Last updated: 20 August 2025.
All applications must be submitted via the online application system. The system will open to accept applications for admission from (GMT +8) 12:00 noon, Monday, 11 November 2024 to (GMT +8) 12:00 noon, Monday, 3 February 2025.
Important
- Please read the Programme Information, Regulations and Syllabuses (current set of 2024-2025), and Personal Information Collection Statement before you create a user account in the online application system.
- Please complete and submit your online application within 4 weeks from the date of the creation of your account or before the deadline of application in Hong Kong time, whichever is earlier. If you do not submit your application by that time, all records you have entered into the system will be deleted.
- You will be asked to pay a non-refundable application fee of HK$450 online by Visa or Mastercard credit card when you submit your online application. If your payment and submission are successful, you will be given an application number after submission of the online application form. Please quote this application number and your full name every time you send us an enquiry or a package of supporting documents.
- The Admissions Committee will begin to review all applications until after the application deadline. In other words, there is no need to submit one’s application early to attempt to secure an advantage. However, the application system would likely be overloaded due to the large volume of applications towards the end of the application period. Applicants are advised to complete their application as early as possible to ensure timely completion of their application.
Academic References
Applicants will be asked to provide details of two referees, including their institutional email addresses, in the online application report. At least one of the referees should be able to comment knowledgeably on the applicant’s academic performance and on his/her ability to pursue postgraduate work in law. Academic references will only be accepted from instructors from your previous full-time university degrees. If a non-academic reference is provided, they must have formally and substantially supervised you in a professional context. Application without BOTH reference letters will not be considered.
Upon the receipt of your online application, our online reference report system will immediately send an invitation email to the institutional email addresses of your academic referees provided. Your referees will then have 14 calendar days to complete the reference report for you. They will receive a reminder email 7 calendar days before the deadline if the reference report has not been completed by then.
Please note that it takes time for your referees to prepare a reference report. We would suggest you contact your referees at your earliest convenience to allow them sufficient time to write the reports for you. In case you or your referees needs any assistance, please contact the JD Admissions Team by email at jdinfo@hku.hk.
Supporting Documents
Subsequent to submission of the online application, applicants are required to submit a scanned or soft copy of the following supporting documents to complete their applications:
- One personal statement of no more than 1000 words; and
- One copy of IELTS / TOEFL test score report(s), if required; and
- One copy of the applicant’s curriculum vitae (mandatory); and
- Academic transcript(s) and graduation certificate(s), with certified translations in English where appropriate; and
- If applicable:
- All applicants must submit the following documents if their academic qualification(s) is obtained from an institution in Mainland China. These documents can be applied from the China Higher Education Student Information (學信網). Please also set the validity period of the report as six months or the longest available duration.
- Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificate (教育部學歷證書電子註冊備案表) (in both Chinese and English versions); and
- Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate (中國高等教育學位在線驗證報告) (in both Chinese and English versions).
- All non-local applicants from mainland China must submit Overseas Credentials Evaluation Report (教育部國外學歷學位認證書) of your overseas qualifications issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). Please also set the validity period of the report as six months or the longest available duration.
- All applicants must submit the following documents if their academic qualification(s) is obtained from an institution in Mainland China. These documents can be applied from the China Higher Education Student Information (學信網). Please also set the validity period of the report as six months or the longest available duration.
The Admissions Committee may, if deemed necessary, request you to provide the original or certified copies of your supporting documents for review and record.
All documents, once submitted, will not be returned, and will be destroyed if the application is unsuccessful.
The above supporting documents should be uploaded to the website during online application as soon as possible and by (GMT +8) 12:00 noon, Monday, 3 February 2025.
It is the responsibility of the applicants to ensure that all documentations are complete. Failure to complete the documentation may result in delay in consideration of the application. An application will not be reviewed and acted upon until it is complete.
* Transcripts, diplomas, and other submitted documents which are not in English should be accompanied by a certified translation in English. Certified translation may be provided by applicants’ home institutions.
Important
We receive hundreds of application packs, academic transcripts, reference letters and IELTS / TOEFL test score results etc. during the admissions period, and we seek your understanding that we are unable to check/ confirm whether all of your supporting documents are received. If the Admissions Committee finds that any of your supporting documents are missing, we may contact you by email. Your understanding would be greatly appreciated.
Interview
Shortlisted applicants will be potentially invited to attend interviews during March – April 2025. Depending on the location and the availability of the applicant, he/she may be asked to attend an in-person or a phone/video interview. Applicants who are located in Hong Kong will be asked to attend an in-person interview. Applicants who are located outside Hong Kong will be asked to attend either, where possible, a video-conference interview, or a phone interview.
Applicants are advised to add jdinfo@hku.hk and tpgadmissions@hku.hk to their address book or safe senders list to prevent our emails from being filtered as junk emails.
Application Deadlines
Submission of online application and submission of supporting documents: (GMT +8) 12:00 noon, Monday, 3 February 2025.
An application will not be reviewed and acted upon until it is complete.
Application Results
Most applicants will receive a decision by the end of April. Admitted applicants will be required to accept the offer and pay the non-refundable deposit within ten days.
For applicants who have received admission offers from other programmes that would expire prior to our usual notification time, they may request the Admissions Committee at jdinfo@hku.hk for an expedited review with documentary proof of an offer from another programme.
The Admissions Committee reserves the right not to entertain such request.