On March 6, Hainan University (HNU) successfully completed the preliminary statistical review for the 2026 master’s admissions. Data show that the overall number of applicants for the university’s 2026 master’s programs remained stable, with improvements in both applicant quality and the number of the qualified applicants. Both the university’s appeal and the Hainan Free Trade Port’s attractiveness to applicants have continued to grow.

In 2026, a total of 12,996 candidates listed HNU as their first choice, with the number of applicants for full-time professional master’s programs increasing by 3.46% year-on-year. A total of 5,725 candidates met the cutoff, an increase of 10.47% from 2025. Among these, 3,705 candidates met the cutoff for full-time professional master’s programs (up 16.73%), and 1,257 candidates met the cutoff for academic master’s programs (up 14.69%). The overall cutoff rate increased by 6.94% from 2025, indicating a steady expansion of the qualified applicants.

The number of students admitted through recommendation increased significantly. In 2026, a total of 237 students were admitted through this channel, a 64.6% increase from 2025, including 158 HNU students, up 68.1%. For the first time, three schools have opened integrated degree programs (undergrad-to-grad or direct-to-PhD) in the postgraduate recommendation system. As a result, the pool of high-quality applicants, especially those from HNU, has increased significantly, further improving the integrated training system.

Translated by: Li Yang

Proofread by Zhu Yan