HKUST to Launch New Medical School with Focus on AI and Biotechnology

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) is preparing to establish a new medical school, the city’s third, with a unique focus on integrating artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, and clinical medicine. The initiative, backed by a HK$7 billion (US$894.6 million) investment over the next 25 years, aims to cultivate a new generation of tech-savvy doctors and bolster Hong Kong’s position as a hub for medical innovation. [1]

A New Approach to Medical Education

HKUST President Nancy Ip Yuk-yu highlighted the innovative nature of the program, emphasizing its commitment to equipping future doctors with the skills to embrace technology. [2] The four-year graduate entry-level medicine program will require applicants to pass an international admission test, with preference given to those possessing a background in biotechnology. [1]

International Student Enrollment

Approximately 20 percent of the 50 places in the inaugural intake for the 2028-29 academic year may be reserved for non-local students, with mainland China expected to be a primary source of these applicants. [1] Tuition fees for non-local students will be higher than those for local students, mirroring the rates for undergraduate programs. [1]

Complementing Existing Medical Schools

The new medical school is intended to complement the existing medical programs offered by the University of Hong Kong and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. [2] HKUST secured the bid to run the city’s third medical school several months ago and is now actively preparing for its launch. [2]

HKUST at a Glance

Founded in 1991, HKUST is a public university located in the Sai Kung District of the New Territories, Hong Kong. [1] As of 2024, the university has a student body of 17,189, comprising 10,347 undergraduates and 6,842 postgraduates. [1] The university boasts a faculty of 903 members. [1]