Deep Dive delves into hot issues in Hong Kong and mainland China. Our easy-to-read articles provide context to grasp what’s happening, while our questions help you craft informed responses. Check sample answers at the end of the page.
News: Hong Kong public universities admitting fewer DSE pupils
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DSE student intake drops to a record low of 74 per cent
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Number of non-Jupas route students is on the rise
Seven of Hong Kong’s eight publicly funded universities have admitted fewer students who took the local school curriculum over the past decade.
Instead, local universities have increased their intake of Hong Kong students who sat international exams, official statistics show.
The only institution to buck the trend is the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), where the proportion of local students who sat the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) increased during the same period.
The latest admissions data published by the University Grants Committee (UGC) outlined the academic qualifications of first-year students admitted to the eight public universities over the past decade.
Among the 15,000 to 16,000 local students enrolled annually at all eight public universities, 80 per cent were admitted via the DSE route in the 2015-16 academic year. This figure gradually declined to a record low of 74 per cent in 2024-25. The drop amounts to around 500 fewer DSE students being admitted to public universities in 2024-25 than in 2015-16.
Secondary school students following non-local curricula – such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), GCE A levels or International A levels – pay tuition fees at international, private or semi-private schools, with annual fees ranging from around HK$30,000 to more than HK$200,000.
Hong Kong students may choose non-local curricula as a way to expand their future opportunities. They believe it could make it easier for them to study abroad after secondary school or to find jobs with international companies. Some may also feel that non-local curricula are better suited to a pupil’s individual learning.
At the University of Hong Kong (HKU), around 13 per cent of first-year local undergraduates were admitted through the non-Jupas route in 2015-16, but this proportion soared to 30 per cent in 2024-25.
The share of HKU first-year local students admitted via Jupas fell from 79 per cent in 2015-16 to 67 per cent in 2024-25, representing 331 fewer students admitted through this route over the decade.
CUHK was the only public university to record an increase in the proportion of Jupas-route students – from 86 per cent in 2015-16 to 87 per cent.
As more non-Jupas local students are being admitted to Hong Kong’s public universities, the government is also considering how to attract more overseas students as part of the Study in Hong Kong campaign introduced in last year’s policy address.
Staff writers
Question prompts
1. Which of the following statements about UGC’s admissions data is false?
(1) The University of Hong Kong was the only public university to admit mostly DSE pupils last year.
(2) The percentage of students enrolled at public universities through the DSE route dropped to a record low in the 2024-25 academic year.
(3) The proportion of Jupas-route students soared in all of the city’s public universities.
(4) Around 80 per cent of students at public universities were admitted via the DSE route in the 2015-16 academic year.
A. (1), (2) only
B. (1), (3) only
C. (1), (4) only
D. (2), (4) only
2. List ONE factor that makes it harder for Hong Kong students to take the non-Jupas route to enter the city’s public universities.
3. How could recent trends in Hong Kong’s university admissions be beneficial for the Study in Hong Kong campaign? Explain using News, Glossary and your own knowledge.
Graph
Question prompts
1. Using the graph, list ONE trend in student routes to Hong Kong’s publicly funded universities over the last 10 years.
2. How could public universities benefit from students who have taken international exams? Explain using News and your own knowledge.
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Question prompts
1. According to News and Issue, what is the goal of the Study in Hong Kong campaign?
2. What challenges might arise with more international students? Explain using News, Issue and your own knowledge.
Issue: Hong Kong government’s push to develop a global education hub
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EdU president encourages authorities to offer more scholarships at public universities and ensure academic programmes are future-proof
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Hong Kong is expanding its talent drive to develop its “Study in Hong Kong” brand
The president of Hong Kong’s largest teacher-training institution has urged the government to maintain the city’s high level of internationalisation as an essential factor in attracting pupils.
Professor John Lee Chi-kin, president of the Education University of Hong Kong (EdU), encouraged authorities to offer more scholarships at public universities.
He also emphasised the importance of ensuring that their academic programmes account for the latest technological developments.
In his latest policy address, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu announced the enrolment ceiling for self-financing, non-local students at public universities would be increased from 40 to 50 per cent of local undergraduate places in the next academic year.
Currently, the number of non-local students admitted to Hong Kong public universities does not affect the number of places for local students
EdU’s Lee said Hong Kong should maintain its high degree of internationalisation and offer more space in universities to non-local students to support the city’s goal of becoming a global education hub.
“Mainland students actually have lots of chances for further studies on the mainland. But why do they choose Hong Kong? It is because our city is highly internationalised and we have an excellent tertiary education system,” he said, adding that attracting international students hinged on the availability of scholarships.
EdU also said it would continue to offer additional Cantonese or Putonghua classes, enhance counselling support and facilitate integration activities involving local students.
Lee said Hong Kong could also explore extending the Study in Hong Kong campaign, which is university-focused mainly, to include the admission of non-locals to public secondary schools before they enter the city’s tertiary education institutions.
Such students would have to pay the full fees to go to public secondary schools, while the interests of local pupils would need to be safeguarded, he added.
The university president said some overseas countries also admitted international students to study at local secondary schools, which Hong Kong could take as a reference.
The Education Bureau is set to launch a trial scheme that allows Direct Subsidy Scheme schools to expand their intake of self-financed, non-local pupils with student visas.
The policy is considered the first step in opening up the city’s basic education.
But mainland Chinese students are ineligible for the scheme under the city’s immigration rules, as those under 18 are not eligible to be issued study visas.
Staff writers
Question prompts
1. List THREE suggestions for how Hong Kong could attract more overseas students to its universities.
2. Why has John Lee Chi-kin suggested the government open public secondary schools to international students? To what extent do you agree with his reasoning?
3. Do you think Hong Kong can become a global education hub? Explain using News, Issue, Glossary and your own knowledge.
Glossary
Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE): Hong Kong’s university entrance examination, which tests students on different core and elective subjects. To enrol in the city’s public universities, DSE students must apply through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (Jupas).
University Grants Committee (UGC): a government advisory body that allocates funding to Hong Kong’s higher education institutions
non-Jupas route: other study options and curricula in Hong Kong, like the International Baccalaureate (IB), GCE A levels or International A Levels
Study in Hong Kong: a government-led initiative, announced by Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu in 2024, to develop Hong Kong into a hub for post-secondary education by attracting overseas students
enrolment ceiling: the maximum number of students officially permitted to be registered in a school
Sample answers
News
1. B
2. Most schools that offer non-local curricula – such as the International Baccalaureate (IB), GCE A levels or International A levels – require annual tuition fees that students from low-income families might not be able to afford.
3. If more local students study international curricula before starting at Hong Kong’s universities, this will help overseas students feel more comfortable coming to Hong Kong because they could meet others who have learned the same things as them. Having students from diverse educational backgrounds will make Hong Kong’s universities more inclusive.
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1. There has been a gradual decline in the number of DSE candidates being admitted to the city’s eight publicly-funded universities. / There has been an increase in the number of students following non-local curricula being admitted to Hong Kong’s public universities.
2. By admitting more students who have taken international exams, Hong Kong’s public universities can strengthen their global competitiveness, attract more capable and internationally minded students, and align with the government’s policy goals to internationalise the city’s higher education sector.
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1. To develop Hong Kong into a global education hub.
2. A sharp influx of international students studying in Hong Kong might lead to a rising need for additional Cantonese or Putonghua classes, counselling support and integration activities involving local students.
Issue
1. Offer more scholarships at public universities to make studying in Hong Kong more appealing to international students. / Ensure academic programmes reflect the latest technological developments to stay competitive and relevant. / Extend the Study in Hong Kong campaign to include admissions of non-local students to public secondary schools before they enter tertiary education.
2. Professor John Lee Chi-kin suggested opening public secondary schools to international students so they could experience Hong Kong’s education system earlier and be more likely to continue their studies at local universities. He believes this would strengthen Hong Kong’s position as a global education hub and follow international practices. His reasoning is convincing, as early exposure can help attract and retain talented students while enhancing the city’s internationalisation. However, it is important to ensure this does not disadvantage local pupils and that visa and resource issues are properly managed.
3. Yes, Hong Kong can become a global education hub. The city already has several world-ranked universities that attract students from around the world. Its strong academic reputation, international environment and bilingual culture make it an ideal place for global learning. With the government’s efforts to expand the Study in Hong Kong campaign, it is very likely to attract more international students. Suppose it maintains its high degree of internationalisation and offers more space in universities to non-local students. In that case, Hong Kong has the potential to enhance its global appeal and position itself as a leading centre of higher education in Asia. (other possible answers are accepted)
