Application Deadlines for Greater Bay Area Universities: Month-by-Month Guide (2027 Intake)

One of the most common mistakes international students make when applying to China is assuming there is a single national deadline. In reality, the Greater Bay Area — Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macau — runs on three different application calendars, and missing the right window can cost you a full year.

This guide walks through the cycle month by month, based on the latest published schedules for the 2027 (September) intake. Exact dates can shift by a few days each year, so always confirm on the university page or with our team before submitting.

The short version: Hong Kong universities reward early birds with November early rounds; mainland Guangdong universities open around January and close in April–June; Macau universities run one March–June window; and a handful of language and diploma programs stay open until July–August.

October–November 2026: Early Rounds in Hong Kong

Hong Kong's eight universities typically open international applications in early October — a full year before enrollment. Applying in the early round improves your scholarship chances and leaves room for retakes of IELTS or SAT.

• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University — early round closes November 19, 2026 (main round: May 15, 2027). Bachelor's tuition HK$200,000/yr.
• The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology — early round closes November 20, 2026 (late round: June 30, 2027). Bachelor's tuition HK$215,000/yr.
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong, HK Baptist University and The Education University of Hong Kong — applications open around early October 2026; late-round deadlines fall in May 2027.

Not sure whether Hong Kong or the mainland suits you better? Compare them in our Hong Kong vs mainland universities guide.

December 2026–January 2027: Mainland Guangdong Applications Open

The big Guangzhou and Shenzhen universities open their international-student portals between late December and mid-January:

• Sun Yat-sen University — opens January 1, 2027; round 2 closes April 30, 2027. Bachelor's ¥26,000–48,000/yr (HSK 5, 180+ required for Chinese-taught); English-taught master's ¥30,000–55,000/yr.
• South China University of Technology — opens January 1, 2027; bachelor's deadline June 30, 2027, graduate programs June 15, 2027. Bachelor's from ¥18,200/yr (Chinese) and ¥26,000/yr (English).
• Jinan University — Phase 1 opens January 15, 2027; Phase 2 closes May 31, 2027. English-taught bachelor's from ¥28,000/yr.
• Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen — opens December 30, 2026; deadline May 20, 2027. English-taught master's ¥35,000/yr, PhD ¥42,000/yr.

February–March 2027: Macau and Vocational Windows Open

Macau's four universities all run a single main window for international applicants, opening between February and March:

• University of Macau — applications open January 15; deadline May 15. Bachelor's MOP 80,000/yr (English-taught).
• City University of Macau, Macao Polytechnic University and Macau University of Science and Technology — windows open February–March 1 and close June 30. Tuition from MOP 60,000–110,000/yr depending on university and program.
• Guangdong Polytechnic Institute — February 1 to May 1, 2027 for fall admission (bilingual diplomas ¥15,000–20,000/yr).

For a full comparison of Macau's options, see our Macau universities guide.

April 2027: First Mainland Closing Wave

Several mainland universities close in late April — earlier than most applicants expect:

• Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) — graduate applications run in rounds; the second round closes around April 1, 2027. English-taught master's/PhD ¥10,000–30,000/yr, dorms ¥1,200/yr — exceptional value.
• Sun Yat-sen University — round 2 closes April 30, 2027.
• Guangzhou University — deadline April 30, 2027 (bachelor's ¥18,000–20,000/yr, Chinese-taught).

May 2027: The Busiest Month

May is when Hong Kong main rounds and many mainland/most Guangdong-adjacent deadlines converge:

• May 6 — The Education University of Hong Kong (late round), bachelor's HK$180,000/yr.
• May 15 — The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (main round); University of Macau.
• May 20 — Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen; Zhongshan Torch Polytechnic (diplomas ¥12,000/yr).
• May 29 — The Chinese University of Hong Kong (extended round), bachelor's from HK$214,000/yr.
• May 31 — Jinan University (Phase 2), Shenzhen University (bachelor's ¥23,000–40,000/yr; master's from ¥30,000/yr), Hong Kong Baptist University (late round).

June 2027: Guangdong's Main Closing Date

June 30 is the single most common deadline in mainland Guangdong. Schools closing on or around this date include:

• South China University of Technology (bachelor's), Lingnan University (Hong Kong, HK$175,000/yr), HKUST (late round)
• Most Guangdong public universities: Guangdong University of Technology, Foshan University (from ¥5,710/yr), Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Chinese Medicine from ¥20,000/yr, English track ¥25,000/yr), Guangzhou Medical University (English-taught clinical medicine ¥40,000/yr), Dongguan University of Technology, Wuyi University, Zhongkai University of Agriculture and Engineering (¥14,000/yr), Huizhou University, Zhaoqing University
• All three non-UM Macau universities: CityU Macau, Macao Polytechnic University, Macau University of Science and Technology

Note the split deadline at SCUT: graduate programs (master's and PhD, ¥32,000–40,000/yr) close earlier, on June 15, 2027 — two weeks before the bachelor's deadline.

July–August 2027: Last-Call Options

Missed everything above? A few doors are still open:

• July 15 — Jiangmen Polytechnic, including the Chinese + Vocational Skills diploma from ¥5,250/yr (HSK 4 or interview).
• August 15 — Chinese language programs at Jinan University (¥8,850/yr), Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (¥8,600/yr), Foshan University (¥8,500/yr) and Guangzhou Huashang College (¥8,000/yr).
• August 21 — final deadline at The University of Hong Kong for the following year's bachelor's intake (tuition from HK$224,000/yr) — the latest closing date among Hong Kong's top three.

Language-program applicants should also read our language program visa guide — X2 visa processing adds time, so applying by July is safer than waiting for August.

Three Planning Tips

• Work backwards from your visa. After acceptance, an X1 visa for degree programs takes several weeks. Aim to be accepted by June so you can enroll in September without stress.
• Earlier rounds = more scholarship money. Hong Kong early rounds (November) and mainland first phases (January–February) carry the richest awards, including CSC scholarships and the Guangdong Government Scholarship.
• Check English requirements early. Mainland English-taught programs typically ask for IELTS 6.0/TOEFL 78–80 or equivalent; Hong Kong universities may additionally require interviews or subject tests. Our no-IELTS options guide lists alternatives.

For documents, timelines and step-by-step instructions, see our 2027 application guide, browse every program on our programs page, or start directly with a free evaluation — we'll map your profile to the right schools and deadlines.