Associate Degree May Not Meet Requirements | Generated by AI
This is a great question. Let me break it down clearly.
The short answer is: it will be very difficult, and likely not sufficient on its own.
Here’s why:
What the requirement says: The university requires either a bachelor’s degree (not an associate degree) from a recognized institution, OR “such other qualifications as deemed acceptable by the University as equivalent.”
Your situation has two potential issues:
First, regarding degree level — an associate degree is below a bachelor’s degree. It is typically a 2-year qualification, while a bachelor’s is 4 years. Hong Kong universities’ master’s programs specifically ask for a bachelor’s degree as the baseline. An associate degree does not meet this standard.
Second, regarding the nature of the degree — a self-study exam degree (国家高等教育自学考试) is a national exam-based qualification in mainland China. While it is a legitimate credential recognized by Chinese authorities, Hong Kong universities may view it differently from a traditionally earned degree at an accredited campus. It may also raise questions about whether the institution is “recognised for this purpose by the University.”
What you could do:
The most practical path would be to upgrade to a bachelor’s degree first. In China, there are pathways to convert or upgrade from an associate/self-study degree to a full bachelor’s degree, either through additional self-study exams or by enrolling in a bachelor’s program. Once you hold a recognized bachelor’s degree, your application to CUHK or CityU master’s programs would be on much stronger footing.
You could also contact the admissions office directly at the specific university you’re interested in to ask whether your qualification might be considered equivalent. They are the only ones who can make that determination, since the policy does leave some discretion with the phrase “deemed acceptable by the University.”
Would you like help drafting an inquiry email to an admissions office, or looking into bachelor’s upgrade options?