FAQs

Applicants in this category are welcome to apply to our:

(1) LLM programmes with a specific area such as LLM(Arb&DR), LLM(CFL), LLM(CR), etc., OR

(2) Master of Laws programme with a Specialisation in (i) Competition Law and Policy, or (ii) Maritime Law*, or (iii) Medical Ethics and Law.

Please note that these applicants are NOT eligible to apply to the Master of Laws (General) and Master of Common Law (MCL) programmes.

The Faculty accepts admission of students with a degree in a discipline other than law with at least second-class honours, and have at least two years of relevant experience and/or professional qualifications.

*Subject to the University’s Approval.

You are not required to take the English proficiency test if you obtained a Master's/Bachelor's degree from an institution where the medium of instruction (i.e., the language of teaching and examination) was English. Applicants are also required to submit their academic transcripts for consideration.

Acceptable English language qualifications are either the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or Academic and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). Please see below the programme required standard for the respective test:

• IELTS (Academic): An overall band of 7.0 or above with no subtest below 6.5
• TOEFL (Paper-based Test): A score of 593 or above
• TOEFL (Internet-based Test): A score of 97 or above

For admissions purposes, the test score report is valid if obtained within two years of the application deadline.

*The Faculty does not accept scores from “IELTS Indicator” and “TOEFL iBT Home Edition” for admission.

There is only one intake each September.

Invitations for applications for the September intake usually begin in November of the previous calendar year. There are two application deadlines: the main round deadline is in mid-December of the previous calendar year, while the clearing round deadline is at the end of February of the same calendar year.

All applications should be submitted via the online application system at https://admissions.hku.hk/tpg/faculty/faculty-law by the specific deadline(s).

Application fee is HK$300 per application and should be made online by the end of the online application.

If you wish to apply for more than one programme at HKU, you should apply under a different username on the application system and settle the fee (HK$300) separately. However, an applicant can only accept and enrol in one programme even if they have received more than one admission offer from the University.

Applicants do not need to have graduated from their Bachelor’s or Master’s degree programme at the time of application. However, you may obtain the relevant degree on or before August 31 of your admission year.

After submitting the application, you are also required to send us the most up-to-date academic transcript with other required supporting documents for assessment.

Each application must be accompanied by a set of supporting documents. Please refer to the application guidelines for the required supporting documentation.

The hard copies of all supporting documents are NOT REQUIRED during the application stage.

If the Faculty gives an applicant an admission offer, they will be notified of the need to submit the original and/or certified true copy of the documents by a specified deadline.

Please click here for details on the application instructions and required supporting documents.

Please submit an official statement from your Institution/University certifying the issuance of a digital transcript is the only transcript issued to students. Alternatively, a certified true copy of a digital transcript with the official signature of the institution representative and the official stamp is acceptable.

Please feel free to contact us for further instructions if you have any further questions.

Transcripts, diplomas, certificates, official English score reports, and other submitted documents NOT in English should be accompanied by a certified translation in English. Your home institution may provide the certified translation.

Subject to application and approval, a student may be granted advanced standing for up to 9 credits in accordance with the degree regulations for studies completed successfully no more than 5 years before admission to the programme.

Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their applications as soon as late April via post and/or email. If you have not heard from us by August 15, you may wish to contact the Faculty of Law Office by email at lawpgs@hku.hk for assistance.

Applicants must provide proof of withdrawal from any other programme of study before confirming an offer. A breach of this regulation may result in the discontinuation of studies at HKU.

According to the Education Bureau (EDB), the definition of non-local students are as follows:

• Student VISA/Entry Permit to study in Hong Kong
• VISA/Entry Permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)
• Dependent VISA/Entry Permit (for students who were aged 18 years old or above when they were FIRST issued with such a VISA/Entry Permit by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR
• VISA/Entry Permit for Top Talent Pass Scheme (高端人才通行證計劃)

You are considered a local student if you are not one of the above.

Applicants are required to provide a copy of their identity documents to verify their local or non-local status in their application. If any inaccuracies are found in your application data or if your local/non-local status changes before admission, any offer made may be subject to revision.

If you hold a working visa, you are considered a local student. Please note that working visa holders may take up part-time study subject to the endorsement of their employer.

Non-local students can ONLY pursue full-time study and are NOT permitted to work, whether paid or unpaid, during their stay in Hong Kong unless the circumstances detailed in the Hong Kong Immigration Department website are met.

If you hold an IANG VISA issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department, you may take up part-time study subject to the endorsement of your employer.

The HKU Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) provides residential halls for students, given to prioritising undergraduate students. There is no guarantee of admission to a hall place for postgraduate students (except for limited scholarship awardees that have an agreement with the Faculty of Law). For further information on residential halls, please visit CEDARS’ accommodation website at https://w2.cedars.hku.hk/pgh/.

Scholarships may be awarded to eligible candidates who apply for admission to the Master of Common Law (MCL) programme and the Master of Laws in Human Rights [LLM(HR)] programme on merit and a financial basis.

You can find FAQs specifically for LLM (Arb&DR) students on the LLM(ADR&DR) programme website.