FAQ for Postgraduate Programmes

Please refer to Admission Requirements for Postgraduate Programmes for general and programme specific admission requirements. 

The Academy may consider professional experience and qualifications as alternatives if the applicant does not satisfy the general entry requirements. Please refer to the Admissions with Advanced Standing and Equivalency Principles sections.

Please refer to Major Term Dates for the commencement of academic year.

The normative study period of the Postgraduate Programmes are as follows: 

* Part-time programme only offers major in Conducting for Chinese Orchestras

The credit requirement for graduation is 60 credits for Master of Fine Arts and Master of Music programmes, and 24 credits for Master of Arts in Performing Arts Studies. Please refer to the respective programmes in Postgraduate Programmes for details.

At present, the Academy has no hostel facilities. Mainland and International students take the initiative to organise their own private accommodation either on an individual or a sharing basis. Students awarded a full scholarship will be provided with shared housing arranged by the Academy. Please refer to Accommodation Tips for more details.

The Student Affairs Office will provide assistance with student accommodation matters upon requested by students.

There is no difference in the Application Procedures and Admission requirements for local and Mainland and International applicants. However, Mainland and International applicants who do not have the right of abode/right to land in Hong Kong must obtain a valid student visa or entry permit from the HKSAR Immigration Department. For details, please visit the HKSAR Immigration Department's website.

Please refer to Application Procedures for details.

Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable application fee of HK$350 for each programme/study area before submitting the applications through the Online Application System.  Applicants must complete the payment before they can submit an application.  

Payment methods include Visa/MasterCard and UnionPay Card. For Mainland applicants, Alipay is also available. Only online payment is accepted.

For MFA and MMus Programmes
Applicants are required to possess Band 5.5 or above in IELTS Academic Test*; or 59 or above in TOEFL iBT (We do not accept MyBest score)*, if the Bachelor’s degree is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is not English.

For MA in Performing Arts Studies Programme
Applicants are required to possess Band 6.0 or above in IELTS Academic Test*; or 78 or above in TOEFL iBT (We do not accept MyBest score)*, if the Bachelor’s degree is obtained from an institution where the medium of instruction is not English.

* IELTS or TOEFL results submitted must be within a 2-year period from the date of the test to the date of submission of application for admission.

Please refer to the Documents Required section.

Auditions, interviews and tests are to be arranged by the respective Schools. Please refer to Important Dates about dates of interview/audition/test of Postgraduate Programmes.

Normally in face-to-face format (Other formats like Zoom interview is at the discretion by the respective Schools).

Students who do not have the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong are considered as Mainland and International students.

According to the Immigration Policy, Mainland and International applicants must obtain a student visa/entry permit from the HKSAR Immigration Department in order to study in Hong Kong. Students holding a visitor or tourist visa are not allowed to register at the Academy. They will not be allowed to commence their studies at the Academy until they obtain a valid student visa/entry permit.

In accordance with Hong Kong entry requirements, Mainland students holding a student visa can only apply for entry into Hong Kong to pursue full-time postgraduate programmes at the Academy

Applicants are advised to check and confirm with the HKSAR Immigration Department directly on their eligibility and validity of their visa for study purpose.

Mainland and International applicants should submit the application form ID995A with supporting documents to the HKSAR Immigration Department via HKAPA.

The Immigration Department normally takes 6 - 8 weeks to process visa application. Mainland and International applicants are advised to submit their student visa application as early as possible after the acceptance of the admission offer.

For details, please visit the HKSAR Immigration Department website.

Visa /entry permit application must be submitted to the HKSAR Immigration Department via the Academy. The Immigration Department normally takes 6 to 8 weeks to process student visa application. Mainland and International applicants are advised to submit their student visa application as early as possible after the acceptance of the admission offer.

Students from the Mainland should spare for at least 2 additional weeks to apply for an Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) 《往來港澳通行證》and a Relevant Exit Endorsement《逗留D簽注》from the relevant authorities in the Mainland, before departure to Hong Kong.

For details, please visit the HKSAR Immigration Department website.

Student visa/entry permit will only be sent to applicants who have confirmed the admission offer.

Applicants from overseas and Macao will be issued with a visa/entry permit (in the form of “e-Visa”). Upon immigration arrival clearance in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), an “e-Visa” holder should present his/her valid travel document or "Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR" (for Macao students only) and the “e-Visa” saved on a personal mobile device or printed on a sheet of A4 white paper.

Applicants from Taiwan will be issued with a single-journey entry permit and the applicants must enter Hong Kong on the strength of the entry permit.

Applicants from the Mainland will be issued with an “e-Visa”. After the applicant is issued with an e-Visa, he/she should apply for the Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) and a Relevant Exit Endorsement from the relevant authorities in the Mainland. The applicant’s EEP bearing a Relevant Exit Endorsement should be presented together with the "e-Visa" issued to him/her for immigration arrival clearance.

You are expected to provide financial proof(s) showing that you have sufficient means to cover your total cost of study and living expenses during your stay in Hong Kong. Some of the common financial documents include a clear copy of bank statements, savings account passbooks or tax receipts.

If the financial proof(s) belongs to a person who will support you financially, please also provide:

• proof of the relationship between you and that person, e.g. birth certificate, marriage certificate; and
• an undertaking signed by that person that s/he will support you financially.

All financial proof(s) should be in English/Chinese. Please provide official translation if necessary.

Please refer to the tuition fees of the postgraduate programmes in Fees.

Scholarships may be available for both local, Mainland and International postgraduate programme students. Scholarships are awarded based on both academic merit and financial need. Please refer to the Scholarships & Financial Assistance section.