Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education - Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education:

Abbreviated as "HKDSE", the Hong Kong College Entrance Examination has the reputation of "the strongest springboard for elite schools in Asia". It is the only international public examination in the world that allows questions and answers in Chinese. With this score, you can go directly to prestigious schools in Hong Kong, mainland China and overseas. The total population of Hong Kong is only 7.5 million. The number of HKDSE candidates every year is about 40,000 and the number is decreasing year by year. Compared with the mainland's tens of millions of candidates who are increasing year by year, the competition pressure is very small.

But in contrast, Hong Kong's higher education is very strong. In the "2023QS World University Rankings", a total of 5 universities in Hong Kong are among the top 100. Hong Kong universities not only have an acceptance rate of 76.5% for Hong Kong students, but also have huge tuition discounts.

01

Why hold a Hong Kong identity

Is it more advantageous to study as a "local student"?

There are currently 22 higher education institutions in Hong Kong that can award degrees, of which 11 are statutory universities. The most famous eight universities in Hong Kong have 15,000 places each year, of which about 13,000 places are allocated to the Joint University Admissions (JUPAS), that is, local students in Hong Kong.

The number of students enrolled in JUPAS is about 40,000 per year, and the probability that local students are expected to obtain an undergraduate degree is 76.5%.

The so-called "local students", the key point is the identity of Hong Kong. As long as you hold Hong Kong status, regardless of whether you are a permanent resident or a non-permanent resident, you can apply to a Hong Kong university through the JUAPS pathway as a local student who participates in HKDES.

The Hong Kong Examination and Assessment Authority's definition of "local student":

If the parent as the main applicant applies for Hong Kong status through the "Talent Program" or "Investment Immigration", etc., and the child holds a dependant visa, he or she can be regarded as a local student and enjoy nearly 80% of the places offered by prestigious Hong Kong schools. See the definition below for details:

If you do not have a Hong Kong identity:

Although you can also participate in HKDSE with your mainland identity, the competition is fierce due to the small number of places, and the cost of tuition is doubled.

The Hong Kong Education Bureau stipulates that each university in Hong Kong sets a cap of only 20% of the number of places reserved for non-local students. Among them, applications for international examinations such as mainland college entrance examinations, A levels, SAT, DSE, and IB are also accepted, and only about 30% of the places are available for mainland students.

And the tuition fee is not subsidized by the Hong Kong government, which is usually 3-4 times that of local students in Hong Kong (slightly different according to the majors studied).

Do you have to study in Hong Kong if you want to be regarded as a "local student" by a Hong Kong school?

no! Hong Kong students studying in the mainland can also be regarded as local students and enjoy admission to prestigious Hong Kong schools.

Even in 2022, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority will revise the rules of the HKDSE examination, announcing that it will set up an examination room in the Mainland to conduct the same examination in different places in two years. This good news will undoubtedly provide more convenience for Hong Kong students living in the Mainland!

02

Easily get into Hong Kong's top schools with HKDSE results

Admission criteria for undergraduate HKDSE candidates from prestigious universities in Hong Kong:

According to the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority: the admission standard for undergraduates except Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is the HKDSE score of "432233", and the English language must reach level 4; the admission standards for the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Chinese, Hong Kong Polytechnic, and Baptist Church are all "332233".

In 2021, 30.9% of the total number of HKDSE candidates have reached this score line. Compared with the admission rate of about 2% in mainland 985 and 211 colleges, the probability of passing HKDSE to a famous school is about 15 times higher!

Even if the undergraduate score is not reached, HKDSE candidates have another option:

You can take two years of associate degree first, and then take two years of bachelor degree after enough credits. After graduation, you can also get a bachelor degree, and the time cost is the same as that of a normal four-year undergraduate degree.

In 2021, 76.5% of the candidates who meet the admission standard "22222" for the associate degree. In other words, the probability of HKDSE candidates expected to obtain an undergraduate degree is 76.5%.

Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education, Metropolitan University of Hong Kong

03

Applying for Mainland universities without examination based on HKDSE results

The "Mainland Colleges and Universities Recruiting HKDSE Students Scheme" was approved by the central government in 2011 and officially launched in the 2012/13 school year.

The so-called "exemption" in admissions refers to:

There is no need to take the Mainland College Entrance Examination and the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Overseas Chinese Federation Examination, as long as the HKDSE test results are used, you can directly apply to Mainland universities.

Application requirements for "Exemption Admissions":

It is a Hong Kong ID card or a permanent resident ID card, and holds a "Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents" (referred to as Home Return Permit) or a "Residence Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents".

The prerequisite for applying for a Home Return Permit or Residence Permit is to become a permanent resident in Hong Kong, so parents need to plan Hong Kong status in advance for their children.

The number of "exempted admissions" institutions and the minimum admission criteria:

At present, a total of 129 mainland colleges and universities, including Tsinghua University and Peking University, are on the list of exempted admissions:

The minimum admission standard for Mainland universities for HKDSE candidates is "3322"

The minimum admission standard for candidates applying for arts and sports majors is "2211"

The admission ratio is about 50.74%

04

Apply to prestigious overseas schools with HKDSE scores

HKDSE scores are recognized by more than 300 overseas universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore, Japan, etc. (preparatory courses are not required).

HKDSE candidates can be exempted from IELTS, and partial subjects are allowed:

HKDSE English scores are officially recognized by IELTS, and students can apply for world famous schools without IELTS.

The test scores of 6 subjects, only 4-5 subjects are used to apply for universities, which can avoid weak subjects.

05

Admission criteria for some colleges and universities at home and abroad

Let's take a brief look at the admission criteria of some famous schools for HKDSE candidates:

HKDSE

Mainland China - Fudan University

Six or above HKDSE subjects; the admission requirement for the four core subjects is "4444", that is, Chinese, English, mathematics, and general education all need to reach level 4; in addition, among the 20 elective subjects in Category A, at least Grade 4 is required in both elective subjects.

HKDSE

USA - New York University

To accept applications with HKDSE grades, students will be required to send forecasts or final results to complete the application.

HKDSE

United Kingdom - University of Manchester

HKDSE three elective courses "555", plus compulsory Mathematics 4, English 5. If you want to apply for finance, accounting and business majors, you need to reach 5 in the compulsory mathematics.

HKDSE

Australia - University of Melbourne

Take the accounting major as an example: HKDSE is required to take English and mathematics, with a total score of 22 points. Supports the use of the best five subject scores for calculation.

HKDSE

Canada - Simon Fraser University

Grades from HKDSE's 4 core subjects (Chinese, English, Mathematics and General Studies) and 2 elective subjects are accepted. Category B Applied Learning subjects are not accepted, with at least Level 2 in Mathematics.

06

Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Overseas Chinese Federation Examination Vs Hong Kong College Entrance Examination HKDSE

Finally, to summarize the difference between the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Overseas Chinese Joint Entrance Examination and the Hong Kong College Entrance Examination HKDSE, which parents are most concerned about:

In general, the shortcut to the famous schools at home and abroad through HKDSE is a special benefit that can only be enjoyed by students with Hong Kong status.

If you want to be admitted to a famous mainland school, you need to plan your permanent resident status in Hong Kong in advance, whether you pass the Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Overseas Chinese Examination or the HKDSE exam-free admissions.

Status planning gives children more freedom of educational choices, and also means a higher chance of going to a prestigious school.

Since a non-permanent resident in Hong Kong to obtain permanent resident status in Hong Kong must meet the relevant regulations of the Hong Kong Immigration Department's "continuous usual residence for 7 years", it is recommended that you and your child apply as soon as possible!

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