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Author: Soso FUNG

Hello, I’m Soso FUNG, a migration consultant. I graduated from Auckland University of Technology in 2010. After returning to China in 2019, I began working on the Hong Kong, China Quality Migrant Admission Scheme, and to date I have helped more than 100 families successfully obtain Hong Kong, China residency through the scheme. Sincerity is my basic working attitude, professionalism is my core ethic, and dedication is the reputation I have built in this industry. I will live up to your trust and use my most dedicated, professional service to help you and your family successfully secure Hong Kong, China residency.

Just a few days ago, the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority issued its latest examination rules, announcing that from 2024 it will admit eligible Mainland schools to sit the DSE examination.This means that students at schools for Hong Kong children based in the Mainland will, in future, be able to sit the DSE examination as enrolled school candidates without having to travel to Hong Kong to do so!

From 2024, the Hong Kong, China DSE can be sat directly in the Mainland

01Mainland candidates no longer need to travel to Hong Kong to sit the exam

Schools applying to sit the DSE must be schools for Hong Kong children that are recognised by the relevant Mainland authorities and are eligible and approved to offer the DSE curriculum.Under the arrangement of own-school and regional examination centres for core subjects, Mainland schools are equally responsible for providing examination venues that can accommodate all own-school candidates as well as external candidates, including private candidates.

02 Oral English exams and the practical Physical Education and Music exams must still be sat in Hong Kong

The Hong Kong, China Examinations and Assessment Authority has stated that Category B Applied Learning subjects and Category C Other Languages subjects will only be offered and examined in Hong Kong, China, and Mainland candidates must also sit the oral English exam, as well as the practical Physical Education and Music exams, together with other Hong Kong, China candidates.

For Mainland candidates who previously travelled to Hong Kong, this is fantastic news! It saves the time, money and effort of travelling to and from Hong Kong, China, and lets students sit the exam in a familiar environment — helping them perform at their very best!

How are school candidates and private candidates defined?

If a school for Hong Kong children in the Mainland successfully sits the DSE in the school’s name, students of that school become [school candidates], while other Mainland students are [private candidates].

Private candidates vs school candidates:

[Private candidates] have no school-based assessment; their results are calculated solely from their exam paper marks and graded against a uniform standard.

[School candidates] must be assessed on their performance by their subject teachers; all such candidates must complete the school-based assessment for the relevant subjects, with the marks also counting towards their DSE results (around 20%).

What is the Hong Kong, China DSE? Who can sit it?

The Hong Kong, China DSE exam — the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination — is the university entrance and selection examination established by the Hong Kong, China Examinations and Assessment Authority from March 2012 under the new academic structure, equivalent to the Mainland’s “Gaokao”.

Since it was introduced in 2012, the Hong Kong, China DSE has been open to Mainland students, who can sit it even without Hong Kong, China residency.DSE results can be used to apply not only to universities in Hong Kong, China but also to universities in many countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Japan. At present, more than 280 universities worldwide recognise DSE results.These universities include the University of Cambridge, Yale University, New York University, the University of Sydney, the University of Toronto, the National University of Singapore and Waseda University, among other renowned overseas institutions.Students who hold Hong Kong, China residency can even apply to Mainland 211 and 985 universities with lower scores and without sitting an entrance exam!

1. DSE entry requirements

You qualify if you meet any one of the following:

1. Aged 19 or over as at 1 January of the examination year;

2. Have completed or are currently studying a programme equivalent to Secondary 6 (i.e. Year 12);

3. Have previously sat the Gaokao or an equivalent international examination.

2. Examination subjects

Elective subjects (2–3): Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Chinese History, History, Economics, Accounting, Mathematics Extended Modules, etc.

Compulsory subjects (4): Chinese, English, Mathematics, Liberal Studies

3. Advantages of the Hong Kong, China DSE exam

✔ Comparatively easier papers and less competition

The difficulty is roughly equivalent to the Mainland’s academic proficiency test. It mainly assesses students’ applied thinking and practical knowledge. The formats are varied, the question types are diverse and flexible, and the content is not as in-depth as the Mainland Gaokao, so you can selectively skip rote drilling and have great flexibility in revision. The Mathematics content, for example, covers what is taught from Junior Secondary 1 to Senior Secondary 1 in the Mainland.

✔ Hong Kong, China DSE results are valid for two years

Hong Kong, China DSE results are valid for two years. Results use a combining system: when resitting, you only need to retake the subjects you did poorly in the first year, and the best single-subject results across the two years can be combined as your application results in the second year.

✔ More than 300 universities worldwide recognise DSE results.

✔ You may answer in simplified Chinese

Except for the English subject, all subjects may be answered in simplified Chinese. The oral Chinese component may also be answered in Mandarin.

✔ Hong Kong, China resident students can apply to Mainland universities with their DSE results

4. Advantages of sitting the DSE as a Hong Kong, China resident

✔ Hong Kong, China universities offer substantial score concessions to Hong Kong, China resident students

✔ Hong Kong, China resident students holding a Hong Kong, China ID card and a Home Return Permit can apply to 129 Mainland universities through the DSE

✔ Tuition fees for Hong Kong, China resident students are less than half those for non-resident students

Current “schools for Hong Kong children” in the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macao Greater Bay Area

Universities you can apply to with DSE results

As an internationally recognised examination, the DSE enjoys high international recognition. Beyond universities in Hong Kong, China, you can also apply to around 300 universities overseas, and enter Mainland universities through the Mainland’s “DSE Admission Scheme”!

▶ Applying to universities in Hong Kong, China:

Local students: mainly apply for full-time bachelor’s degree programmes in Hong Kong, China through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS). Candidates need to complete their applications through the online system between mid-September and mid-December.

Private candidates: candidates of other statuses who apply to Hong Kong, China universities with DSE results generally apply through Non-JUPAS (the non-joint admission route). Applications are submitted to each university, with the application window running from as early as November to as late as July the following year. Through Non-JUPAS you can apply to multiple universities and receive multiple offers at the same time.

▶Applying to universities overseas:

DSE results are recognised by leading universities worldwide and come with clear admission requirements. Most countries already recognise the Hong Kong, China DSE as equivalent to their local secondary-school graduation qualification, so obtaining DSE results is equivalent to obtaining a local high-school graduation result, and you can apply directly to universities overseas with your DSE results.

These span many countries including the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, Singapore and Japan, as well as renowned overseas institutions such as the University of Cambridge, Yale University, the National University of Singapore, Kyoto University, New York University, the University of Sydney, the University of Toronto and Waseda University.

DSE pathways to further study

▶ If the student is a Hong Kong, China resident student (who has obtained permanent resident status) they can use their DSE results to apply to all universities in Hong Kong, China, apply to 129 Mainland universities through the “DSE Admission Scheme”, and also apply to more than 300 universities overseas.

▶ If the student is a Hong Kong, China resident student (who has not yet obtained permanent resident status) , they can use their DSE results to apply to all universities in Hong Kong, China, as well as more than 300 universities overseas.

▶ If the student is a non-resident student， they can use their DSE results to apply to the “eight major universities” of Hong Kong, China and other universities that admit non-local students, as well as more than 300 universities overseas.

Hong Kong, China DSE FAQs — Q&A

I’m doing fine in the Gaokao — why should I sit the DSE?
The reason is simple: the DSE can get you into a better university.

With a Mainland “first-tier” (yiben) score, the DSE can get you into the top three universities in Hong Kong, China.

With a Mainland “second-tier” (erben) score, the DSE can get you into the eight major universities of Hong Kong, China.

But I’ve never studied the Hong Kong, China curriculum — will it be very difficult?

After Hong Kong, China’s education reform, the curriculum structure is somewhat similar to the Mainland’s.

Four compulsory core subjects: Chinese, Mathematics, English and Liberal Studies

Two to three elective subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Geography, History, Business, and various applied subjects…

If we had to sum it up broadly:

Hong Kong, China’s curriculum is broader but shallower

the Mainland’s curriculum is narrower but deeper

After all, I’m not a local — I’m worried I won’t be able to compete with Hong Kong, China students…

Wherever you come from,

the exam papers you use are the same,

the marking standards are consistent,

and the admission opportunities are fair.

As long as you work hard, there is no such thing as “not being able to compete”.

What if I don’t do well in the DSE? If I can’t go to university in Hong Kong, China, does that mean I have nowhere to study??
Not at all — a DSE opens far more paths than just universities in Hong Kong, China.

Do you want to study overseas?

Yes — with the DSE you can apply directly to more than 270 universities overseas.

The list of universities can be found on the Examinations and Assessment Authority’s official website.

Well-known names such as Yale, Cambridge, MIT, Oxford and the National University of Singapore are all on the list.

Didn’t do well, but still want to study at university in Hong Kong, China?

If you can’t get into the eight major universities, you can still use your DSE results to progress to an associate degree.

A Gaokao score of around 300 is enough to gain an associate degree place.

After that, there is a strong chance of progressing to a bachelor’s degree in Hong Kong, China.

Still can’t let go of the Mainland Gaokao?
The DSE and the Mainland Gaokao are held far apart in time,

and the content is fairly similar,

so you can take both.

That way, you can apply to almost any university on earth,

with no chance of missing out!

Choice matters more than effort. The HKDSE — an international examination that comes with policy support, less competition and high value — makes for an alternative, less-trodden pathway to further study. If you, too, would like to give your child an extra option, you can use your own circumstances to apply for Hong Kong, China residency through a talent scheme: one person applies and the whole family is approved. Give your child one more pathway beyond the Gaokao!

The Hong Kong, China Quality Migrant Admission Scheme

The Hong Kong, China Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (full name: the Hong Kong, China Quality Migrant Admission Scheme) is a Hong Kong, China talent-attraction policy. Its main aim is to enhance Hong Kong, China’s competitiveness by attracting highly skilled or talented people to settle there. You do not need to secure employment with a Hong Kong, China company in advance, nor invest in any project, and once approved there is no requirement for you to work or live in Hong Kong, China.

How to apply for the Hong Kong, China Quality Migrant Admission Scheme

First, you must meet the basic eligibility criteria of the scheme to apply:

· Age: 18 or over

· Finances: proof of savings is required — around 200,000+ for an individual application and 300,000+ for a family application

· Character: no criminal record and no adverse immigration record

· Qualifications: a bachelor’s degree or above (issued by a recognised university or institution)

Once you meet the basic eligibility, you must also choose one of two points tests and complete a self-assessment, reaching the required score before you can apply. The two points tests are the ‘General Points Test’ and the ‘Achievement Points Test’. Because the [Achievement Points Test] offers only two outcomes — zero or full marks — most people apply via the [General Points Test], which has a pass mark of 80.

From August, there are significant changes to Hong Kong, China Quality Migrant applications. To secure Hong Kong, China residency smoothly, we recommend getting a clear understanding of the scheme first and leaving specialist matters to the specialists. For Hong Kong, China Quality Migrant Admission Scheme applications, the documents and written submissions are crucial — nothing can be allowed to slip. If you are interested in applying for Hong Kong, China but are unsure about your own self-assessment score, scan to follow us~

Past articles worth a read

Western Australia issues its first invitation round this week, with policy unchanged for now! A smaller quota this year doesn’t mean you can’t pursue the study-to-migration route in WA!

In fact, many people overlook the most expensive hidden cost on the migration journey: time.

Opportunity favours the prepared! See how she earned an invitation after three years of “biding her time”!

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Hong Kong, China’s University Entrance Exam (DSE) Can Be Sat in Mainland China from 2024 — Are You Eligible?

Western Australia issues its first invitation round this week, with policy unchanged for now! A smaller quota this year doesn’t mean you can’t pursue the study-to-migration route in WA!

In fact, many people overlook the most expensive hidden cost on the migration journey: time.

Opportunity favours the prepared! See how she earned an invitation after three years of “biding her time”!

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