City University of Hong Kong IELTS requirement: minimum band scores for 2026
City University of Hong Kong based in Kowloon Tong, Kowloon applies a single IELTS floor at both undergraduate and graduate level: overall 6.5. Programme-specific minimums sit above this floor; the breakdown below lists every programme on this page that does.
City University of Hong Kong requires a minimum IELTS Academic score of 6.5 overall for undergraduate admission and 6.5 overall for graduate study as of 2026. Individual programmes may set higher thresholds. All figures are sourced from the CityUHK admissions page and verified on 2026-06-23.
CityUHK requires an overall IELTS Academic of 6.5 for international undergraduate admission. Test scores must be within 2 years of the Semester A start date. IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS Online, and IELTS Indicator are all explicitly not accepted.
Research degrees (MPhil/PhD) require IELTS 6.5 university-wide. Taught postgraduate (master's) programmes have a lower baseline of 6.0, but candidates scoring exactly 6.0 must pass an English proficiency interview. Individual colleges set higher thresholds.
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Last verified 2026-06-23. The figures on this page are taken from City University of Hong Kong's own admissions page. Verify against the official source before relying on a specific number; programme directors can revise English requirements between intakes.
About CityUHK and its IELTS requirement
CityUHK is notable for its Veterinary Medicine programme (accredited by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) which requires IELTS 7.0. Taught postgraduate programmes have a low baseline of 6.0 but require an interview at that score. One Skill Retake, IELTS Online, and TOEFL MyBest are all explicitly rejected.
Translating the published minimum into a study target
Undergraduate applicants to CityUHK need an overall IELTS Academic band of 6.5 with no published per-section minimum. In CEFR terms this corresponds to B2. CityUHK requires an overall IELTS Academic of 6.5 for international undergraduate admission. Test scores must be within 2 years of the Semester A start date. IELTS One Skill Retake, IELTS Online, and IELTS Indicator are all explicitly not accepted.
For graduate study the institutional minimum is overall 6.5 with no published per-section minimum (CEFR B2). Research degrees (MPhil/PhD) require IELTS 6.5 university-wide. Taught postgraduate (master's) programmes have a lower baseline of 6.0, but candidates scoring exactly 6.0 must pass an English proficiency interview. Individual colleges set higher thresholds.
Programmes that raise the bar
Several CityUHK programmes publish IELTS thresholds that sit above the institutional minimum. The current list on this page includes Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) (overall 7.0), Juris Doctor (JD) (overall 7.0), School of Law (MPhil/PhD) (overall 7.0). Treat these as the target if you are applying to one of them; the institutional minimum does not over-ride a programme-level publication.
How to prepare for the CityUHK IELTS minimum
A target of 6.5 (CEFR B2) is achievable for candidates with strong school-level English and 4-8 weeks of focused IELTS practice. The fastest gains usually come from Listening and Reading because the question types are predictable and trainable. Sit a full-length practice test first, identify the section that pulls your overall down most, and drill that section before scheduling the live exam.
Programme-specific IELTS minimums
These programmes publish IELTS thresholds that differ from the institutional minimum above. Verify the programme page for the most current value before you apply.
| Programme | Overall | Per-section |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) | 7.0 | - |
| Juris Doctor (JD) | 7.0 | 6.5 |
| School of Law (MPhil/PhD) | 7.0 | - |
| MBA | 6.0 | - |
Other English tests CityUHK accepts
TOEFL iBT 79 (university baseline). CET-6 accepted for taught postgraduate (score varies by programme: 450 for MBA, 520 for Law). SAT EBRW 590 or ACT 24 for undergraduate. PTE Academic and TOEFL Home Edition are not accepted. TOEFL MyBest scores not accepted.
Alternatives and thresholds change between intakes. Confirm on the official admissions page before relying on a specific alternative test.
Official sources
- City University of Hong Kong - official English-language requirements (primary source for the bands on this page)
- IELTS.org - IELTS scoring in detail (official nine-band scale and how each band is awarded)
- British Council - IELTS band scores explained
Common questions
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