PolyU School of Design Admissions 2027: Eligibility, Fees, Acceptance Rate & IELTS

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design Application Deadlines and Intakes

PolyU runs one central international cycle per academic year with three review rounds: Early, Main, and Extended. The School of Design follows this cycle for both the 4-year BA (Hons) Scheme in Design and the 1-year Master of Design, with September as the primary intake. The September 2026 cycle is fully closed across UG and PG. The September 2027 cycle opens 2 July 2026 for the Master of Design and around 1 August 2026 for the BA.

According to the PolyU international admissions page, PolyU’s primary intake for Indian students is September, where most BA and Master of Design programmes open.

Note: Master of Design applications are reviewed on a rolling basis within each round, so earlier submissions clear the panel sooner.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design Eligibility for Indian Students

The School of Design teaches every programme in English, so eligibility rests on two pillars: an academic floor (Class XII for the BA, a Bachelor’s for the MDes) and a verified English-language score. Below are the institution-wide minimums that PolyU publishes for international applicants.

• UG general entry: Class XII at 80% from CBSE, ICSE, or a state board.
• PG general entry: a recognised Bachelor’s degree in a relevant field.
• BA portfolio: required for all nine design specialisations under the BA scheme.
• MDes portfolio: required, though IBD and TED accept a self-introduction presentation instead.

PolyU lists two accepted English tests: IELTS Academic 6.0 overall in one sitting, or TOEFL iBT 80 in one sitting. PolyU does not publish minimums for PTE Academic or Duolingo for international applicants at the School of Design.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design IELTS Waiver for Indian Applicants

Indian applicants can skip IELTS or TOEFL by submitting 80% or above in Class XII English from the All India Senior School Certificate Examination, Indian School Certificate Examination, or a state Higher Secondary Certificate. This medium-of-instruction pathway is published on the official PolyU English language requirements page. If your Class XII English mark is below 80%, an IELTS or TOEFL score remains compulsory at both BA and MDes levels.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design Master of Design Programmes

The Master of Design Scheme is a 37-credit, one-year full-time professional degree built around four specialisms. Base tuition is HK$7,400 per credit (INR 88,948), taking the published total to HK$266,400 (INR 32.02 Lakhs) for the 36 chargeable credits. Cost-of-attendance figures, year-on-year fee changes, and scholarship amounts live on PolyU’s dedicated Fees and Scholarships pages.

Insider note: Innovative Business Design and Transitional Environments Design accept a self-introduction presentation in place of a formal design portfolio, which makes them the most accessible Master of Design routes for Indian applicants from non-design backgrounds such as business or engineering.

Note: Program-specific entry requirements, fees, and intake availability may differ from the institution-wide minimums shown above. Always confirm on the official PolyU School of Design admissions page for your chosen programme before applying.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design BA (Hons) Scheme in Design

The BA (Hons) Scheme in Design is a 4-year programme where students enter a common foundation year and branch into one of nine specialisations from Year 2. Base tuition for non-local students is HK$200,000 per year (INR 24.04 Lakhs), plus a one-time HK$20,000 (INR 2.40 Lakhs) initial fee to secure the seat. All nine streams share the same Class XII floor and portfolio expectation.

The remaining specialisations under the BA scheme are Media Design, Environmental Design, and Social Design, all on the same entry floor. For programme-level detail and the full list of streams, view the School of Design’s complete course list and stream filters.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design PhD and Doctor of Design

The School of Design runs two doctoral routes: a research-only PhD in Design (an academic-research doctorate) and a Doctor of Design or DDes, which is a Mixed Mode professional doctorate where students combine full-time and part-time study under one programme. Both routes target candidates already practising in industry or research, and applications need a research proposal alongside academic transcripts and references.

Base tuition for the PhD is HK$94,000 per year (INR 11.30 Lakhs) for full-time students without a stipend, or HK$47,000 per year (INR 5.65 Lakhs) for those holding a PolyU postgraduate scholarship that covers half the fee. A one-time HK$15,000 (INR 1.80 Lakhs) registration fee is due at admission and is credited to the first-year tuition. The DDes follows a 51-credit structure at HK$8,500 per credit (INR 1.02 Lakhs per credit). The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is the main funded route for Indian doctoral applicants.

Note: The 2027/28 PhD cycle opens from October 2026, with the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme nomination round closing 1 December 2026.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design Application Process

The School of Design uses PolyU’s central eAdmission portal for both BA and Master of Design applications. The same login covers all four MDes specialisms and the 4-year BA, with a separate application required for each level.

1. Create an account on the PolyU eAdmission portal.
2. Select up to two programme choices within a single application.
3. Upload Class XII or Bachelor’s transcripts in English, plus the IELTS or TOEFL score (or Class XII English marksheet for the MOI waiver).
4. Upload the design portfolio (or a self-introduction presentation for IBD and TED applicants).
5. Pay the application fee of HK$450 (INR 5,409) for UG or HK$500 (INR 6,010) for PG on eAdmission by Visa, Mastercard, or UnionPay.
6. Submit and track the application status in eAdmission. Programme choices cannot be edited after submission.

Indian applicants do not currently qualify for the application-fee waiver, which is reserved for candidates from UN-designated least-developed countries.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design Admission Decisions Timeline

PolyU sends decision emails on a rolling basis as each round closes, not in a single batch at the end of the cycle. For the BA, all decisions are issued by mid-July of the admission year; if no email arrives by then, the application is treated as unsuccessful.

• BA Early Round: decisions from December to February.
• BA Main Round: decisions from March to May.
• BA Extended Round: decisions from May to mid-July.
• Master of Design rounds: decisions within 6 to 8 weeks of each round deadline.
• Offer acceptance: typically two weeks to confirm the seat plus the HK$20,000 (INR 2.40 Lakhs) BA initial fee.

Conditional offers are common when Class XII results, the final Bachelor’s transcript, or the IELTS scorecard are still pending at the time of decision. Indian applicants can request deferral to the next academic year only with documented grounds and dean’s approval.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design Documents Required

The eAdmission portal accepts uploads in PDF or JPEG. Original certificates are not posted at the application stage but must be verified after offer acceptance through PolyU’s Academic Registry.

• Passport bio page: machine-readable Indian passport valid at least one year beyond the programme.
• Class XII or Bachelor’s transcript: certified English translation if not in English.
• English score report: IELTS, TOEFL iBT, or the Class XII English marksheet for the MOI route.
• Design portfolio: 10 to 20 work samples in PDF, or a self-introduction video for IBD and TED applicants.
• Statement of purpose: 500 to 800 words covering motivation and career goals.
• Two letters of recommendation: academic referees for fresh graduates, mixed academic-industry for PG applicants with work experience.
• CV or resume: single page focused on design projects, internships, and any publications.
• Financial proof: bank statement or sponsorship letter, due at the visa stage, not at application.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design Acceptance Rate

PolyU does not publish an institutional acceptance rate for the School of Design. Based on the portfolio-led shortlist and the studio panel structure, the working estimate sits at 15 to 20% for the BA (Hons) Scheme in Design and 25 to 35% for the Master of Design Scheme. PolyU does not publish a university-wide acceptance figure either.

Insider note: The portfolio carries more weight than Class XII marks for BA shortlisting at the School of Design. A strong, narrative-led portfolio can offset a borderline academic profile, but a weak portfolio rarely clears the studio panel even with 90% marks.

Master of Design specialisms vary in selectivity. Innovative Business Design and Transitional Environments Design accept a broader profile because of the self-introduction route, while Intelligent Systems Design and Smart Service Design lean heavier on coding, research, or design-research backgrounds in the applicant pool.

Hong Kong Student Visa for The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, School of Design Applicants

Indian students need a Hong Kong Student Visa before flying out. The application is filed through PolyU as the sponsor: once you accept the offer, PolyU forwards the Form ID 995A package and supporting documents to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. Processing typically takes 6 to 8 weeks, so file the visa paperwork right after accepting the offer to clear in time for September entry.

Financial proof must show coverage of one year of tuition plus living costs, around HK$300,000 (INR 36.06 Lakhs) for the BA cohort and HK$350,000 (INR 42.07 Lakhs) for the Master of Design cohort, via bank statement or sponsor affidavit. On arrival, register with PolyU’s Global Engagement Office and apply for the Hong Kong Identity Card within 30 days at the Immigration Tower in Wan Chai. For wider study-abroad context, see the Hong Kong study guide for Indian students.

Planning note: Hong Kong does not charge a separate Immigration Health Surcharge like the UK. Budget instead for the optional University Health Service plan, which sits at around HK$2,000 (INR 24,040) per year for non-local students.