Frequently Asked QuestionsFrequently Asked Questions

For JUPAS admissions, usually Band A applicants will be invited to our interviews in January or June. Bonus points will be awarded to applicants with good performance in the interviews. 

For non-JUPAS admissions, shortlisted candidates will be invited for interviews between December and May, and preference will be given to candidates who list the BEng(DS&E) programme as their first choice. 

The BEng(DS&E) programme has admitted 80 students in 2022. For the latest figure, please refer to the HKU Undergraduate Admissions website.

BEng(DS&E) is a new programme; accreditation has been planned and will be sought as soon as the first cohort graduates in 2026.

The BEng(DS&E) programme not only covers knowledge of Computer Science, Statistics, Mathematics, and Engineering, but also includes legal and ethical topics to enhance privacy awareness and to develop professional practice. The programme also emphasizes analysis techniques for different types of data (e.g., IoT, imaging data, etc.) Students are encouraged to pursue a minor in a data-intensive domain (e.g., social data, financial data, health data, geographic data, etc.) and to work on the capstone experience in the domain.

BEng(CompSc) is a traditional and balanced curriculum that focuses on Computer Science concepts and theories with exciting computing technologies, including cyber security, metaverse, computer vision, quantum computing and information, game theory, etc.; BEng(DS&E) is a multidisciplinary programme emphasizing fundamental knowledge and practical skills in data science and engineering, and advanced topics on data-driven technologies and applications (e.g., machine learning and artificial intelligence, big data and data analytics, bioinformatics, natural language processing, etc.)

Students are encouraged to pursue minor programme(s) related to application of data science. Recommended minor programmes: Finance, Economics, Marketing, Politics and Public Administration, Journalism and Media Studies, Social Data Science, Neuroscience, General Linguistics, Genetics and Genomics, Urban Studies, Urban Infrastructure Informatics, Industrial Engineering and Logistics Management, Earth Sciences, Environmental Science, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.  

You may also explore other major/minor options from the other HKU programmes.

Due to substantial coverage of computing fundamentals in the BEng(DS&E) curriculum, BEng(DS&E) students are not allowed to take a second major or minor in Computer Science. Students are encouraged to apply Data Science technologies to non-Computer Science disciplines. The list of majors/minors can be referred to the HKU Academic Advising Office website.

Students are welcome to join projects/activities offered by other departments or faculties, if applicable, and cooperate with students/members from other disciplines. The Tam Wing Fan Innovation Wing of the Faculty of Engineering in HKU emphasizes hands-on and experiential learning activities for students, and provides facilities and an open environment that fosters interdisciplinary innovations.