Columbia University and City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) announced Thursday that they will be expanding their partnership for their Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program to allow students graduating from high school to apply directly to the program for the first time starting in Fall 2025.
The partnership between Columbia and CityUHK dates back to 2012 and has been recruiting talented students from four of CityUHK’s colleges in twelve eligible majors for over a decade. The Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program transcends traditional study abroad opportunities by providing the opportunity to pursue a rigorous undergraduate liberal arts education spanning two continents. Upon completion of the four-year program, graduates earn two bachelor’s degrees, one from each institution.
By opening a first-year entry option, the Program joins the Columbia University School of General Studies’ current portfolio of highly-regarded international undergraduate dual and joint degree programs with Sciences Po, Trinity College Dublin, and Tel Aviv University. These international dual degree programs were inspired by and modeled on the School’s Joint Program with List College of the Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS), which was created in 1954.
“As an alumna of the School’s first joint program, I am delighted that we are expanding our partnership with City University of Hong Kong, which is consistently ranked among the best academic institutions worldwide. By taking advantage of the opportunity to study full time at a top-tier university in Asia before coming to study in the Ivy League, these students not only benefit from being immersed in a wide range of cultures and experiences, but also make an immense contribution to the Columbia undergraduate classroom,” said Lisa Rosen-Metsch, Dean of the School of General Studies.
Students spend their first two years at City University of Hong Kong, the Most International University in the World 2025 by Times Higher Education, studying within one of twelve academic programs, after which they matriculate at Columbia to complete a major and the University’s famed Core Curriculum in years three and four. Dedicated Dual Degree Program advisors from both CityUHK and Columbia are assigned to students as soon as they enroll, providing guidance and support on academics and student life.
“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 early on as this program is highly recognized 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.
This multidisciplinary educational experience, focused across the humanities, 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 Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program combines the breadth of the Columbia Undergraduate Core Curriculum and the rigor of majors approved for Joint Degree Program Students with CityUHK’s Discovery Enhanced Curriculum, welcoming students from diverse academic backgrounds. The program creates unique opportunities for those pursuing studies in Business, Science, Technology and Social Sciences majors to engage in a rigorous, globally-focused education across two leading institutions. There are currently 54 Joint Bachelor’s Degree Program students enrolled at GS.
