CityU Student Expelled for Low GPA Loses Judicial Review Bid

A male student at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) has lost his bid for judicial review against the university's decision to expel him for consistently poor academic performance. Zeng Pinxi was pursuing a Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering degree when he received his first expulsion notice in June 2024 after three semesters with GPAs of 1.50, 0.80, and 1.60 respectively, falling below the required 1.70 threshold. Following an appeal based on health grounds, the university granted him a reprieve in July 2024, allowing him to continue under academic probation on the condition that he achieve a GPA of 2.0 in the next semester. However, his GPA in the 2025-2026 academic year's first semester was only 1.10, triggering another expulsion in January 2025. His second appeal was rejected, leading him to file for judicial review at the High Court in June 2025. Acting Judge Lin Zhancheng dismissed the application on February 14, ruling that the university's Academic Regulations did not guarantee that previous substandard GPA scores would be excluded from consideration after an appeal. The judge also ordered the student to pay HK$160,000 in legal costs, though the university may choose not to enforce this order.

This case establishes important precedent regarding university autonomy in academic governance, confirming that institutions can maintain consistent academic standards even after exercising discretionary leniency towards students. The judge's remarks that the student "deserves another chance from society" despite dismissing his application underscores the balance between institutional academic integrity and compassion for individual circumstances. The HK$160,000 legal costs order also highlights the financial risks students face when pursuing judicial challenges against university decisions.