Admissions · Hong Kong

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) Acceptance Rate: Admissions Statistics and TOEFL & IELTS Requirements

PolyU does not publish an acceptance rate or the number of applications it receives. Official UGC data show 3,509 full-time-equivalent first-year undergraduates admitted to PolyU's funded places in 2025/26, against 2,363 approved intake places.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) TOEFL and IELTS requirements at a glance

Minimum TOEFL iBT and IELTS Academic scores for Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
Applying for	TOEFL iBT	IELTS Academic
Undergraduate (international / other qualifications)	TOEFL iBTTests on or after 21 January 2026: 4.5 or above out of 6.0 in one sitting (2026 1–6 scale). Tests before 21 January 2026: 80 or above out of 120 in one sitting (pre-2026 scale). No section minimum stated.	IELTS Academic6.0 overall band or above (Academic) in one sitting; no sub-score minimum stated

Full requirements and official sources · Check your TOEFL band with a free mock test

PolyU does not publish how many students applied or received offers, and its own statistical summary, PolyU in Figures, was last issued for 2022/23. The current official figures come from the University Grants Committee and the Legislative Council, plus PolyU's score ranges for admitted A-Level and IB students. This page shows them, explains what each one counts, and lists the IELTS and TOEFL scores international applicants need.

Figures read from official sources on 26 October 2026 · LingoLeap Admissions Research

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) acceptance rate by year

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) applicants, admits and acceptance rate by admission cycle
Cycle	Applicants	Admitted	Acceptance rate
2025/26 · first-year undergraduates (UGC-funded)	Not published	3,509 FTE (2,363 approved intake places)	Not published source
2024/25 · non-local undergraduates (UGC-funded, all years)	Not published	3,785 FTE (28.6% of local places)	Not published source

PolyU non-local students and admitted-student scores

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) acceptance rate by admission round, college or applicant group
Group	Cycle	Rate	Detail
Admitted GCE A-Level students, middle 50%	2026 entry	144–168 UCAS points	25th–75th percentile of UCAS Tariff points for three A-Level subjects. PolyU says the figures are for reference only and vary by year and programme. source
Admitted IB students, middle 50%	2026 entry	33–38 points	25th–75th percentile, including the additional points for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. source
Non-local students, UGC-funded undergraduate programmes	2024/25	28.6%	3,785 full-time-equivalent non-local students, equivalent to 28.6% of PolyU's 13,223 local student places, against 23.2% across all eight UGC-funded universities (provisional government figures). source
Non-local research postgraduates, UGC-funded	2024/25	1,473 FTE	Non-local students on UGC-funded research postgraduate programmes (provisional). The non-local ceiling does not apply to research degrees. source
UGC-funded undergraduate enrolment	2025/26	17,750 students	Headcount of students on UGC-funded undergraduate programmes, all years of study. source

What the numbers mean

None of these figures is an acceptance rate. The UGC figure is full-time-equivalent first-year admissions to government-funded degree places, and the LegCo figure counts non-local students enrolled across all years. PolyU publishes no applications or offers totals, so no acceptance rate can be calculated from official data; rates quoted by other websites are estimates.

UGC-funded intake places are local student places, and non-local students are admitted in addition to them, up to a government ceiling. That is why PolyU's 3,509 first-year admissions in 2025/26 exceed its 2,363 approved intake places. In 2024/25 PolyU's non-local undergraduates were equivalent to 28.6% of its local places, above the all-university figure of 23.2%.

The closest official measure of how competitive PolyU is for international applicants is its published score range: the middle half of students admitted for 2026 entry had 144–168 UCAS Tariff points across three A-Levels or 33–38 IB points. Local students mostly apply through JUPAS with HKDSE results; international students apply directly to PolyU.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) TOEFL and IELTS requirements

Minimums for international applicants from the university's own pages. Since 21 January 2026 TOEFL iBT reports a 1–6 band score; the notes give the older 0–120 equivalent where the university states one. Convert TOEFL and IELTS scores.

Undergraduate (international / other qualifications)

TOEFL iBT: Tests on or after 21 January 2026: 4.5 or above out of 6.0 in one sitting (2026 1–6 scale). Tests before 21 January 2026: 80 or above out of 120 in one sitting (pre-2026 scale). No section minimum stated.

IELTS Academic: 6.0 overall band or above (Academic) in one sitting; no sub-score minimum stated

Test taken within 2 years before the start of study. Not accepted: TOEFL iBT Home Edition, IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake. Individual programmes may specify otherwise.

PolyU Undergraduate Admissions, International / Other Qualifications: English Language Requirements · checked 26 October 2026

Check your score against Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

Take a free 2026-format TOEFL mock test for a 1–6 band estimate, then compare it with the minimum above and with other universities' requirements.

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FAQ

What is the PolyU acceptance rate?

PolyU does not publish one, and it does not publish how many applications it receives, so there is no official acceptance rate. UGC data show it admitted 3,509 full-time-equivalent first-year undergraduates to funded places in 2025/26.

What is the PolyU acceptance rate for international students?

Not published. Government figures show non-local undergraduates at PolyU in 2024/25 were equivalent to 28.6% of its local student places (3,785 full-time-equivalent students). For admitted 2026 entrants, the middle 50% scored 144–168 UCAS points at A-Level or 33–38 in the IB.

What TOEFL score does PolyU require?

For TOEFL iBT taken on or after 21 January 2026: a total of 4.5 or above out of 6.0 in one sitting. For tests taken before that date: 80 or above out of 120 in one sitting. The test must be taken within 2 years before your studies start, and TOEFL iBT Home Edition is not accepted. Individual programmes may set different requirements.

What IELTS score does PolyU require?

IELTS Academic 6.0 overall or above in one sitting, taken within 2 years before your studies start. No sub-score minimum is stated. IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted. Individual programmes may set different requirements.

What A-Level or IB scores do PolyU students have?

For 2026 entry, the 25th–75th percentile of admitted students was 144–168 UCAS Tariff points across three A-Level subjects, and 33–38 IB points including the bonus points for Theory of Knowledge and the Extended Essay. PolyU says these figures are for reference only.