There are a range of options available to students who thrive in non-traditional educational environments, or who want to begin a career soon after their studies. These options come in the form of institutions offering vocational training courses.
The Hong Kong Vocational Training Council (VTC), several universities and other professional training institutions in Hong Kong offer a comprehensive range of subsidised and self-financing subdegree programmes for Form Five graduates, including diplomas, higher diplomas and associate degrees.
The higher diploma and diploma courses are more vocation-oriented whereas associate degree programmes put the emphasis on general education.
Before students decide which subdegree programme to enrol in, they should make detailed inquiries with the institutions and collect information on several programmes for comparison. Areas that need attention include course contents, subjects offered, articulation arrangements with various universities, and whether the qualifications attained will lead to some top-up degrees.
Under the VTC, the nine campuses of the Hong Kong Institution of Vocational Education (IVE) and several other institutes, such as the School of Business and Information Systems (SBI), offer subsidised two-year diploma and three- or four-year higher diploma programmes. IVE and SBI also provide Fly High higher-diploma courses of three and four years which feature multiple admission and graduation points to suit the needs of students.
These courses are in nine disciplines: applied science; business administration; information technology; child education and community services; construction; design, printing, textiles and clothing; electrical and electronic engineering; mechanical, manufacturing and industrial engineering; and hotel, service and tourism studies.