Admission

For JUPAS admission requirements, please refer to the information from the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Note:
Proficiency in Japanese language is not an admission requirement. Students who know Japanese are required to take the placement tests for taking appropriate level of Japanese appropriate levels of Japanese language courses when admitted.

The quota for JUPAS and local admission in 2026 intake is 22.

Admission scores for 2026 intake:

We accept non-JUPAS (local) students. For admission requirements, please refer to the website of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Senior-year entrants (for HD and AD applicants) will study two years at the University to graduate. Students of this kind are reminded with the following:

• Students are required to possess Japanese Language Proficiency Test (N2) * level or equivalent when admitted (admission requirement). Students who have prior knowledge of Japanese (beyond Japanese Language Proficiency Test (N2) level) before admission should seek the advice of the Department to take substitute courses, as appropriate. Approved courses taken in substitution for other courses will be included in the Major GPA calculation.
• Students are required to collect data for their final-year projects (FYP) during the summer after their first year of study.
• The Department will not send senior-year students to Japan for mandatory exchange. Students are encouraged to join summer exchange programmes organized by the Department or join the exchange programmes of other CUHK departments (Need to extend to graduate).
• The quota for 2026 intake was 8.

The Department has around 10 quotas for non-local students. For admission requirements, please refer to the information posted on the website of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid.

Admission talks will be held during the CUHK Information Day (on 17 October 2026).

Admission interview will be held after the release of the HKDSE results. The Department will invite the top students who select Japanese Studies as their Band A choice after the release of the HKDSE results.

Japanese Language

1. Will I enjoy admission advantage if I know the Japanese language?
No, candidates who know Japanese are not given admission advantage. But once they are admitted, they can advance further in Japanese language learning.

2. If I take Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), will this be counted in the JUPAS admission?
It will be counted as an Other Language subject in Category C in 2027 (Score conversion:N1=7, N2=5.5, N3=4)

Interview

3. What is the format of admission interview?
It will be a group interview.

4. What language will be used in the interview?

English will be used as the language medium in the interview.

5. What criteria does the admissions committee use when evaluating candidates in the interviews?
During interviews, the admissions committee looks for candidates who demonstrate that they are articulate in expressing their ideas in English, and are independent learners, self-motivated, open-minded, and curious about the world around them.

6. What kind of questions will be asked in the interview?
Questions vary a great deal, and may not necessarily be about Japan. As stated above, the admissions committee wants to know whether the candidate is knowledgeable and curious about the world including Japan, their own, and other societies, is able to reflect on their own experiences, and express themselves well in English.

7. What is the dress code for the interview?
The admissions committee does not make judgments based on appearances, but in our experience, most candidates wear business attire.

8. Should I select Japanese Studies in Band A before and/or after the release of the HKDSE results in order to maximize my chances of being invited for an interview?
The Department will invite the top students who select Japanese Studies as their Band A choice after the release of the HKDSE results.

Applicants with Associate-Degree/High Diploma qualifications

9. Is there any senior-year admission in Japanese Studies?
Yes, we had a quota of eight (2026-2027) for sub-degree holders. The admission requirement is Japanese Language Proficiency Test (N2).  Students admitted through this channel will study for two years at CUHK to graduate.

10. Will senior-year entrants be sent to Japan for a year of exchange?
No, they will not be sent for a year of exchange to Japan because of academic scheduling issues and exchange quota limitations. Rather, the Department will encourage them to participate in short-term exchanges during summer or join other exchange programmes organized by the University.

11. Are senior-year entrants required to submit the final-year projects?
Yes.

Exchange

12. In the year of exchange, do I need to pay the tuition fee?
Students on exchange are required to pay tuition fee to the Chinese University of Hong Kong but not the host university in Japan.

13. How much money should I prepare for the year of exchange?
It may vary considerably. Generally, students need to prepare at least HK$70,000 for accommodation, meals, transportation and other basic expenditures in addition to the tuition fee to the University.

14. How many credits can I earn back during exchange?
The University has a guideline on how to transfer credits.  Students can transfer up to 18 credits to the major programme.  In addition, students may apply to transfer credits for electives from other CUHK departments with the permission of those departments.

CUHK Japanese Studies Academic Counselling 2026

Applications should be submitted through the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid’s website.

https://admission.cuhk.edu.hk/