Check out these frequently asked questions from our candidates.

Program

How many intakes do you have each year? When do they start?

We admit one intake of the Digital MBA for Global Leaders program (DiMBA) every year, which normally commences in February. 

When and how are classes being held?

DiMBA core classes are normally run on Saturdays from 9:00am to 1:00pm. For elective classes, they are arranged on weekday evenings after 7:00pm or weekends during daytime.

All DiMBA core courses are delivered online with interactive virtual classes using our digital learning technology, whereas we offer both digital and face-to-face (subject to availability) electives for you to choose from. 

Can I claim course exemptions for my previous study?

Yes, but credits for exempted courses have to be replaced by electives.

Some courses can be exempted for students who have obtained certain qualifications with proof provided, such as transcripts and syllabuses of courses taken within the past 7 years, when the content and level of the previous courses are equivalent to those of the exempted courses and satisfactory grades were achieved.

Is it possible to extend the length of my study?

We normally do not encourage students to extend their length of study. However, we do offer study extensions, subject to the university's approval, for students who cannot complete the program within the defined time frame because of other engagements in life or work.

All students must complete the whole program within 5 years to be able to graduate from HKUST.

If the Program is accredited by China's Ministry of Education?

According to the Ministry of Education’s Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange regarding the recognition of online MBA programs, the statement indicates that online MBA programs, regardless of their quality or accreditation status, are not recognized by the Ministry for employment or further education purposes in China.

This means that graduates of online MBA programs, including the HKUST Digital MBA program, may not be able to use their certificates for employment or further education purposes in China. While this policy may change in the future, it is important for prospective students to be aware of the current policy before enrolling in an online MBA program.

The HKUST Digital MBA program is designed to provide students with a comprehensive and global perspective on business and management. Our program is accredited by the AACSB and EQUIS, which are two of the most respected international accreditation bodies for business schools.

We are committed to providing our students with a high-quality education and preparing them for leadership roles in the global business landscape. If you have any questions or concerns about our program, please do not hesitate to contact us at dimba@ust.hk

General Admissions

What kind of application materials are required to be submitted by the application deadline?

You are only required to input the following information and upload your CV by the application deadline, which should take only 20-30 minutes to complete:

⬡ Personal Particulars;
⬡ Academic Qualifications;
⬡ Work Experience and 2 References; and
⬡ Test Information

If your GMAT and/or English test scores (if applicable) are not available when you submit your application, you can indicate the exact availability date of the concerned test score in the application form.

Additional information and supporting documents will be required only if you have passed our preliminary shortlisting. You will receive email notification on your shortlisting status.

When is the cut-off time of each application deadline?

To make it easier for applicants from different time zones to manage, the exact cut-off time for each round will be by 11:59pm at your local time on the day of the application deadline.

How do you count work experience?

We take into account your full-time work experience after the first degree/ professional qualification up to February of the year in which your study commences.

Does the Admissions Committee favor applicants with certain undergraduate majors or work experience?

Our admissions goal is to bring together a group of talented individuals with diverse backgrounds, and we do not favor any particular academic training or work experience.

Are admissions interviews required?

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to our admissions interviews, which are normally conducted virtually. 

You will be required to show your personal identify document, e.g. HKID/passport, to confirm your identity during the interviews. 

How and when will I know the result of my application?

After successfully submitting your application by the deadline, you will know whether you are shortlisted for interview by the "Interview Notification" deadlines as indicated in our admissions timetable.

All applicants, whether they are invited to an interview or not, will receive the admissions results by email from us by the "Admissions Results" deadlines in the above timetable. 

GMAT

Is a minimum GMAT score required for admission?

We do not have a minimum score requirement. As a point of reference, the average GMAT score of our part-time students is 610.

Can the GMAT requirement be waived?

Generally, a GMAT score is always required for our MBA program.

As applicants come from different academic backgrounds, different education institutions and with various levels of work experience, the GMAT score allows us to assess these applicants' academic ability for an international MBA program. Extensive research also supports that it is a consistent measure reflecting how well an applicant will handle the MBA studies, particularly on required courses.

DiMBA candidates with over 7 years of extensive work experience and a strong academic background might have the GMAT requirement waived subject to approval by the university. Admitted candidates will be notified of the result of their GMAT waiver upon receiving the admissions offer from us.

It is possible for the request to be rejected, after which the candidate will still be required to submit a satisfactory GMAT score as an admissions condition. Therefore, those seeking to have their GMAT requirement waived are suggested to apply in either round 1 or 2 to allow sufficient time to take the test in case the waiver request is unsuccessful.

I have not taken GMAT yet. Should I submit the application?

You can submit your application first, and indicate your scheduled test date in the application form . You are advised to schedule GMAT within a month after the application deadline.

An unofficial GMAT score report will be available right after the test, you could email the report to our office for reference.

How long is my GMAT result valid for?

Your GMAT result is valid for 5 years prior to the commencement of study.

Are GRE scores accepted in place of GMAT?

If you have already completed your GRE exam and have a valid score from the past five years, you are welcome to submit the report. You should enter the test date of your GRE score, and upload the scanned report when prompted. You are not required to input your scores in the application system, but need to email us at dimba@ust.hk with your Application ID to inform us that you wish to submit a GRE score in place of GMAT.

If you have not yet taken the GMAT/GRE test, you are highly encouraged to submit a GMAT instead of GRE result. For your reference, majority of our applicants submit GMAT scores which is an indication of their focus on business programs.

TOEFL/IELTS

Do I need to submit a TOEFL/IELTS score for the application?

A TOEFL/IELTS score is not required if your first language is English or English was used as the medium of instruction in your undergraduate or postgraduate studies.

Is a minimum TOEFL/IELTS score required for admission?

We follow the minimum TOEFL/IELTS score requirements set out by the university as follows:

⬡  TOEFL-iBT: 80*
⬡  TOEFL-pBT: 550
⬡  TOEFL-Revised paper-delivered test: 60 (total scores for Reading, Listening and Writing sections)
⬡  IELTS (Academic Module): Overall score: 6.5 and All sub-score: 5.5

* refers to the total score in one single attempt

Work References/Other Documents

What do you mean by work references?

Work references are written by those you have formerly worked with to give the Admissions Committee insights into your previous work experience and your personal and professional qualities and attributes, such as communication skills, teamwork, leadership, and confidence.

The referee should be someone who knows you well enough and can attest to your work performance and personal and professional qualities. A sample reference form is available for your reference.

How should the work references be submitted?

You will be asked to input the names and contacts of your referees in the online application, after which the application system will automatically send an email to your referees and ask them to fill out reference forms.

You can check the status of the references in the application system once you have completed the application form and submitted the application fee.

What is a diploma supplement? Do I need to submit it?

Candidates who completed their degrees in Europe may be required to provide the diploma supplement (DS) issued by your university.

According to the European Commission, a diploma supplement is an official document accompanying a higher education diploma which provides details of your education, such as the qualification and its standard, content and results, etc.

What supporting documents are required for my application?

You can refer to the Application Checklist here. In the application stage, you are only required to submit the soft copies of these documents. 

We will inform you when the original/hard copies of these documents are required in the later stage of your admissions process.