Students chatting in Chi Wah Learning Common

The Talent Search Scheme is introduced with the aim of recognising the talent of high school students that could not be fully assessed by the national / international examinations alone. It is a “programme-student matching exercise” in essence that provides opportunities for high school students who have demonstrated exceptional talents and interests in specific disciplines / areas to be considered for direct admission to HKU. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Talent Search Scheme, students must:

a)     be a current student pursuing the final year of respective high-school curriculum; and

b)     apply for admission to HKU through the HKU Application System for Undergraduate Programmes in parallel. 

 

 

Self Nomination

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Eligible students with exceptional talents and interests in specific disciplines / areas may self-nominate for consideration under the scheme by ONE of the programmes listed below, which MUST also be their first choice under the HKU Application System for Undergraduate Programmes.

The nomination period will run from September 27 to December 1 2024 (noon HKT).

Programmes Academic Criteria Non-Academic Requirements
Bachelor of Arts Top 20% in class

Students should submit a personal statement in no more than 300 words on their interest in the programme and major(s), talents, competencies, and leadership experiences.

Students who are interested in studying Global and Area Studies as their major, should indicate in the personal statement.  They are also strongly encouraged to apply for the Young Global Leader Award (https://www.globalba.hku.hk/new-scholarship).Students who are interested in studying Music as their major should indicate in the personal statement. They are also strongly encouraged to apply for the HKU .

Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Applied Artificial Intelligence Top 20% in class, and in particular top 10% in Mathematics Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Engineering in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science *NEW* *Subject to approval* Top 20% in class Students should submit a personal statement in no more than 300 words on their interest in the programme and major(s), talents, competencies, and leadership experiences.
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Design+ *UPDATED* Top 10% in class Students should submit a creative works portfolio.
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Financial Technology Top 20% in class, and in particular top 10% in Mathematics Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies Top 10% in class Students should submit an aptitude exercise / portfolio.
Bachelor of Arts in Global Creative Industries *NEW* *Subject to approval* Top 20% in class Students should submit a personal statement in no more than 300 words on their interest in the programme and major(s), talents, competencies, and leadership experiences.
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Digital Technologies Top 20% in class

Students should submit a personal statement in no more than 300 words providing an introduction of their backgrounds, their talents and competencies, particularly in demonstrating their skills and knowledges in digital technologies, and why they are interested in the programme. 

Students who are interested in studying Global and Area Studies as their humanities focus or second major, should indicate in the personal statement.  They are also strongly encouraged to apply for the Young Global Leader Award (https://www.globalba.hku.hk/new-scholarship).

Bachelor of Arts in Landscape Studies Top 25% in class Students should submit a creative design response.
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies Top 25% in class
 
Students should submit a 1-page personal statement detailing interest in the related disciplines.
Bachelor of Business Administration Top 15% in class, and in particular top 15% in both English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School
Bachelor of Business Administration (Business Analytics) Top 10% in class, and in particular top 15% in English, Mathematics and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Communications Technology, or Physics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance / Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting Data Analytics Top 15% in class, and in particular top 15% in English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School
Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business and Global Management Top 5% in class, and in particular top 5% in English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School
Bachelor of Economics / Bachelor of Economics and Finance Top 15% in class, and in particular top 15% in English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School
Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering in Artificial Intelligence in Engineering *NEW* *Subject to approval* Top 10% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics N/A
Bachelor of Engineering Elite Programme *NEW* *Subject to approval* Top 10% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics N/A
Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics N/A
Bachelor of Engineering in Data and Systems Engineering *NEW* *Subject to approval* Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics N/A
Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering *NEW* Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics N/A
Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering *NEW* Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics N/A
Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering / Electrical Engineering / Electronic Engineering *NEW* Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics N/A
Bachelor of Finance in Asset Management and Private Banking Top 5% in class, and in particular top 15% in English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School. 
Bachelor of Journalism Top 15% in English Students should submit a narrated slide-show of no more than 5 minutes in length, via any video-sharing site (i.e. YouTube) with at least ten photographs of their favourite place / location in Hong Kong. The narration should be in English and in the Students' own voice, and should describe what the place / location means to them and why they like it.
Bachelor of Psychology Top 10% in class

Students should submit a life story video in English of no more than 2 minutes in length, featuring themselves appearing in the video.

Students should provide an introduction of their background and why they are interested to study psychology, and outline specifically how their non-traditional pathways and / or life adversities they have encountered demonstrate their resilience and passion to make a difference in the society.

Bachelor of Science *UPDATED* Top 25% in class, and in particular top 20% in Mathematics and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science Top 20% in class, and in particular top 10% in Mathematics Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
Bachelor of Science in Innovation and Technology *NEW* *Subject to approval* Top 20% in class, and in particular top 10% in mathematics.

Nominees should attend an application bootcamp which will be a one-day event where the candidate takes part in a team project solution creation exercise similar to a hackathon.  

Nominees should have extensive experiences and outstanding achievements in team-based hands-on project activities that involve science and technology innovations, including, but not limited to robotic competitions and joint-school science exhibitions held locally or internationally, etc. and have taken active and / or leading roles in these projects with significant technical contributions.
Nominees should have demonstrated both good technical capabilities as well as outstanding aptitude in working with the teams.

Nominees should submit a personal statement including, among other information, their experience taking part in team-based science and technology activities, both in terms of the technical content and the personal experience working with teams of diverse interests.  The statement should also include their comment on the role of science and technology in addressing the world’s imminent challenges.

Bachelor of Science in Marketing Analytics and Technology Top 10% in class, and in particular top 15% in English, Mathematics and at least one of the following subjects: Accounting, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Information and Communications Technology, or Physics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School
Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Finance Top 5% in class, and in particular top 15% in English and top 5% in Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School
Bachelor of Science in Surveying Top 25% in class Students should submit a 1-page personal statement detailing their interest in the related disciplines.
Bachelor of Social Sciences Top 15% in English

Students should submit a life story video in English of no more than 2 minutes in length, featuring themselves appearing in the video.

Students should provide an introduction of their background and why they are interested to study the programme, a discipline about people and society, and outline specifically how their non-traditional pathways and / or life adversities they have encountered demonstrate their resilience and passion to make an impact to serve the society.

Bachelor of Social Work Top 15% in English Students should submit a CV containing details of the following:
- volunteer work and experience;
- leadership experience; and
- contribution to the school community.
Computing and Data Science *NEW* *Subject to approval* Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Economics, or Computer Science Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
Global Engineering and Business Programme *UPDATED* Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics N/A
Science Master Class Top 10% in class, and in particular top 5% in at least two of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
Statistical Decision Sciences *NEW* *Subject to approval* Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
The self-nomination should be submitted via together with
- a reference letter from their schools;
- evidence showing their fulfilment of the academic criteria listed above; and
- any additional supporting documents listed above.

 

Students are also required to submit their applications and any necessary documents under the HKU Application System for Undergraduate Programmes.

 

Interview and Offer Arrangement

Shortlisted students may be invited to attend an interview between January and February.

Firm offer will be issued to successful students on a rolling basis until the end of August.