Direct Admission for Joint Bachelor's Degree Program with Columbia University
Program Overview
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and Columbia University (Columbia) have collaborated for over a decade to recruit talented students via the Joint Bachelor's Degree Program (JBDP), offering students an unparalleled international education experience.
Students will pursue the studies in Asia and North America in two prestigious and top universities, spending two years at CityUHK and two years at Columbia. Upon completion of the four-year programme, graduates will earn two bachelor's degrees—one from CityUHK and one from Columbia.
Eligible Programmes
| Programme and Admission code# | More Information |
|---|---|
| College of Business |
|
| BSc Computational Finance and Financial Technology (Streams: Computational Finance / Financial Technology) (1000/ JS1000) | |
| BBA Global Business (Features: 3 Exchanges/Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program with Columbia University (US)/Overseas Summer School & Study Tour/Business Consultancy Project/Scholarship and Sponsorship) (1001/ JS1001) | |
| BBA Management (Streams: Human Resources Management / Strategy and International Management) (1005/ JS1005) | |
| Economics and Finance (Majors: BBA Business Economics* / BBA Finance) (1012/ JS1012) *Only applicable to students with major in Business Economics | |
| BBA Business Economics (Features: Economic Theory / International Economics / Economic and Business Forecasting / Quantitative Analysis) (JS1013^) ^Only applicable to JUPAS applicants | |
| BBA Business Decision Analytics (Streams: Decision Analytics* / Data Informatics) (1026/ JS1026) *Only applicable to students of the Decision Analytics stream | |
| College of Computing | |
| BSc Computer Science (Streams: Artificial Intelligence / Cybersecurity / Data Science / Multimedia Computing / Software Engineering and Project Management) (1204/ JS1204) | |
| College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences | |
| BSocSc International Relations and Global Affairs (Streams: Asian Studies / International Studies / Development Studies) (1102/ JS1102) | |
| BA Linguistics and Language Applications (Features: Linguistics / Language Applications / Language Technology)* (1109/ JS1109) *may be subject to change in 2026 entry | |
| BSocSc Psychology (Streams: Health and Development / Mind and Brain) (1112/ JS1112) | |
| BSocSc Public Affairs and Management (Streams: Public Affairs and Governance* / Public Policy and Management) (1108/ JS1108) *Only applicable to students of the Public Affairs and Governance stream | |
| College of Science | |
| BSc Computing Mathematics (Streams: Enriched Mathematics / Financial Mathematics / Global Research Enrichment and Technopreneurship (GREAT)) (1206/ JS1206) | |
| BSc Physics [Features: Classical Physics / Modern Physics / Experimental and Computational Physics / Medical Physics / Condensed Matter Physics / Global Research Enrichment and Technopreneurship (GREAT)] (1208/ JS1208) |
1 Students are required to complete a mandatory one-year internship in Hong Kong prior to the commencement of study at Columbia University.
# For JUPAS applicants, the programme codes start with 'JS' (e.g. JS1000).
^ For JUPAS admissions only.
Entrance Requirements
Applicants must meet both the general entrance requirements and programme-specific requirements for CityUHK and Columbia.
Please refer to the admissions requirements for each institution for more information.
Applicants are expected to obtain the following result:
HKDSE overall score of 24.5 or above
Remarks: The HKDSE score is calculated by adding the score of 3 core subjects and 2 elective subjects (except “Citizenship and Social Development”) with best results (see Scoring Scale).
- GCE A-Level: Grades 2A*1A or above in three A-level subjects
- International Baccalaureate: IB Diploma point score (include bonus points) 38 or above
- U.S.-patterned curriculum: High School Graduation with Unweighted CGPA 3.6 out of 4 AND one of the following:
- SAT ≥ 1420 (out of 1600) or
- ACT ≥ 32 (in one sitting) or
- Grade 5 in three AP subjects - Equivalent standard in an alternative qualification which satisfies CityUHK Entrance Requirements
- TOEFL: A minimum total score of 79 in the Internet-based test in one sitting^; or
- IELTS: A minimum overall band score of 6.5 in IELTS (Academic Module) in one sitting^; or
- Another acceptable English qualification
^ The test must be taken within two years prior to the start date of Semester A of the admission year at CityUHK.
Note: The IELTS Indicator (home edition) / IELTS Online/ TOEFL Home Edition tests are not accepted to fulfill the English Language Requirement.
How to Apply?
To be eligible for admission into this programme, applicants must complete the following by 2 January 2026 (NYC time):
- Submit an application to City University of Hong Kong programme listed as one of the Band A choices via the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) by 3 December, 2025; AND
- Submit a separate online application form at Columbia University online application portal; AND
- Upload supporting documents as detailed on CityUHK-Columbia website, including but not limited to:
- Personal Statement (mandatory)
- Secondary school predicted grades (mandatory)
- Secondary school (S4-S6) academic reports (mandatory)
- School reference letter (optional)
Please refer to CityUHK-Columbia website for details.
To be eligible for admission into this programme, applicants must complete the following by 2 January 2026 (NYC Time):
- Submit an application at Columbia University online application portal
- Upload supporting documents as detailed on CityUHK-Columbia website, including but not limited to:
- High school transcripts or secondary school records
- Standardized Test Score & Proof of English Language Proficiency, such as IELTS, TOEFL, SAT, etc.
- One admissions essay
- Two letters of recommendation from teachers and/or a guidance counselor familiar with your academic career
Please refer to CityUHK-Columbia website for details.
Notes for all applicants
- There is no separate JUPAS or non-JUPAS code for Joint Bachelor's Degree Programmes between City University of Hong Kong and Columbia University.
- Non-JUPAS applicants who are interested in being considered for CityUHK normative 4-year undergraduate programmes are required to submit a separate application via CityUHK online application system. Please refer to CityUHK website for details.
- Shortlisted candidates invited for an interview will be notified in early February of each calendar year by email.
- Late applications will not be considered.
- All information regarding Joint Bachelor's Degree Program between City University of Hong Kong and Columbia University is subject to change without prior notice. Please check the CityUHK-Columbia website for information from time to time.
- For all enquiries, please contact cityuhk-jointba@columbia.edu.
Tuition Fees
Joint Bachelor's Degree Program students will be charged the tuition rate of the institution they are currently attending. Students in the first two years of the program will be charged the City University of Hong Kong tuition rate, while students in the final two years of the program will be charged the Columbia University School of General Studies tuition rate.
Full details of tuition fees and funding at both institutions are available at CityUHK-Columbia website.
At CityUHK, the tuition fee per year for local students is HKD 47,000 and for non-local students is HKD190,000 for the 2026-27 intake. See the CityUHK website for more information about tuition, fees, living expenses and scholarships.
The University reserves the right to amend the information from time to time.
Last update date: 22 September 2025
