Students chatting in Chi Wah Learning Common

The Talent Search Scheme (previously known as School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS)) is introduced with the aim of recognising the talent of high school students that could not be fully assessed by the national / international examinations alone. It is a “programme-student matching exercise” in essence that provides opportunities for high school students who have demonstrated exceptional talents and interests in specific disciplines / areas to be considered for direct admission to HKU. 

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Talent Search Scheme, students must:

a)     be a current student pursuing the final year of respective high-school curriculum; and

b)     apply for admission to HKU through the HKU Application System for Undergraduate Programmes in parallel. 

 

 

Self Nomination

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Eligible students with exceptional talents and interests in specific disciplines / areas may self-nominate for consideration under the scheme by ONE of the programmes listed below, which MUST also be their first choice under the HKU Application System for Undergraduate Programmes.

The nomination period will run from September 20 to December 1 2023 (noon HKT).

Programmes Academic Criteria Non-Academic Requirements
Bachelor of Arts Top 20% in class

Students should submit a personal statement in no more than 300 words providing an introduction of their backgrounds, their talents and competencies, why they are interested in the programme, and the major(s) they intend to do.

Students who are interested in studying Music as their major, should indicate in the personal statement.  They are also strongly encouraged to apply for the HKU Music Scholarship Scheme.

Bachelor of Arts and Sciences Top 10% in class Students should submit a personal statement in around 300 words what is their understanding of interdisciplinarity and how do they think such a focus could benefit society? How do they plan to make the most of this interdisciplinarity in their time as a BASc student?
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Applied Artificial Intelligence Top 20% in class, and in particular top 10% in Mathematics Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Design+ Top 10% in class Creative works portfolio
Bachelor of Arts and Sciences in Financial Technology Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics N/A
Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies Top 10% in class Aptitude exercise / portfolio
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities and Digital Technologies Top 20% in class

Students should submit a personal statement in no more than 300 words providing an introduction of their backgrounds, their talents and competencies, particularly in demonstrating their skills and knowledges in digital technologies, and why they are interested in the programme.

Students who are interested in studying Music as part of the bachelor programme, should indicate in the personal statement.  They are also strongly encouraged to apply for the HKU Music Scholarship Scheme.

Bachelor of Arts in Landscape Studies Top 25% in class Students should submit a creative design response. 
Bachelor of Arts in Urban Studies
Bachelor of Business Administration Top 15% in class, and in particular top 15% in English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School.
Bachelor of Business Administration (Business Analytics) Top 10% in class, and in particular top 15% in English, Mathematics and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Information and Communications Technology, or Physics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School.
Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and Finance / Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting Data Analytics Top 15% in class, and in particular top 15% in English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School.
Bachelor of Business Administration in International Business and Global Management Top 5% in class, and in particular top 5% in English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School.
Bachelor of Economics / Bachelor of Economics and Finance Top 15% in class, and in particular top 15% in English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School.
Bachelor of Engineering Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and Physics N/A
Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering
Bachelor of Engineering in Data Science and Engineering Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics N/A
Bachelor of Engineering in Engineering Science Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics N/A
Bachelor of Finance in Asset Management and Private Banking Top 5% in class, and in particular top 15% in English and Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School. 
Bachelor of Journalism Top 15% in English Students should submit a narrated slide-show of no more than 5 minutes in length, via any video-sharing site (i.e. YouTube) with at least ten photographs of their favourite place / location in Hong Kong. The narration should be in English and in the nominees’ own voice, and should describe what the place / location means to them and why they like it.
Bachelor of Psychology Top 10% in class

Students should submit a life story video in English of no more than 2 minutes in length, featuring themselves appearing in the video.

Students should provide an introduction of their background and why they are interested to study psychology, and outline specifically how their non-traditional pathways and / or life adversities they have encountered demonstrate their resilience and passion to make a difference in the society.

Bachelor of Science Top 25% in class, and in particular top 20% in Mathematics and at least one of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, or Physics Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Science Top 20% in class, and in particular top 10% in Mathematics
Bachelor of Science in Marketing Analytics and Technology Top 10% in class, and in particular top 15% in English, Mathematics and at least one of the following subjects: Accounting, Biology, Business, Chemistry, Economics, Information and Communications Technology, or Physics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School. 
Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Finance Top 5% in class, and in particular top 15% in English and top 5% in Mathematics Students will be invited to provide details about their interest in the programme and their non-academic achievements separately by the HKU Business School. 
Bachelor of Science in Surveying Top 25% in class Students should submit a 1-page personal statement detailing their interest in the related disciplines.
Bachelor of Social Sciences Top 15% in English

Students should submit a life story video in English of no more than 2 minutes in length, featuring themselves appearing in the video.

Students should provide an introduction of their background and why they are interested to study the programme, a discipline about people and society, and outline specifically how their non-traditional pathways and / or life adversities they have encountered demonstrate their resilience and passion to make an impact to serve the society.

Bachelor of Social Work Students should submit a CV containing details of the following:
- volunteer work and experience;
- leadership experience; and
- contribution to the school community.
Global Engineering and Business Programme Top 20% in class, and in particular with strength in Mathematics, and Physics N/A
Science Master Class Top 10% in class, and in particular top 5% in at least two of the following subjects: Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, or Physics Students should submit a personal statement outlining their participation in social services, experience, and achievements, preferably related to the subject discipline.
The self-nomination should be submitted via the online nomination form together with
- a reference letter from their schools;
- evidence showing their fulfilment of the academic criteria listed above; and
- any additional supporting documents listed above.

 

Students are also required to submit their applications and any necessary documents under the HKU Application System for Undergraduate Programmes.

 

SUBMIT YOUR NOMINATION HERE

Interview and Offer Arrangement

Shortlisted students may be invited to attend an interview between January and February.

Firm offer will be issued to successful students on a rolling basis until the end of August.