CityUHK and Columbia expand Joint Bachelor’s Degree Programme
Uniquely and for the first time, high school students from Hong Kong and around the world can apply directly for Year 1 entry to the elite Joint Bachelor’s Degree Programme (JBDP) run by City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) and Columbia University, starting from the 2026/27 academic year, enabling students to earn degrees from both institutions upon graduation.
The JBDP includes 12 four-year dual-degree programmes offered by CityUHK. Students admitted through this programme will spend the first two years at CityUHK, followed by their third and fourth years at Columbia University, where they will complete major-specific and Core courses, spending two years at each institution, enabling them to earn degrees from both institutions upon graduation. Upon enrolment, both CityUHK and Columbia University will assign dedicated academic advisors to provide students with academic and personal guidance and support.
Ranked as the “Most International University in the World” by Times Higher Education (THE) in 2024 and 2025, CityUHK is committed to providing outstanding students with opportunities to study at world-class institutions and welcomes high school graduates from diverse academic backgrounds to apply. This innovative progromme will accept applications from students with qualifications such as the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE), International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP), General Certificate of Education Advanced Level (GCE A-Level), and Standardized Assessment Test (SAT), allowing them to plan their academic journey early at the high school graduation stage.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for the brightest students from Hong Kong and around the world to earn a transformational double degree, enabling them to secure international exposure at an earlier stage. The JBDP is also highly recognised in local, regional, and global job markets.” said Professor Alan Wan Tze-kin, Associate Provost (Academic Affairs) at CityUHK.
He added that students holding this joint degree will benefit from being immersed in a wide range of cultures and experiences, greatly benefiting their future growth.
“As an alumna of the School’s first joint programme, I am delighted that we are expanding our partnership with CityUHK, which is consistently ranked among the best academic institutions worldwide,” said Dr Lisa Rosen-Metsch, Dean of the School of General Studies (GS) at Columbia.
The CityUHK joint programme is now aligned with the current portfolio of highly-regarded international undergraduate dual and joint degree programmes that Columbia University’s School of General Studies has established with Sciences Po, France, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and Tel Aviv University, Israel.
This JBDP’s multidisciplinary educational experience, focused across the humanities and the natural and social sciences, provides students with a strong liberal arts education while empowering them to succeed in an increasingly complex and fast-changing world.
The programme integrates the rich and rigorous core undergraduate curricula of both institutions, covering the following academic disciplines:
- Business Decision Analytics (Business Decision Analytics Stream only)
- Business Economics
- Computational Finance and Financial Technology (Computational Finance and Financial Technology Stream)
- Computer Science
- Computing Mathematics
- Global Business
- International Relations and Global Affairs
- Linguistics and Language Applications
- Management
- Physics
- Psychology
- Public Affairs and Management (Public Affairs and Governance Stream only)
Mr Curtis Rodgers, Vice Dean of the School of GS, and Ms Jessica Sarles, Senior Associate Dean for Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships of the School of GS at Columbia University, will attend CityUHK’s Undergraduate Info Day on 4 October to host an information session on the JBDP, providing an in-depth overview of the programme’s features, strengths and future prospect.