CityUHK commits to nurturing Hong Kong’s future talent; DSE top scorer aspires to join Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine Programme
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) is dedicated to nurturing well-rounded talent for society, admitting not only academically outstanding students but also those with strong potential in non-academic areas. Through a wide variety of programmes and initiatives, the University helps students identify their aspirations and realise their full potential.
Having been named the “Most International University in the World” by Times Higher Education (THE) for two consecutive years (2024 and 2025), CityUHK is committed to cultivating students’ global leadership and professional skills. The University offers a broad spectrum of academic programmes, including the nine Flagship Programmes. Students enrolled in these Flagship Programmes are eligible for Flagship Scholarships and overseas exchange sponsorships, as well as opportunities to engage in academic and research exchanges at world-renowned institutions.
One of this year’s top scorers in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), Kotler Lee Ching, who achieved 5** in six subjects, will enrol in the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) programme, one of the University’s Flagship Programmes, in the upcoming academic year. Kotler shared that his aspiration to become a veterinarian grew from keeping various animals, such as cats, turtles and beetles, since childhood. He hopes to combine his passion for animals with a meaningful career by learning about the unique physiology of different species.
Kotler expressed his aspiration to experience university life in Hong Kong and said the BVM programme has always been his first choice. He values the programme’s dual international accreditation and high global recognition, as well as its flexible structure and wide-ranging graduate pathways, which allow for registration as a veterinarian in Hong Kong and abroad.
Kotler has actively participated in animal-related volunteer work from an early age, which deepened his understanding of the veterinary profession and its challenges. “Applicants to CityUHK’s BVM programme must have at least 70 hours of animal-related work experience,” he said. “My experience working at a veterinary clinic provided me with hands-on exposure to different animals and helped confirm my suitability for veterinary medicine and clarify my career direction.”
The Jockey Club College of Veterinary Medicine and Life Sciences (JCC) at CityUHK is a leading veterinary school in Asia. Its BVM programme is the only veterinary degree programme in the region with dual accreditation from the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) and the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) in the UK — two of the world’s foremost veterinary regulatory bodies. CityUHK pioneered the concept of One Health in Hong Kong and has collaborated with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in the US since 2009 to establish Hong Kong’s first six-year BVM. The first cohort of students was admitted to the programme in 2017.
Professor Vanessa Barrs, Dean of the JCC, emphasised that graduates of the BVM enjoy a wide range of career options. Many are now practicing as veterinarians in Hong Kong or working in sectors such as agriculture, fisheries and the dairy industry overseas. “It’s not just about loving animals,” she said, encouraging students interested in studying veterinary medicine. “Being a veterinary is also about being a health professional or being a scientist. A career in veterinary medicine is exciting because it opens the door to diverse career opportunities and they can change over time.”
Professor Barrs added that the College will further enhance its admission systems and increase the student intake in the future. She highlighted the programme’s debut in the 2025 Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings by Subject, where it was ranked among the global top 100, and expressed confidence that CityUHK’s veterinary programme would reach the top 20 worldwide within a decade.
The BVM programme is among CityUHK’s nine Flagship Programmes, which offer flagship scholarships covering full or half tuition, accommodation and guaranteed residence to eligible local students admitted via the JUPAS or non-JUPAS routes, with annual renewals based on the duration of study. There is also a one-time overseas exchange subsidy of up to HK$500,000.
Students enrolled in Flagship Programmes will have opportunities to engage in exchanges at leading universities worldwide, including Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Imperial College London, University of Oxford, University of Cambridge, Cornell University, University of Toronto and Columbia University, enabling them to acquire essential knowledge and skills, foster global leadership, network with top professionals and seize valuable development opportunities.
More about CityUHK’s BVM programme: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/jcc/education/undergraduate-programmes/bachelor-veterinary-medicine
More about CityUHK’s nine Flagship Programmes: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/pvdp/flagship/