Admission routes: how Mainland Gaokao direct admission works

The single most important thing: CityU does not use the unified enrolment system

The official wording in CityU's admission notes is:

That sentence has two immediate consequences for Mainland candidates:

• You can pursue both routes at once. Applying to CityU does not mean giving up your Mainland unified-enrolment choices. CityU admits you separately and does not consume a place in the national scheme.
• But you must apply in CityU's own system. Current-year Gaokao candidates who want to be considered must submit the application directly through CityU's official website before the deadline.

The 2026 admission timetable (as published)

Admission criteria: it is not only the Gaokao score

• Your actual Gaokao score (excluding any bonus points) must at least reach the cut-off for the first-tier key universities (the "first-tier line" / the special-type admissions control line).
• A good English score: the published requirement is "110 or above, out of a full mark of 150".
• Beyond the Gaokao score, CityU also considers the information you submit, your interview performance (where applicable) and so on, and selects on merit.
• Individual colleges may have specific subject requirements, so check the undergraduate programme list or the colleges-and-programmes pages.

Up to two programme choices, in priority order

Once you click "Apply for New Programme(s)" in the system:

• Set "Application Type" to Undergraduate programme admission (current-year National College Entrance Examination candidate of Mainland China)
• Set "Semester" to Semester A, 2026/27
• You may enter up to two programme choices, and must rank your first and second choice
• Save before moving on to the other sections

Two programmes have extra requirements

School of Creative Media (SCM) — portfolio required

To apply for a bachelor's degree in the School of Creative Media you must submit a student portfolio, which may include photography, painting, drawing, sculpture, composition, performance, film, video, multimedia production, fiction, screenplays, animation, software, games, technology solutions or inventions. The School wants to see imagination, observation and the ability to express yourself first, and existing technique second. The portfolio must be submitted through the School's online system by the stated date.

Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (JCC) — the most demanding entry

• This programme must be your first choice
• You must complete a personal statement in the online application system and upload school transcripts for all terms of Year 12 and mock examination results, if any
• You need at least 70 hours (about 10 days) of animal-care experience, with supporting documents
• All applicants must complete the online Casper situational judgement test before the interview
• The College invites selected applicants to an online interview on a stated date, based on the materials submitted

Interviews and changing your choices

• Interviews: some programmes may use an interview as part of selection. If you are invited, the college or department will contact you directly.
• Changing choices: after submitting, if you want to change your programme choices you can log in to the online application system from June 2026 until 11 June 2026. The University assesses the programme choices shown in the system as at the application deadline.

After you submit: every step has a deadline

1. Create an account: enter your email address and personal details and set a password. You will receive a confirmation email containing your application number and your Electronic Identity (EID); use the EID and password to log in later.
2. Submit and pay: the application fee for non-local applicants is HK$450 (fees paid are neither refundable nor transferable). An application is only processed once the required information is complete and the fee is paid.
3. Add your Gaokao candidate number: if you did not have a candidate number, or the official document showing the candidate/examination number, when you submitted, you must log in and add it and upload it on or before 11 June 2026. Otherwise CityU cannot process the application.
4. Upload your Gaokao results: once results are released you must enter the scores and upload a screenshot of the results before noon on 26 June 2026.

Once you have an offer

• Confirming the offer: within the stated period you must confirm acceptance through the online application system, pay the deposit (HK$15,000 for non-local applicants) and upload proof of payment.
• The important consequence: once you confirm acceptance and pay the deposit, CityU passes your details to the provincial admissions office and the Ministry of Education, and you are no longer eligible to take part in Mainland unified enrolment. This step cannot be reversed.
• Not being admitted does not affect the unified scheme: if you receive no offer, or decide not to accept one (including failing to accept and pay the deposit within the stated period), you can still take part in unified enrolment and it does not affect your application to Mainland institutions.