Mode of Studies

The Full-time Mode
The full-time PCLL programme is normally completed over one year commencing from September and ending in June in the following year.
The HKU PCLL will provide typical transactional knowledge and fundamental and core skills training to all students with a degree of specialization.
Cores, Electives and Pervasives
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Compulsory Core Practice Areas focusing on essential procedural and transactional knowledge and skills;
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Elective Practice Areas with specific focus so that students can receive training which is better suited to their interest and career choices, and the diverse needs of different sectors of the profession can be better provided for.
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Pervasive subjects including Professional Practice and Management with introduction by way of separate and distinct large group sessions followed by issues integrated into small group practice sessions.
The PCLL Regulations and Syllabuses can be downloaded for your reference.
Fundamental and complex skills
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A key set of fundamental lawyering skills which are non-practice specific but are building blocks for the practice of other (more complex) skills.
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More complex lawyering skills taught in the context of specific practice areas (in Cores and/or in Electives).
The Part-time Mode
The part-time PCLL programme will normally be completed over two years.
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This programme is well suited for people who wish to study the PCLL while continuing with their working lives.
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Students need to attend three to four evening classes (normally 7:00 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.) on weekdays, and classes on Saturday afternoons. There will also be some scheduled court visits, examinations and occasionally other learning activities during the daytime on weekdays.
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The part-time PCLL curriculum is identical to that of the full-time PCLL, except for the duration. The first year of the part-time curriculum is equivalent to the full-time PCLL’s first semester, and the second year of the part-time curriculum is equivalent to the full-time PCLL’s second semester.

Application
Applications for admission to the PCLL in 2025-2026 would be opened in February 2025. Potential applicants should check our webpage from time to time for further updates.
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You MUST read the Notes to Applicants (https://sweb.hku.hk/tola/servlet/ApplicantDownloadForm/getForm?pREF_CODE=R253&pDOCUMENT_TYPE=PROGRAMINFORMATION&pVIEW=Y), the Application Instructions (https://sweb.hku.hk/tola/servlet/ApplicantDownloadForm/getForm?pREF_CODE=R253&pDOCUMENT_TYPE=SUPPORTDOCUMENT&pVIEW=Y)
and the FAQs on this webpage BEFORE submission of your application.
WE ONLY ACCEPT ON-LINE APPLICATIONS.
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Online application forms are available at:
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Fees & Deadline
Full-time (government-funded)(2025-2026):
HK$44,500* (‘local’ students); HK$198,000* (‘non-local’ students)
(For Government funding purposes, a ‘non-local’ student is a person entering Hong Kong for the purpose of education with a student visa/entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration.)
Full-time (self-funded)(2025-2026):
HK$232,000
(Successful applicants may, subject to means tests, apply for bursaries).
Two-year Part-time (self-funded)(2025-2026):
HK$232,000
(payable in two annual installments of HK$116,000 each).
YOU MAY SUBMIT YOUR ON-LINE APPLICATION(S) once it opens in February 2025
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The application deadline is 12:00 noon (Hong Kong time) on 30 April 2025 (for admission in September 2025). ALL application forms and supporting documents (where available) must be submitted by this application deadline. Please note that the PCLL application webpage will shut down promptly once the application deadline has expired so all applications must be completed by this time.
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We do not accept late applications nor requests for an extension of time to apply.
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For further information about PCLL applications, please visit the University of Hong Kong’s Taught Postgraduate Admissions webpage at:
and review all information available at that website, including the “Download Documents”.

Bursaries
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Details of the scheme
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All full-time self-financing students who either have right of abode in Hong Kong or have resided continuously in Hong Kong for three years immediately before 1 September 2025 are eligible to apply.
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The PCLL bursaries take the form of a grant to cover part of the tuition fees and will be awarded to financially needy students.
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The precise value of the bursaries will be determined by the Faculty of Law and the maximum amount of grant a student may be entitled is HK$116,000.
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The amount of grant will be determined with reference to the level of the ‘Adjusted Family Income’ of the applicant, a concept which has been adopted by the Government Grant and Loan Scheme.
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This is a grant and will be paid out subject to sufficient funding and reserve in the account of the PCLL programme.
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For reference, the form used for the 2024-2025 applications could be viewed here HERE. The application deadline for the 2025-2026 bursaries will be advised in due course.
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For reference, the notes and calculator used for the 2024-2025 applications can be viewed here Notes and Calculator.
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The JAC Hui Bon Hoa Bursaries was set up in 2006 by Mr. Stephane Hui Bon Hoa to provide financial support to full-time, self-funded PCLL students experiencing financial difficulties. Mr. Hui Bon Hua is an ex-full time PCLL lecturer/tutor who is now an Adjunct Professor to the Faculty of Law teaching on a part-time basis on our PCLL programme. Non-local PCLL students are also eligible to apply.
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The number of awards to be made each year is based on the financial needs and academic merits of the applicants. The value of the award shall be determined by the Management Committee and is capped at HK$116,000 in the 2025-2026 academic year.
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To apply, students are required to complete and submit an application form with enclosure of supporting documents to the Faculty of Law before the deadline. For reference, the form used for the 2024-4025 applications can be viewed here FORM . Late applications will not be considered. Enquiries should be directed to pcllinfo@hku.hk.
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Other Forms of Financial Assistance:
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There are other bursaries and scholarships available. Applications will be separately invited via mass e-mail from the Faculty Office, Faculty of Law.
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Self-financing students are eligible for the Government non-means tested loans .
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There are other forms of financial assistance, including emergency loans, available within the University.
See: http://www.cedars.hku.hk/campuslife/finances/ufa -
Some banks may be interested in arranging education loans for students.

FAQ
FAQ
Question 1:
I am presently studying overseas for a law degree (such as a LLB, MA, JD, CPE, or GDL). I note that in order to be eligible for admission into the PCLL programme, I need to demonstrate competence in the following required law subjects or subject areas (or subjects recognized as their equivalent), Constitutional Law, Contract, Criminal Law, Land Law, Tort, Equity and Trusts, Evidence, Business Associations, Commercial Law, Hong Kong Constitutional Law, Hong Kong Legal System and Hong Kong Land Law. As the courses I am studying have different titles from those listed as the Core subjects, how do I know whether I am taking the courses which will fulfill these PCLL prerequisite core subjects?
Answer:
The PCLL providers are not in a position to confirm whether your law degree is a qualifying law degree, and if it meets all the requirements for PCLL admission; only the PCLL Conversion Examination Board (“the Conversion Board”) can do so and so you should contact them directly (see http://www.pcea.com.hk). As part of your PCLL application to us, you are required to submit the official evaluation letter issued by the Conversion Board confirming any exemptions from the Conversion Examinations as well as the Results Notice of any Conversion Examinations taken.
Question 2:
I am presently studying law overseas and my university does not offer all the twelve required subjects. How can I fulfil the requirement of competence in these twelve subjects?
Answer:
Please consult the website of the Conversion Board (http://www.pcea.com.hk). You may need to take conversion exams administered by the Conversion Board.. You should plan ahead when it comes to taking any required Conversion Exams as there are usually only two sittings each year; one in January and one in June. The Conversion Exams are held in Hong Kong and in person only. You may, however, take the Conversion Exams as many times as needed to pass the exams and satisfy the PCLL admission requirements. The Conversion Exams are on a pass / fail basis only and no marks are released. As a result, they are not considered in the calculation of a student’s law average mark, however, if required to sit them, you must pass them to be eligible.
Question 3:
Will you consider applications where a candidate does not have a ‘qualifying law degree’ (whether LLB, JD, CPE, ADLE or GDL) but has passed the Solicitors Qualifying Examinations in England and Wales and has been admitted to practice via that route?
Answer:
Our Regulations do not currently permit us to accept applicants who do not hold a ‘qualifying law degree’. This is a matter for the Standing Committee on Legal Education and Training in Hong Kong and the Conversion Board to decide in the future. For the time being, all applicants to the HKU PCLL must adhere to the requirements set out in the Notes to Applicants. Such applicants may wish to contact the Standing Committee on Legal Education and Training for further advice or sit for the Overseas Lawyers Qualification Examinations.
Question 4:
What is the work experience route (“WER”) to the PCLL and what are the criteria for eligibility?
Answer:
We reserve 10-15 places on the Part-time programme for those applicants whose average marks from all their law subjects are not sufficiently competitive but who are able to demonstrate sufficient legal working experience. Such legal working experience must be of at least 2 years but can be comprised of different employments of differing duration provided that the total duration of legal working experience by 1 September of the year you wish to be admitted, is not less than 2 years.
This legal working experience should involve the use of legal skills such as research, drafting and advising clients and does not include internships or mini-pupillages. The length of the legal working experience is not our only consideration, but also the quality. In the past, we have considered, inter alia:
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a candidate’s standing with their current or past employers, be it a law firm (or other institution) in the form of reference letters (again it is quality that is important rather than quantity);
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performance in the interview i.e. whether the candidate demonstrates sufficient legal skills, knowledge and aptitude as a future lawyer as well as whether the candidate has a basic understanding of the general ethical principles that apply to all lawyers;
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the duration and quality of legal working experience including the level of responsibility that a candidate has been given. In terms of work experience, local experience in Hong Kong is preferred, however, we will also consider overseas work experience; and
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the daily job duties of a candidate along with evidence of substantial professional growth and development in the course of employment.
Applicants who wish to be considered on the WER are recommended to upload reference letter(s) from a maximum of two referees, who should preferably be someone you have worked with professionally. The content of the recommendations is more critical than the number of recommendations you submit.
If we are satisfied that you qualify for admission via the WER and that your application is sufficiently competitive in comparison to other applications received, then we will invite you for interview in August. The interviews are conducted by the Admissions team alongside representatives of the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong Bar Association.
Applicants via the WER should note that due to the limited number of places available, this is a competitive pathway to entry to the PCLL. Successful applicants via the WER can only be admitted to the Part-time PCLL (provided they have made a Part-time application before the Application Deadline.)
Successful applicants in the past have included those who have undertaken substantive legal work of high quality, taken on a supervisory role of other employees, , advised clients on a regular basis, drafted or made significant contributions to legal documents and showed substantial initiative or efforts to advance their legal careers.
Question 5:
I am currently studying the Advanced Diploma for Legal Executives (Graduate Level) (“ADLE”) at HKU SPACE. Will graduates from this programme be eligible for admission to the PCLL?
Answer:
We have in the past admitted applicants from the ADLE programme to our PCLL, however, such applicants will be invited for interview prior to any offer being given to them. ​
Question 6:
I understand that you encourage early applications together with as much academic information as possible, does it mean that you process the PCLL applications on a first-come-first-serve basis?
Answer:
No, we do not give offers on a first-come-first-serve basis. However, we will give out early conditional offers to candidates who are able to show us sufficient academic results (including interim results) before the close of applications. If at all possible, please make sure you attach at least the latest available interim transcript to your applications.
Applicants requiring student visas should note that it will take several weeks for visa applications to be processed. It is therefore even more important for these applicants to send us all of their information and supporting documents as early as possible so that, where appropriate, we can issue early offers to them to enable them to make their visa applications.
Question 7:
Do I have to send in ALL my supporting documents by the application deadline of 12:00 noon (Hong Kong time) on 30 April 2025?
Answer:
No, but we expect you to provide us with the available supporting documents. Should you receive a conditional offer, there would be another deadline (30th July 2025) to provide us with the remaining supporting documents (e.g. final academic transcript and conversion exam results).
We reiterate that the onus is on the applicant to ensure his/her application is in order. With the large number of applications and supporting documents (from different institutions and in different formats), it is not feasible for us to inform you whether anything is missing from the supporting documents you provide. We cannot perform a document checking service for you or confirm that you have submitted all of the necessary documents.
In the past, applicants have had issues with lost supporting documents (in the mail or otherwise). We ask applicants to keep good records and proof of requesting / delivering supporting documents (e.g. transcript request with your university, and sending documents to us via registered post). Should you have, or envisage, any difficulty in providing supporting documents before 30 July 2025, we ask you to inform us as soon as possible. Those in non-compliance would still be considered on a case-by-case basis, and the reasons for non-compliance (e.g. whether the applicant is at fault) would be one of our considerations.
Question 8:
Do you accept e-transcripts?
Answer:
Yes, we will accept e-transcripts provided they are directly sent from the awarding institution to HKU via email. If your university does not provide such a service, then we shall deal with such applications on a case-by-case basis.
Please note that if any of your academic qualification(s) is obtained from an institution in Mainland China, you would need to obtain online verification reports from the China Higher Education Student Information (å¸ä¿¡ç¶²). Please refer to pg 2-3 of the Application Instructions.
Question 9:
I am an overseas law student. I have received a conditional offer which stipulates the deadline to provide various supporting documents is the 30th July 2025. However, my university will not release my official transcript until September. Does that mean I must wait another year before applying to the PCLL? Does the lateness of my marks mean that I will definitely not get a Full-time government-funded PCLL place even if I obtain very strong academic results?
Answer:
No to both questions. We are aware of that some institutions may only release their official results after 30th July 2025. In such a situation, an Applicant should let us know that their results will be delayed as soon as possible and provide us with all other required documents by 30th July 2025, including a copy of their final results if available. We shall deal with such applications on a case-by-case basis and consider if the applicant is at fault for the delay. In respect of the allocation of government funded places, because we are aware of the different dates we may be receiving full academic results from the different categories of applicants, we will take this into account when allocating places.
Question 10:
Will applicants be interviewed?
Answer:
We do not interview candidates who are admitted solely on academic merit; only those whom we are considering for a place on the Part-time programme via the WER as well as those applicants with an ADLE qualification. Any interviews will likely take place in mid to late August 2024. In view of the tight timing, applicants may be invited for interview at very short notice. If at all possible, therefore, we would ask applicants who have still not heard from us by then to keep August free, in case they are invited for interview for a Part-time programme via the WER.
Question 11:
How do you deal with an application where the University of Hong Kong is only designated as the second preference?​
Answer:
We do not process or consider such an application until the applicant’s first preference university (i.e. City University of Hong Kong or the Chinese University of Hong Kong) notifies us that they are no longer interested in the applicant or we are informed of a change in the first preference designation to the University of Hong Kong. If you do wish to re-designate the University of Hong Kong as your first preference university, please ensure you let us know prior to rejection by your initial first preference university, otherwise we will not be able to accept such re-designation. You must also inform us of the reasons for the re-designation. In addition, for practical purposes, since all of our places each year are filled by applicants who designate the University of Hong Kong as their first preference, it is extremely unlikely that any applicants designating us as a second or third preference will receive an offer from us.
If you are applying to more than one PCLL provider, you must ensure that your designation of a PCLL provider as first, second or third preference is consistent in ALL applications to each provider. Candidates who list more than one PCLL provider as their first preference will have their applications disqualified by all PCLL providers in that year since the PCLL providers exchange lists of first preference applicants.
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Question 12:
How do you make admissions decisions and how do you allocate the full-time government-funded places, the full-time self-funded places and the part-time self-funded places?
Answer:
PCLL admission is primarily based on academic achievement in the primary law qualification, i.e. the first degree in law (such as the LLB or JD) or CPE examinations or other diploma course or graduate programmes recognized as being equivalent.
The legal profession has set a benchmark for admission to the PCLL of a "2.2" degree and all three law schools endeavour to follow that benchmark. We do not take classifications of degrees, e.g. first class, upper second class (2:1) or lower second class (2:2), at face value but will take into account the average mark of all Law subjects studied over the entirety of an applicant's qualifying law degree (the “All Law Average.”) Our focus in admissions is on academic merit and in this regard, we look primarily at an applicant's All Law Average in light of relevant grading practice rather than just by the class of his or her degree. This means that applicants are treated equally, with their marks compared, as much as practicable, on a like-for-like basis. In past years, applicants with a 2.2 degree have been offered a place on the PCLL at HKU if their marks are sufficiently competitive. The ‘cut-off’ point for the All Law Average is different every year. In recent years, it has been a mid-2:2 mark, although in previous years it has been in the high 2:2 range. We may consider “other factors” including the average mark of your 6 core subjects (Contract, Tort, Constitutional Law, Criminal Law, Land Law and Equity), the standing of the institution where you obtained your qualifying law degree, and other exceptional achievements,
For those applicants applying to the Full-time PCLL, we assume that all applicants would prefer a government funded place due to the lower fees. The allocation of government funded places is made based on academic merit i.e. places are allocated to those applicants with the highest All Law Average mark. It should be noted under HKU’s regulations, the number of government funded places for non-local students is strictly limited. Once the quota has been filled, non-local students would accordingly be given a self-funded place only. If you are allocated a government funded place and do not wish to accept it, you may decline it in favour of a self-funded place.
In terms of getting admitted into the PCLL, an applicant’s expressed preferences in respect of programme modes (i.e. full-time or part-time) would NOT give any “strategic” advantage. For example, it would not make it “easier” to be admitted if an applicant chose part-time as their first preference programme mode.
Your designation of your programme mode preference is merely and indication to us of how you would prefer to study for your PCLL.
However, if you do have any particular preference in respect of programme modes (e.g. part-time or full time), please DO indicate this in your application form(s). If your academic merits are sufficiently competitive, we will endeavour to accommodate your first preference programme mode. Out of fairness to other applicants, requests to change an applicant’s programme mode selection are only permitted in exceptional circumstances. Applicants who wish to change their preference of programme mode will first be placed on a waiting list and only permitted to change, provided they have (i) applied to the programme they now wish to study before the Application Deadline; (ii) there are sufficient places available on that programme once all of the places have been allocated to first preference applicants; (iii) they satisfy the minimum All Law Average cut-off mark for admission to that programme and (iv) they provide compelling reasons for the change.
Question 13:
For full-time government-funded spots in the PCLL, how do I know if I fall under ‘local’ or ‘non-local’?
Answer:
Please refer to the Notes to Applicants and the website of the Admissions and Academic Liaison Section of HKU (https://portal.hku.hk/tpg-admissions/applying/faq ). Non-local students are those holding:
- A student visa/entry permit to study in Hong Kong
- A dependent visa / entry permit and were aged 18 years old or above when they were first issued with such documents by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR;
- A visa / entry permit under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG), issued by the Director of Immigration of the Hong Kong Immigration Department
If you have any doubts, please contact us and/or the Admissions and Academic Liaison Section of HKU . Please note that only students in admitted into the self-funded full-time programme would be able to apply for bursaries and government non-means tested loans.
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Question 14:
Do you give preference to applicants who have an LLM over applicants who do not?
Answer:
Since our primary focus in making PCLL admissions decisions is on the academic merit of your underlying law degree (i.e. your LLB, JD, CPE, ADLE or GDL or equivalent), whether a candidate has an LLM or not is not considered for the vast majority of successful applicants.
Question 15:
My All Law Average mark from my LLB is below the mid-point of a 2:2. I know this is too low for a place on the PCLL as I have been rejected previously. What can I do to improve my chances?
We would recommend that you try to boost your marks by studying a CPE or GDL. You can do so either through one of the programmes offered by a law school in Hong Kong or by an overseas law school in a common law jurisdiction. Of course, you must still ensure that you satisfy all of the PCLL pre-requisites either in your LLB or in combination with a CPE/GDL. Alternatively, you may wish to secure employment as a paralegal, in-house legal counsel or other legally related work; once you have 2 years of genuine legal working experience (i.e. not internships or mini-pupillages) then you may consider applying for a place on the Part-time programme via the WER.
Question 16:
If my All Law Average from my LLB degree was low and I seek to boost my marks by taking a CPE or GDL, does this mean you will not look at my LLB marks?
Answer:
Although we cannot ignore your underlying marks from your LLB degree (since it is likely that some of the subjects taken will be PCLL pre-requisites that you have not studied again on your CPE / GDL), for admissions purposes, we will give more emphasis to your more recent CPE or GDL as this will be a better reflection of your current legal abilities.
Question 17:
How do you deal with an application where a student studying a CPE or GDL has sought exemptions in certain subjects? Will they be prejudiced in their PCLL application?
Answer:
Where a student has sought many exemptions, this means that there are less subjects for us to consider when calculating the All Law Average mark. In this situation, we would consider this application separately and consider why the exemptions were sought. If exemptions are sought where a student has previously obtained high marks in that subject, then this will not cause concern. If, however, exemptions are sought in a subject where a student has previously performed poorly, then it is likely that we will look more closely at this application and may ask for an explanation.
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Question 18:
Having received an offer of a PCLL place from the University of Hong Kong, will I be permitted to defer my place?
Answer:
Absent exceptional circumstances (for example medical reasons), requests for deferral will not be permitted. You will have to choose whether to take up your offer or to decline it for the year in which you have applied. If you decline your offer then your place will be re-allocated to another applicant. While any future application you may make will not be prejudiced by your decision to decline the earlier offer, there is also no guarantee that a place will be offered again in the future. You should bear in mind that the required marks to gain entry in the future may be higher, so we may not be able to offer you a place again if you do not meet the minimum grades at which candidates are admitted in the year you reapply.
Question 19:
I have applied unsuccessfully in the past for a place on the HKU PCLL. Is there any point in re-applying or am I prejudiced by my earlier rejection?
Answer:
Applicants are considered on the strength of their current application. We do not take into account our previous rejection(s) of a candidate in reaching admissions’ decisions. Since the cut-offs change from year to year (depending on the quality of applicants in any given year) there is a chance that you may still be admitted following a rejection in previous year. We encourage you to try again. We admit good applicants; we only reject applicants who, sadly, do not demonstrate sufficient academic merits or who fail to comply with the prerequisites for admission, for example, by failing the conversion examinations or by failing to submit supporting documents by the applicable deadline. If you have been rejected in the past because of weak academic marks, you may wish to give some thought to improving your marks by studying for a CPE or GDL for example: please see the Answer to Questions 15-17. Alternatively, the work experience route may be an option once you have two years genuine legal working experience: please see the Answer to Question 4.
Question 20:
People tell me that the HKU PCLL is extremely difficult to pass in comparison with the PCLL at other providers?
Answer:
It is not appropriate for us to comment on the PCLL courses offered by other providers and so we are unable to make any comparisons. The PCLL course is demanding since we are training you to be professionals. We do fail students but we are here to facilitate students' learning and to meet the standards expected by the legal profession. According to our understanding, our first-attempt pass rate falls within an acceptable and normal range regarded by any reputable Practical Legal Training / Legal Practice Courses overseas. Wherever our PCLL students are from, they are all equal in our eyes. We only fail students who do not reach the level of competence and standards expected by the profession. These practices benefit students, the profession and - ultimately - the public but we believe that it provides excellent training for a future career as a barrister or solicitor. The profession demands no less than competent professionals!
Question 21:
What if I do not meet the conditions specified in my conditional offer? Does this mean I will not get a PCLL place at HKU?
Answer:
This is not necessarily true. As long as you have satisfied the PCLL prerequisites for entry, we may still be able to offer you a place, however, it does mean that your application will be placed on hold for a while longer while we determine how your application measures up against those of other applicants.
Question 22:
I only have 1 module left to complete on another programme of study which will not take up much of my time. Can I start the PCLL in September anyway?
Answer:
No, not without prior approval of the HKU Senate. Applicants who are presently enrolled in a programme leading to a post-secondary qualification which will not be completed by August 2025, should make full disclosure of this on their application form and state whether they intend to seek permission to be concurrently registered. Failure to provide full disclosure of your concurrent or potential concurrent registration on another programme may lead to the disqualification of your PCLL application or your removal from the PCLL programme if such non-disclosure is discovered post admission.

Contact Us
For Admissions:
The PCLL Admissions Office
Faculty of Law
The University of Hong Kong,
10/F Cheng Yu Tung Tower,
Centennial Campus, Pokfulam Road,
Hong Kong
Email: pcll@hku.hk
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General Enquiries:
The PCLL Programme Team
Faculty of Law
The University of Hong Kong,
10/F Cheng Yu Tung Tower,
Centennial Campus, Pokfulam Road,
Hong Kong
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Email: pcllinfo@hku.hk