Direct answer

The eligible university lists for the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) and the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) overlap heavily but are not identical. On top of the TTPS list, QMAS additionally includes Master of Business Administration (MBA) graduates from institutions ranked in the top 10 of the QS or Financial Times global MBA rankings. The more crucial difference, however, lies not in the lists themselves but in how they are used: TTPS Category B and C treat a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university as a direct entry condition, whereas QMAS counts a university qualification as one of the scoring factors under the General Points Test (GPT). The two schemes have a similar number of eligible universities — as of July 2026 both stand at around 200 — and the lists are maintained and updated in parallel by the same authority.

Scope of data

The eligible university lists for both QMAS and TTPS are based on the latest versions published by the Hong Kong Immigration Department and the Labour and Welfare Bureau. The two lists are maintained in parallel by the same authority; the latest revision, which took effect in January 2026, simultaneously added 5 institutions and removed 4 institutions. The MBA top 10 extension additionally included by QMAS is based on the top 10 results over the past five years of the QS Global MBA Rankings and the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings. The QMAS General Points Test comprises six dimensions, and the pass score for each intake is announced by the Immigration Department — it is not a fixed cut-off.

How the QMAS and TTPS eligible university lists differ in Hong Kong: the MBA top 10 extension and the General Points Test

Eligible university lists: overlap outweighs differences

The consolidated eligible university list for TTPS is published by the Labour and Welfare Bureau. It covers institutions that have ranked within the overall top 100 at least once in the past five years in the QS, THE, U.S. News, or Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) rankings, together with the top 5 in the dedicated disciplines of hotel management and art and design, plus an extension covering the ARWU top 20 on the Chinese mainland.

QMAS adopts the same consolidated list as its basis, but adds a professional postgraduate institution extension in the academic qualification assessment: MBA graduates from institutions ranked in the top 10 of the QS Global MBA Rankings or the Financial Times Global MBA Rankings over the past five years can be recognised under the QMAS academic qualification assessment. This means that MBA graduates from top business schools renowned for their postgraduate programmes but which do not award bachelor’s degrees — such as London Business School, INSEAD and IESE Business School — fall outside the coverage of TTPS Category B and C, but can obtain academic qualification recognition through QMAS.

Both lists are maintained in parallel by the Immigration Department. In the latest revision taking effect in January 2026, TTPS and QMAS simultaneously added 5 institutions and removed 4, bringing the total to around 200. Whatever channel an applicant uses, they should refer to the latest list published on the Immigration Department’s website.

How the QMAS and TTPS eligible university lists differ in Hong Kong: the MBA top 10 extension and the General Points Test

TTPS: an eligible university is an entry pass

The use of an eligible university bachelor’s degree under TTPS Category B and C is binary: either you hold a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university and meet the criteria to proceed to the next step, or you do not hold one and cannot apply through Category B or C. There is no room for academic scoring or partial recognition.

For applicants whose bachelor’s degree is from an eligible university, TTPS is the fastest route. There is no assessment score, no talent list matching, no interview or quota ballot. Category B requires only a bachelor’s degree plus three years of work experience, while Category C requires only a bachelor’s degree obtained within the past five years.

For job seekers, this entry system means the approval threshold is clear, but subsequent career development in Hong Kong depends entirely on personal ability — the scheme itself provides no job matching or industry recognition.

QMAS: a university qualification is only one factor in the General Points Test

QMAS adopts the General Points Test, in which a university qualification is only one of several assessment factors. An applicant’s final score is derived from six dimensions: age, academic qualifications, language ability, work experience, income or business, and talent list matching. Bachelor’s, master’s or doctoral degrees from eligible universities can all earn points under the academic qualification dimension — it is not limited to a bachelor’s degree.

QMAS has no rigid graduation-year threshold and no minimum work experience requirement. Those who graduated more than five years ago, have less than three years of work experience, or hold a master’s rather than a bachelor’s degree all have a chance to be assessed under the QMAS channel. The trade-off is that the vetting period is usually longer than for TTPS, and the assessment carries a pass-score threshold.

The MBA postgraduate extension applies only to QMAS, not to TTPS. For applicants who hold only an MBA but whose undergraduate institution is not on the list, TTPS Category B and C do not apply, making QMAS the more sensible choice.

Strategic advice for job seekers

If an applicant meets the criteria for TTPS Category B or C, they should usually give priority to TTPS, because approval is faster, the outcome is more certain, and the right to seek employment freely after approval is the same.

If an applicant does not meet the TTPS criteria because they graduated more than five years ago, their bachelor’s institution is not on the list, they hold only a master’s degree, or they have less than three years of work experience, QMAS is an alternative channel worth evaluating.

If an applicant holds a bachelor’s degree from an eligible university but has work experience close to three years, they can prepare both sets of documents in parallel: once work experience reaches three years they can proceed via TTPS Category B, and before that, if Category C quotas are tight, they can first assess the QMAS possibility.

Whichever channel is taken, the job-seeking rights after approval are the same: both allow free job seeking, employment and changing of employers in Hong Kong, and both require proof of employment or business operation in Hong Kong at the time of visa extension.

Detailed breakdown of assessment dimensions

The QMAS General Points Test comprises six dimensions: the maximum attainable score for age, academic qualifications or professional credentials, language ability, work experience, income or business, and talent list matching. On age, the 18 to 39 bracket scores highest, with points decreasing after 40. On academic qualifications, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees from eligible universities all carry corresponding points; graduates of top 10 MBA institutions can be recognised under the academic dimension, but must still combine with other dimensions such as age and experience to reach the pass score.

On work experience, QMAS places greater weight on managerial experience and professional level, rather than using three years of work experience as an entry switch as TTPS does. Those holding senior positions in multinational or well-known companies, with international work experience, or with a background in a shortage industry can all earn higher scores in the work experience dimension.

The talent list is an independent bonus dimension. The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government updates the talent list periodically, covering shortage professions in fields such as financial services, innovation and technology, legal services, and the creative industries. Applicants who can demonstrate that they meet the professional requirements in the talent list can earn additional points, significantly improving their chances of passing.

Practical steps for switching from TTPS to QMAS

During their stay, a TTPS holder who wishes to switch to the QMAS channel may submit a QMAS application to the Immigration Department. The residence time under the two channels can be combined and counted, without affecting the seven-year accumulation towards permanent residency. However, when switching, one must ensure there is no gap between the two visas.

In practice, holders usually do not actively switch from TTPS to QMAS, because TTPS renewal conditions are more direct and clear. Switching more often occurs when a holder wishes to change their residence strategy, moving from a work-centred arrangement to a more flexible one. Before switching, the renewal requirements and permanent residency path of both channels should be thoroughly evaluated, and the decision should not be made lightly.

Frequently asked questions

Can QMAS and TTPS be applied for at the same time?

Applications can be submitted simultaneously, but ultimately only one valid immigration status can be held. It is usually advisable to prioritise TTPS because approval is faster; if the TTPS application is not approved or is rejected, the QMAS application can still be processed independently.

Do graduates of top 10 MBA institutions have an extra advantage under QMAS?

QMAS recognises graduates of the QS or Financial Times global MBA top 10 institutions in the academic qualification assessment, but academic qualification is only one of the six assessment dimensions. The total score must still reach the pass mark announced by the Immigration Department for that intake; approval cannot be guaranteed on the strength of an MBA qualification alone.

Where can the QMAS eligible university list be checked?

As with TTPS, it is published on the Immigration Department’s website. The QMAS assessment criteria and latest pass scores are also updated on the QMAS page of the same website.

After graduating more than five years ago, if TTPS is not an option, can QMAS be pursued?

Yes. QMAS has no rigid graduation-year threshold. Applicants are assessed comprehensively on age, academic qualifications, language ability, work experience, income and the talent list — the outcome is not decided by a single dimension at a point in time.

After TTPS is approved, can one still apply for QMAS?

After TTPS approval, the holder is already in Hong Kong and usually does not need to apply for QMAS again. But if circumstances change in future, an application to switch can be made in accordance with Immigration Department rules. The seven-year permanent residency calculation under both channels can be combined.

Sources of information

  • Official page of the Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS), Hong Kong Immigration Department
  • Explanation of the assessment mechanism of the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS), Hong Kong Immigration Department
  • Consolidated eligible university list, Hong Kong Labour and Welfare Bureau

The information in this article is current as of 17 July 2026. The eligible university list and QMAS assessment criteria may be adjusted in line with government announcements; before making a formal application, please log on to the Hong Kong Immigration Department website to verify the latest version. This page provides a compilation of policy information and does not constitute a promise that any individual case will be approved.

Further reading