【NON-JUPAS】Complete Guide to Applying for HKU and CUHK Medical Schools via Non-JUPAS in 2025
What is Non-JUPAS?
Non-JUPAS refers to one of the ways to apply for university in Hong Kong, mainly suitable for applicants who do not meet the JUPAS admissions requirements.
These applicants may come from different backgrounds and academic qualifications, such as international students, students holding other international or regional academic certificates, students who have completed other studies, such as Associate Degree (Asso), Higher Diploma (HD), etc.
What is the difference between Non-JUPAS and JUPAS?
| Application method | JUPAS | Mainly used for Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) candidates. All HKDSE candidates can apply for university through the JUPAS system. |
| Non-JUPAS | For those applicants who do not pass JUPAS, including international students, students with other academic credentials, people who are already working or have completed other higher education, etc. | |
| Eligibility | JUPAS | Mainly for HKDSE candidates, applications must be submitted in the JUPAS application system. |
| Non-JUPAS | Suitable for applicants who hold other qualifications, such as International Baccalaureate (IB), A-level, other higher education qualifications, or those who have study experience in other higher education institutions. | |
| Application process | JUPAS | Applicants need to submit their applications through the JUPAS system, which will select and admit students according to a pre-set process. |
| Non-JUPAS | Applicants need to submit their application directly to the university and will usually be evaluated against the university's requirements and standards. |
Who is suitable to apply to university through Non-JUPAS?
Students holding international or other regional qualifications
Students hold international academic certificates such as A-level, IB (International Baccalaureate), Australian VCE (Victorian Certificate of Education), etc.
Students who have completed studies at other higher education institutions
Students who have completed an Associate Degree (Asso) or Higher Diploma (HD) program may wish to transfer or progress to a university degree program in Hong Kong.
These students usually need to apply through the Non-JUPAS route, especially Senior Entry if they wish to enter university directly.
Students who have studied Asso or HD courses for one year
Since students have not completed the entire course, their choices are limited. They can usually only enroll in the Year 1 course, which is the First Year Entry.
However, there are generally fewer degrees and relatively high academic requirements.
Except for the first year in addition to the scores, the HKDSE scores will generally be looked at to decide whether to make an offer.
However, not every university accepts transfer students who have only completed one year of Asso or HD courses, such as the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (UST) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK).
Students who have completed Asso or HD courses
After completing the entire course, students can enroll in Year 1 courses or direct Senior Entry according to their own wishes.
Most students will choose to directly continue with Year 3 degree courses to keep them consistent with the year of admission when they originally applied for JUPAS.
Applicants for professional further education or work experience
Applicants with specific work experience or professional qualifications, such as professional certifications in relevant industries or years of work experience, may choose to apply for professional continuing education courses or advanced degree programs through Non-JUPAS.
Students who have completed other stages of academic study
Students who have completed a PhD, master's degree or other high-level degree and wish to further pursue university degrees or further education courses in Hong Kong can also apply through the Non-JUPAS route.
Non-JUPAS Complete Guide to Admission to the School of Medicine at HKU and CUHK
Medical schools often have specific admission requirements and application procedures, which may differ from those for other disciplines. As a medical school, universities have very high academic requirements for students.
| HKU | CUHK | |
| IB | - 43 points - Chemistry must have a minimum score of 4 | - 42分 points - HL Subjects must obtain 6, 7, 7 |
| A-Level | - 4A* - Chemistry must obtain E | - 4A* |
Eligibility
- Apply for admission with academic qualifications other than HKDSE (e.g. IB, A-level, etc.)
- Have successfully completed one year of higher education with excellent academic results
Department of Medicine, HKU
HKU Faculty of Medicine is one of the most prestigious medical schools in Asia, founded in 1887. The medical school is committed to providing comprehensive medical education and excellent research, covering the fields of clinical medicine, basic medicine, public health and medical management.
Its core curriculum is the six-year MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) course, which aims to cultivate future medical professionals, combining clinical skills and research capabilities.
The Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong attracts outstanding students and researchers from around the world with its high-quality education and outstanding academic reputation.
Academic Requirements
| IB | Applicants must have a total IB score of at least 43 points, and chemistry (higher level subject) must have at least 4 points or above. |
| A-Level | Applicants must obtain at least 4A* (excluding Chinese and English subjects, Critical Thinking, General Studies, Global Perspectives and Research, Knowledge and Inquiry, Project Work, Thinking Skills and Extended Project Qualifications), Chemistry must obtain E or above score. |
Interview arrangements
Universities will decide whether to grant interviews based on a student's academic performance and other non-academic achievements.
Interviews are usually held during the Christmas and Easter holidays or from June to August and are designed to assess a student's suitability to study medicine.
Past interview formats (for reference only)
In HKU's past individual interviews, candidates were required to answer Chinese and English questions within 8 minutes, while in group discussions, four candidates were required to discuss one English question (the time limit was also 8 minutes).
It should be noted that the interview time will be notified to the candidates one day before the interview, and the questions are not limited to medical knowledge, but focus on assessing communication skills, moral judgment and self-awareness.
Candidates are advised to keep abreast of current affairs, especially those related to Hong Kong's healthcare system.
Offers
The school will issue admission notices to candidates who have met the admission requirements. The school will also issue conditional admission letters to Non-JUPAS students who have taken the exam.
As long as they meet the admission requirements before August, they can be admitted to the university.
Key dates for 2025 admissions
| September 27, 2024 | Open for application |
| November 27, 2024 at 12:00 noon | Deadline for submission of applications for the first round of evaluation |
| From November 27, 2024 | Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis |
| December 1, 2024 | Submit the supporting documents of the first round of assessment (including Predicted Grade) |
| From December 1, 2024 | First round results announced |
| August 22, 2025 at 12:00 noon | All applications closed |
Department of Medicine, CUHK
The Chinese University of Medicine (CU Medicine) is a well-known medical education institution in Hong Kong, committed to providing high-quality medical education and excellence in research.
The CU Medicine, established in 1991, has multiple disciplines, including clinical medicine, basic medicine, public health and medical management.
Its five-year undergraduate medical program aims to cultivate medical professionals with clinical skills and scientific knowledge. The medical school focuses on the integration of theory and practice, and students will gain valuable experience in internships and clinical practice.
In addition, CU Medicine also actively promotes cutting-edge research and is committed to solving public health challenges and improving the quality of medical services.
Academic Requirements
| IB | IB students should take 6 elective subjects, including 3 higher level subjects. It is recommended to take chemistry or biology, preferably both at the same time. The minimum requirement is that the final score is ≥42/45, and the scores in higher level subjects are at least 6, 7, and 7. |
| A-Level | A-Level students should take 4 AL subjects (excluding Chinese), at least 3 of which should be completed at one time within 12 months. It is recommended to take chemistry or biology, and it is best to take both subjects at the same time. Further Maths is not considered a separate subject and marks in Mathematics or Further Maths (whichever is higher) will count towards the overall GCE score. In addition to A-Level scores, students are advised to provide UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UCAT) or Biomedical Admissions Test (BMAT) test scores in order to gain the opportunity to be invited for interviews in advance. |
Interview arrangements
IB: Since results will not be released until July, IB candidates with a Predicted Grade of 42 or above will receive an early interview, and the remaining students will attend interviews in late July.
A-Level: As results will not be released until mid-August, the school will invite some applicants with excellent scores in Predicted Grade, UKCAT or BMAT for early interviews, and the remaining students will attend interviews in late August.
Past interview formats (for reference only)
In CUHK's past personal interviews, candidates were required to answer questions from two examiners in English for 20 minutes.
Past interview questions often explored candidates' passion for medicine, their knowledge and perspectives on the medical system and ethics, and focused on assessing candidates' teamwork, leadership skills, and understanding of physician responsibilities.
Key dates for 2025 admissions
| October 2, 2024 | Open for application |
| January 9, 2025 | Deadline for first round application submission |
| May 30, 2025 | Deadline for submission of second round applications |
| February - July 2025 | Release of offer letter |
Ascent Prep will develop a personalized training plan based on each student's personal background, strengths and weaknesses, and target schools to ensure that students can improve their abilities in a targeted manner.
Choosing Ascent Prep will not only allow you to better understand the content and requirements of the Hong Kong Medical School interview, but also receive professional guidance and support, enhance your competitiveness, and increase your chances of being admitted to the Hong Kong Medical College.
If you would like to learn more about Ascent Prep's services or have other questions, please feel free to contact us.
Further Readings
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Ready to Hear Success Stories? See Why Ascent Prep is a Student Favourite!
Michelle has excelled in academics since she was young and has been determined to apply to medical school since her third year of junior high school. She attends a local traditional girls' school that offers British A-Level courses. To lay a solid foundation for her dream of studying medicine, Michelle chose challenging subjects such as physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics. In the summer vacation after completing the IGCSE exam, Michelle interned in a cardiologist's clinic for five days through our arrangement. During her internship, she deeply realized the busy schedule of doctors and their sense of mission for the recovery of patients, which made her more determined to become a doctor.
Academically, Michelle took a UCAT preparation course during her first Christmas in the A-Level course, and learned various exam techniques under the guidance of the tutor, mastering how to quickly understand questions. She eventually scored an excellent 2830 in the UCAT exam and obtained a level 1 in the situational judgement test, which led to an interview invitation from the University of Nottingham Medical School. During the Easter period, she attended a personal statement guidance course. With the advice of her tutor, Michelle chose appropriate extracurricular activities and revised the content of her personal statement to make it more clearly express her passion and motivation for medicine. In addition, Michelle also took the BMAT exam (note that the BMAT has now been cancelled) and obtained a good score of 12.7, which exceeded the qualifying score and increased her chances of entering medical school.
To ensure that Michelle can fully express herself in the interview, we recommend arranging three targeted mock interviews to ensure that the areas that need improvement can be accurately improved. Finally, Michelle received an interview invitation from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Hong Kong through the Non-JUPAS application. Her efforts finally paid off and she successfully received admission notices from the University of Nottingham and the University of Hong Kong.
After sharing Michelle's case, for students who aspire to enter the medical school, starting preparation one to two years in advance can indeed significantly increase the chances of success. Michelle's story not only inspires other students, but also proves that with planning and hard work, pursuing your dreams is achievable.
David attends a top secondary school in the UK and has excellent academic performance, with all 9s in GCSE and all A* predicted A-level grades. His dream has always been to become a doctor, and he has worked hard to achieve this goal. However, David unfortunately encountered a setback in the interview for a British medical school in January. The failure of the interview for his first application to a medical school made him depressed and anxious, and he began to doubt his abilities and future. At this time, his father contacted us at Ascent Prep for advice and suggestions.
We first comforted David and encouraged him not to give up his dream. Although he missed the chance to apply for medical school at a British university, the start date of medical school in Australia is half a year later than that in the UK, so he still has a chance to enroll. We suggested that he consider switching to medical school in Australia. In order to help David overcome the difficulties in the interview, we analyzed the reasons for his failure and found that although he was knowledgeable, he was flustered in the interview, especially lacking logic in judgment and problem-solving questions. We developed a personalized coaching program for him, including mock interview training and various coping skills, such as the STAR rule, responding to open-ended questions, and demonstrating passion for medicine and personal traits.
Through these intensive trainings, David's interview skills and confidence have been significantly improved. He also used the summer vacation when he returned to Hong Kong to retake the ISAT and UCAT exams and continued to practice under our guidance. At the same time, he continued to work as a research assistant at HKU, enhancing his medical experience and understanding of medical biology. Eventually, David successfully obtained admission notices from three Australian medical schools, including the University of New South Wales (UNSW). This proves that as long as you persevere, you can overcome challenges. His experience inspires other students pursuing their medical dreams, demonstrating to them the importance of persistence and hard work.
Brian is a student with a passion for medicine and his goal is to attend one of the top medical schools in the world. In order to realize this dream, he not only worked hard in his studies and achieved excellent results, but also actively participated in various extracurricular activities to comprehensively improve his abilities. Brian observed in the hospital’s cardiology department for a week and participated in the BSMS Virtual Work Experience, which allowed him to gain an in-depth understanding of the medical field through technological simulation. He not only learned the skills and qualities required to be a competent doctor, but also experienced the close relationship between doctors and patients.
After learning about Brian's goals, we encouraged him to set his sights on the University of Cambridge Medical School, whose outstanding reputation in medical research and teaching quality are impeccable. We also advised him to apply to other G5 medical schools such as Imperial, UCL and KCL. In order to improve his BMAT score and interview skills, we arranged a 15-hour BMAT preparation course ((Note that BMAT has been cancelled), which provided systematic training by experienced tutors, including problem-solving skills, test-taking strategies and time management. We also conducted several mock interviews for him, specifically targeting the interview style of Cambridge University, and designed relevant questions to help him prepare and better deal with academic and ethical issues.
Brian submitted his UCAS application in mid-October, took the BMAT in November, and received an interview invitation from Cambridge University in December. He was successfully accepted by Cambridge in January and also successfully obtained interview invitations from ICL and UCL. In order to reduce his financial burden, we encouraged him to apply for the Hong Kong Excellence Scholarship Scheme, which offers a scholarship of up to HK$300,000 and can support outstanding students to study in well-known overseas universities. In the end, Brian not only achieved high scores in the BMAT exam, but also was admitted to Cambridge University Medical School and KCL. He finally chose to go to Dowling College, Cambridge, England to pursue higher academic goals and realize his dream.
