Bachelor's English requirement
CityUHK's non-local international admission page says applicants with international qualifications are expected to meet its English Language Requirements through one of these:
| Test or qualification | CityUHK bachelor's minimum |
|---|---|
| IELTS Academic | 6.5 overall |
| TOEFL iBT, from 21 Jan 2026 | 4.5 out of 6 |
| TOEFL iBT, before 21 Jan 2026 | 79 out of 120 |
| PTE Academic | 62 overall |
| Cambridge C1 Advanced / C2 Proficiency | Grade C |
| SAT | 590 in Evidence-Based Reading and Writing |
| ACT | 24 in both English and Reading, one sitting |
| India SSC/HSC/ISC Standard XII | 70% in English |
| Duolingo English Test | Not listed |
Test rules and Indian applicants
IELTS and TOEFL must be taken within two years before the start of Semester A of the admission year. Online and home-edition results, including IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online and IELTS One Skill Retake, are not accepted.
For Indian applicants the academic requirement is a minimum average of 75% at Standard XII (SSC, HSC or ISC), and 70% in English at Standard XII meets the English requirement, so you do not need IELTS if you have it.
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Take a free scored IELTS mock →Taught master's English requirement
The taught postgraduate entrance requirements apply if your entrance qualification comes from an institution where English is not the medium of instruction: TOEFL iBT 79 (tests before 21 January 2026) or 4 (from that date), IELTS 6.0 overall, CET-6 or equivalents. Individual colleges and schools may set higher requirements.
Applicants with IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 4 must pass an English interview run by the academic unit. Scores are valid for two years and must be obtained within the two years before the university's application period opens. TOEFL Home Edition, TOEFL MyBest, IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake and IELTS Online are not accepted. TOEFL goes direct from ETS (code 3401) and IELTS via e-delivery to 'City University of Hong Kong - Graduate School'.
CityUHK's English pages we read do not set a separate English score for the student visa or permit. Requirements vary by programme and change between admissions cycles. The score that binds you is the one on your CityUHK programme page and in your admission decision, so check it there before you book a test.
Frequently asked questions
Does CityU Hong Kong accept PTE?+
Yes for bachelor's entry: PTE Academic 62 overall. The taught master's page lists TOEFL, IELTS and CET-6, not PTE.
Does CityU accept Duolingo?+
Duolingo is not on the bachelor's or taught master's lists we read.
Does CityU accept IELTS Online?+
No. Both the bachelor's and the taught master's pages say IELTS Online, IELTS Indicator and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted.
Do CBSE students need IELTS for CityU?+
Not if they score 70% in English at Standard XII, which CityUHK accepts as meeting its English requirement.
Is IELTS 6.0 enough for a CityU master's?+
It meets the university minimum, but applicants with 6.0 must pass an English interview, and some schools set higher scores.
Keep reading
Related
- HKU IELTS requirement
- CUHK IELTS requirement
- IELTS for Hong Kong
- IELTS band score calculator
- All 711 guides
Verified against the linked official sources on 8 October 2026. Rules change: confirm on the official page before you book or apply.
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