- Do the Hong Kong tertiary education institutions recognise the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE)?
Students taking the HKDSE have to attain a minimum of level 3 for Chinese Language and English Language and level 2 for Mathematics Compulsory Part, as well as ‘Attained’ in Citizenship and Social Development (i.e. ‘332A’), in order to meet the minimum requirements necessary to apply for the undergraduate programmes offered by the University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded institutions. In addition to the four core subjects, institutions will also set the requirements for elective subjects and other admission requirements. For further details, please refer to here.
The minimum entrance requirement for sub-degree programmes (including associate degree programmes and higher diploma programmes), is level 2 in five subjects (including Chinese Language and English Language) in the HKDSE. Level 2 in Mathematics Extended Part is recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the minimum entrance requirement. If the five HKDSE subjects include Citizenship and Social Development and/or Applied Learning subjects, the minimum entrance requirement would be 'Attained' for the subject(s) concerned. Please refer to the latest Common Descriptors for Associate Degree and Higher Diploma Programmes for details.
For information about admission requirements of individual programmes, please refer to the relevant institution websites.
- What are the employers’ comments on the HKDSE?
It is common in Hong Kong that employers will set job requirements with reference to results in the HKDSE. The Civil Service Bureau (CSB) of the Hong Kong SAR Government announced in June 2011 that results in the HKDSE are accepted for civil service appointment purpose. The CSB announced in September 2023 that the result of ‘Attained’ in the subject Citizenship and Social Development (CS) will be accepted as meeting the entry requirements of relevant civil service grades, i.e. ‘Attained’ in the subject CS will be accepted as meeting one of the five level 2 requirements.
For details, please visit: Civil Service Bureau.
- Do non-local institutions recognise the HKDSE?
The HKDSE qualifications have enjoyed wide recognition. The HKDSE not only provides an important credential for candidates to further their studies locally or to embark on a career, but they can also apply directly to non-local universities or institutions with their HKDSE results. Currently, over 130 Mainland higher education institutions and around 130 Taiwan higher education institutions have admitted Hong Kong students on the basis of their HKDSE results. Furthermore, more than 600 non-local higher education institutions have accepted the HKDSE qualifications for admission to their undergraduate programmes. They represent institutions not only from the popular English-speaking regions such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States, but also over 300 German public universities. Details are available here.
Besides, the HKEAA has worked closely to secure recognition of the HKDSE with international bodies.
The Australian Government has also recognised HKDSE as comparable to an Australian Senior Secondary School Certificate.
- Do non-local education institutions recognise HKDSE English Language?
Many non-local institutions have accepted the results in HKDSE English Language as one of their admission requirements. However, some non-local institutions may set specific English Language requirements, for example, TOEFL, International English Language Testing System (IELTS), etc. for international students.
The HKEAA has conducted a benchmarking study to compare the standards between the IELTS and the HKDSE English Language Examination, in order to provide useful information to help non-local universities understand the English proficiency of HKDSE candidates and set their admission requirements accordingly. Details of the benchmarking study are available here.
- Are Applied Learning subjects (ApL subjects) widely recognised by employers and education sector?
For work:
The CSB accepts ‘Attained’ in ApL subjects as level 2 in Category A subjects in the HKDSE while ‘Attained with Distinction’ is accepted as level 3 for relevant civil service appointment. For details, please visit: Civil Service Bureau.
For further studies:
The minimum entrance requirement for sub-degree programmes (including associate degree programmes and higher diploma programmes), is level 2 in five subjects (including Chinese Language and English Language) in the HKDSE. Level 2 in Mathematics Extended Part is recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the minimum entrance requirement. If the five HKDSE subjects include Citizenship and Social Development and/or ApL subjects, the minimum entrance requirement would be ‘Attained’ for the subject(s) concerned. Please refer to the latest Common Descriptors for Associate Degree and Higher Diploma Programmes for details.
Bachelor degree programmes – In general, the tertiary institutions value the learning experiences that students acquire in ApL and ApL subjects will be taken into account as an elective subject for admission to some programmes offered by local universities.
We will continue to have further discussion with universities, sub-degree providers and employers’ associations on the use of ApL subjects, together with other Senior Secondary subjects, to ensure the recognition of ApL subjects.