level. For example, to study a science course you will usually need to have achieved passing grades in scientific subjects at A level.
A level points: A* = 56 A = 48 B = 40 C = 32 D = 24.

International Baccalaureate

Most courses will require between 24 and 31 points in the International Baccalaureate (IB), depending on the degree you apply for.

You may be able to join an undergraduate course with other qualifications. We do consider qualifications from a range of sources. Contact us to find out more.

Advanced Entry

If you are currently studying or have graduated with Higher Diplomas or Associate Degrees from Community Colleges, you may be eligible for advanced entry onto our undergraduate courses. For more details please contact one of our local representatives in Hong Kong (listed below) or email globaladmissions@port.ac.uk.

Postgraduate courses

For entry to our postgraduate Master's programmes, you'll usually need to have a good Bachelor's degree with at least 2nd Class Honours, depending on the course you're applying for.

All applications are considered individually and certain courses may accept students onto a Masters programme with a lower level degree if they have relevant work experience. Please see our courses for more details.

If you don't meet the postgraduate entry requirements, you can do a pre-Master's programme at International College Portsmouth (ICP) for many of our courses.

PhDs

We'll consider you for a PhD if you have a good Master’s degree and submit a research proposal.

Find a PhD

English language requirements

When you join us, it’s important that you can speak and understand English to the level that your course requires. You can see which tests we recognise and specific English language requirements will be on your chosen course page.

We accept an overall score of 4 with a minimum of 3 in each component on the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), IELTS, IGCSE and several other certificates, but don’t worry if you're currently short of the standard required – we offer English Language Programmes that will get you to the necessary level.

What to do next

Ready to start your adventure with us? Whether you know which degree course you want to do or not, get in touch with us now or meet us at an event near you to discuss your next steps.

Our Global Officers are experts in helping students from Hong Kong, like you, to apply to join us. Whatever you want to know, just ask.

TB Clearance Certificate

Students from Hong Kong and Macau hoping to study in the UK will need a TB Clearance Certificate before applying for the Student Route Visa. We recommend that you apply for this as soon as possible, to avoid delays with the visa application process. TB Clearance Certificates are issued by UKVI-approved clinics. Full information can be found on the UKVI website.