https://www.scmp.com/rss/33582/feed The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination is administered by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. Most candidates take four core subjects (Chinese and English languages, mathematics and liberal studies) and two or three elective subjects. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education authorities plan to establish an “internationally benchmarked” version of the city’s university entrance exam on a pilot basis to allow foreign students to apply for admission to higher education institutions both locally and in mainland China. They revealed that technical explorations and studies with relevant bodies on developing the international version of the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam were under way. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347067/hong-kong-establish-global-version-university-entrance-exam-pilot-basis?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3347067/hong-kong-establish-global-version-university-entrance-exam-pilot-basis?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 18 Mar 2026 12:47:51 +0000 Jane Lee,Victor Kwok Jane Lee,Victor Kwok Interest in Hong Kong’s Diploma of Secondary Education has increased steadily in recent years. The government is committed to strengthening the city’s role as an international education hub, not just in tertiary education but also in basic education. Following this directive, the Education Bureau recently invited all Direct Subsidy Scheme schools to apply to increase their intake of non-local students. Hong Kong’s education sector offers biliteracy and trilingualism, and provides a broader range... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3337385/hong-kong-should-offer-international-dse-boost-education-hub-goal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3337385/hong-kong-should-offer-international-dse-boost-education-hub-goal?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 26 Dec 2025 21:30:08 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial Despite growing cross-border integration, maintaining biliteracy and trilingualism continues to set Hong Kong apart from the rest of the country under “one country, two systems”. Embedded into the local education policy, the emphasis on learning English, Mandarin and Cantonese is as much an integral part of the city’s cultural identity as it is the formula for success in connecting with the mainland and the world. The policy is based on historical development and actual needs and has been... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334508/both-traditional-and-simplified-chinese-have-value-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3334508/both-traditional-and-simplified-chinese-have-value-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 29 Nov 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words In a recent Chinese-language blog post, Hong Kong’s undersecretary for education Dr Jeff Sze Chun-fai wrote about the city’s digital education blueprint. We at Just Feel welcome the government’s commitment to strengthening the city’s artificial intelligence-related competencies,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3333622/hong-kongs-ai-education-quest-needs-human-connection-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3333622/hong-kongs-ai-education-quest-needs-human-connection-succeed?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 22 Nov 2025 03:30:11 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Two universities in Australia will directly admit students from Hong Kong’s semi-private schools based on teachers’ predictions of their grades in the city’s university entrance examinations and principals’ nominations under an unprecedented arrangement. The Hong Kong Direct Subsidy Scheme Schools Council said it hoped the new initiative would ease students’ uncertainties by helping them secure universities’ offers before the exams and giving them a chance to pursue higher education abroad. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3332930/2-australian-universities-admit-hong-kong-students-based-predicted-grades?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3332930/2-australian-universities-admit-hong-kong-students-based-predicted-grades?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 16 Nov 2025 01:00:34 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words Education has long been one of Hong Kong’s greatest strengths. Yet, as we look to the future, it is crucial to adapt our educational strategy to resonate on a global scale. At Youth Ideas, a think tank under The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups, we commend government... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3331039/create-international-dse-extend-hong-kongs-educational-reach?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3331039/create-international-dse-extend-hong-kongs-educational-reach?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 03 Nov 2025 03:30:10 +0000 William Yiu,Fiona Sun William Yiu,Fiona Sun Hong Kong and mainland Chinese authorities have a consensus that the city will not issue student visas to pupils across the border, the education minister has revealed, explaining that they are excluded from a scheme to increase the non-local intake at semi-private schools. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin also said on Friday that aided and government schools were excluded from the scheme because most of them offered the local curriculum and used Chinese as the medium of... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3326207/no-hong-kong-student-visas-mainland-chinese-pupils-under-mutual-agreement?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3326207/no-hong-kong-student-visas-mainland-chinese-pupils-under-mutual-agreement?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 19 Sep 2025 14:19:22 +0000 Willa Wu,William Yiu Willa Wu,William Yiu Hong Kong’s education authorities have revoked the registration of a troubled private school due to poor management, following allegations that the institution collaborated with a Shenzhen-based tutorial centre without prior approval. The Education Bureau announced on Friday that it had decided to cancel the registration of Tsung Tsin Middle School, which had previously been ordered to suspend operations in early August due to the incident. “[The school] has not been managed satisfactorily and... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3324509/hong-kong-schools-registration-revoked-amid-cross-border-dse-tutorial-centre-row?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3324509/hong-kong-schools-registration-revoked-amid-cross-border-dse-tutorial-centre-row?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Sep 2025 09:50:19 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong’s education minister has said she is open to developing an international version of the city’s university entrance exams, but details such as the implementation of electronic testing still need to be discussed. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin told the Post in an exclusive interview that the decision to internationalise the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams could depend on the availability of resources and demand. Choi said that she had adopted an open attitude... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3323878/hong-kong-education-minister-open-international-version-dse-exams?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3323878/hong-kong-education-minister-open-international-version-dse-exams?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 02 Sep 2025 09:45:06 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The performance of private candidates sitting Hong Kong’s university entrance exams will not affect the chances of pupils achieving top scores, authorities have said, after the Post found significant improvements in non-school takers’ grades over the past two years. The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority’s remarks on Tuesday were accompanied by comprehensive data on top achievers in three core subjects of the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) for the last two years. The... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3323250/private-dse-candidates-marks-will-not-affect-hong-kong-pupils-scores-exam-body?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3323250/private-dse-candidates-marks-will-not-affect-hong-kong-pupils-scores-exam-body?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 16:39:37 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The number of non-day school candidates achieving the highest grades across various subjects in Hong Kong’s university entrance exams has significantly increased over the past two years amid a growing trend of mainland Chinese students taking the tests, the Post has found. An analysis by the Post of official data showed that the number of non-day school candidates securing Level 5**, the highest grade in the seven-tier system of Hong Kong’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE), had increased at... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3323107/why-are-more-non-day-school-candidates-achieving-top-scores-hong-kongs-dse?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3323107/why-are-more-non-day-school-candidates-achieving-top-scores-hong-kongs-dse?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 26 Aug 2025 00:30:14 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen Hong Kong’s university entrance exam should be internationalised to help turn the city into a global tertiary education hub, several lawmakers have suggested ahead of the annual policy address next month, arguing the move will not harm local students’ interests. The legislators also called for the establishment of more Diploma for Secondary Education (DSE) exam centres outside Hong Kong. Other suggestions included awarding non-local DSE students “bonus points” under the admission process for... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322925/internationalise-hong-kongs-dse-help-turn-city-education-hub-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322925/internationalise-hong-kongs-dse-help-turn-city-education-hub-lawmakers?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 23 Aug 2025 10:34:59 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Hong Kong should immediately introduce a residency period for subsidised university degree places instead of gradually implementing it over two years, to prevent the dependants of non-local talent from exploiting the transition, a concern group has said. The call was issued in a petition from the Hong Kong Local Students Rights Concern Group, but was dismissed by the Education Bureau on Wednesday night, with authorities arguing it would take time to prepare for the city’s university entrance... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322700/hong-kong-urged-quickly-adopt-residency-rule-subsidised-university-spots?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322700/hong-kong-urged-quickly-adopt-residency-rule-subsidised-university-spots?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 21 Aug 2025 12:57:47 +0000 Vivian Au,Ng Kang-chung Vivian Au,Ng Kang-chung An inspection task force will be established in Hong Kong to crack down on unauthorised collaboration between schools and tutorial centres, the education minister has said, following accusations that a Shenzhen-based centre offered classes for the city’s university entrance exams without approval. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Monday that she expected the task force responsible for random inspections to improve quality control and boost parents’ confidence. “Borrowing a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322194/hong-kong-sets-inspection-team-tackle-illegal-tutorial-centre-operations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3322194/hong-kong-sets-inspection-team-tackle-illegal-tutorial-centre-operations?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 18 Aug 2025 06:05:48 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial The growing popularity of Hong Kong’s university entrance exam among mainland students seeking higher learning bolsters the city’s ambition to become an education hub. It has also nurtured a booming lucrative industry across the border that warrants closer oversight. A Post report found that the curriculum for the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam was available in at least 72 schools and four tutorial centres in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, Zhejiang and Jiangsu. Among them,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3321680/dse-needs-oversight-ensure-growth-popularity-remains-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3321680/dse-needs-oversight-ensure-growth-popularity-remains-healthy?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 22:45:08 +0000 Leopold Chen Leopold Chen A mainland Chinese tutorial centre has pressed on with promoting a programme costing nearly HK$200,000 (US$25,480) a year that it claims can help pupils attend a Hong Kong subsidised secondary school with accommodation and “intensive training”, despite warnings from authorities, the Post has found. A Post reporter posing as a parent was sent marketing materials on Wednesday, a day after Hong Kong’s Education Bureau demanded a report from Caritas St Joseph Secondary School over joint promotion... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321762/mainland-china-tutorial-centre-undeterred-warning-over-hong-kong-school-programmes?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321762/mainland-china-tutorial-centre-undeterred-warning-over-hong-kong-school-programmes?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 13 Aug 2025 12:42:32 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu Competition for university places is set to intensify in Hong Kong as more than 150,000 children born in the city to mainland Chinese parents will be eligible to apply for subsidised tertiary education in the next five years. Former leader Leung Chun-ying, who banned mainland women from giving birth in Hong Kong starting in 2013, said on Monday that he had “no solution” to potential problems, as the children were entitled to subsidised university places. But the “predicament” served as a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321497/fight-hong-kongs-university-spots-heat-150000-more-teens-eligible?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321497/fight-hong-kongs-university-spots-heat-150000-more-teens-eligible?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Aug 2025 02:30:08 +0000 Lo Hoi-ying Lo Hoi-ying Hong Kong education authorities have suspended a second private school in their crackdown on institutions collaborating with third-party agencies to help students from outside the city qualify for subsidised university programmes. The Education Bureau said on Monday that it was “very seriously” looking into institutions that were allegedly collaborating with placement or tutoring agencies to operate “shell schools”, which helped students gain local status. The bureau said it had rejected the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321495/second-hong-kong-school-suspended-over-unauthorised-courses-aimed-mainland-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321495/second-hong-kong-school-suspended-over-unauthorised-courses-aimed-mainland-chinese?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 15:33:49 +0000 Lynn Zhang,Leopold Chen,Lorraine Chiang,William Yiu Lynn Zhang,Leopold Chen,Lorraine Chiang,William Yiu More than 70 schools in mainland China are offering Hong Kong’s university entrance exam courses, with some operators planning for further expansion given the curriculum’s growing demand, the Post has found. The rising popularity of the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) also prompted calls for Hong Kong authorities to internationalise the assessment launched in 2012 to boost the number of non-local candidates. At least 72 schools and four tutorial centres in Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen,... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321379/hong-kong-university-entrance-exam-courses-offered-over-70-mainland-schools?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321379/hong-kong-university-entrance-exam-courses-offered-over-70-mainland-schools?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 11 Aug 2025 00:30:12 +0000 William Yiu,Ambrose Li William Yiu,Ambrose Li Hong Kong education authorities have suspended the operations of a private secondary school after a Shenzhen-based tutorial centre was accused of offering the city’s university entrance examination curriculum at the institution without registration. But the tutorial centre, Capture Star, denied the allegation, saying that it had only acted as an agent to recruit students for Tsung Tsin Middle School. The Education Bureau said on Friday that permanent secretary May Chan Wing-shiu considered the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321220/shenzhen-based-tutorial-centre-denies-offering-dse-courses-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3321220/shenzhen-based-tutorial-centre-denies-offering-dse-courses-hong-kong?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 08 Aug 2025 09:06:23 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu About 37 per cent of students who applied under Hong Kong’s university programme allocation system have secured tertiary education places, representing a slight drop from the previous year, amid increased competition. The release of the allocation data on Tuesday came as the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) revealed it had secured the highest number of top scorers who sat their Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams this year, with all of them opting to join its medicine... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3320871/3653-hong-kong-students-get-university-diploma-spots-under-allocation-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3320871/3653-hong-kong-students-get-university-diploma-spots-under-allocation-system?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 05 Aug 2025 23:00:15 +0000 Adam Au Adam Au Hong Kong students have once again demonstrated their academic prowess on the global stage, with 31 perfect scores in the International Baccalaureate exam. A record number of top scorers in the recent Diploma of Secondary Education exam results further highlight the city’s ability to churn out bright minds. As with previous years, a disproportionate number of top test-takers have chosen medicine as their career path. Why do our most capable students continue to limit themselves to a single... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3320000/how-top-scores-are-leading-hong-kongs-brightest-down-narrow-path?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3320000/how-top-scores-are-leading-hong-kongs-brightest-down-narrow-path?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 04 Aug 2025 01:30:09 +0000 Cannix Yau Cannix Yau Hong Kong’s plans to impose a required residency period for children of non-local talent before they can apply for subsidised tertiary education is part of efforts to ensure fairness and the reasonable use of public funds, a minister has said. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin on Saturday defended the coming policy change, noting the number of relevant applications had increased fivefold between 2022 and last year. In a bid to provide a transition period, the policy will initially... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3320529/hong-kongs-policy-change-children-non-local-talent-ensure-fairness?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3320529/hong-kongs-policy-change-children-non-local-talent-ensure-fairness?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 02 Aug 2025 06:13:32 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial When it comes to studying abroad, the top choices are usually the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada and Australia. Increasingly, Hong Kong has also become a popular destination thanks to its top universities, international environment, affordable education fees and good career prospects. The city’s appeal is not confined to just foreign students. A growing number of mainland Chinese pupils are taking the city’s university entrance examinations. The Diploma of Secondary Education exam is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3319086/hong-kong-must-make-most-its-allure-mainland-overseas-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3319086/hong-kong-must-make-most-its-allure-mainland-overseas-students?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 23:15:08 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recently concluded visit (“How deals are trumping port dispute on Australian PM Albanese’s China visit”, July 17) is a welcome breath of fresh air in... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3318979/wisdom-australias-fresh-approach-china?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3318979/wisdom-australias-fresh-approach-china?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 22 Jul 2025 03:30:07 +0000 SCMP SCMP We have selected eight stories from our coverage of Hong Kong’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examinations. If you would like to see more of our reporting, please consider subscribing. 1. ‘Feels like magic’: Hong Kong’s DSE top scorers revel in results – as it happened 2. Hong Kong’s DSE stars praise power of AI, eye local medical degrees 3. Hong Kong DSE 14 years in: best subjects, worst performers and top schools 4. ‘Less stressful’: why mainland Chinese pupils choose Hong Kong’s DSE... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318555/hong-kong-dse-exams-everything-you-need-know-top-performers-ais-role?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318555/hong-kong-dse-exams-everything-you-need-know-top-performers-ais-role?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 11:15:11 +0000 Lynn Zhang Lynn Zhang An increasing number of mainland Chinese pupils are taking Hong Kong’s university entrance exams as a step towards more diverse opportunities in higher education, with at least two achieving flying colours as private candidates this year. Leslie Wang Ziqi, 18, a student in Shenzhen, switched from the National Higher Education Entrance Examination or gaokao, mainland China’s university entrance exam, to the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE), as a private candidate at the beginning of his final... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318481/dse-versus-gaokao-more-mainland-chinese-pupils-opting-hong-kong-system?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318481/dse-versus-gaokao-more-mainland-chinese-pupils-opting-hong-kong-system?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 17 Jul 2025 00:30:09 +0000 SCMP Editorial SCMP Editorial One exam does not make or break one’s life. That is the lesson Hong Kong youngsters can take away after they were informed of their scores in the notoriously competitive exam for higher education yesterday. The door to a good future does not close because of failure to get into university. This is especially true as technology and innovation continue to break new ground outside traditional study and career paths. As in the past, there are bound to be more losers than winners. Only about 38.5 per... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3318446/dse-results-not-only-path-success-hong-kong-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/comment/article/3318446/dse-results-not-only-path-success-hong-kong-students?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 22:45:07 +0000 Kathryn Giordano Kathryn Giordano At Po Leung Kuk Ngan Po Ling College in Hong Kong, Smriti Kedia witnessed her mother burst into tears when her near-perfect results in Hong Kong’s university entrance exams came in. “It was just like a big sigh of relief,” said Kedia, who received four 5** and two 5*, the top two grades of a seven-level scale of the exams. She was among 55,000 students who received their Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) results on Wednesday. Kedia, 18, who moved to the city from India at the age of one, is... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318484/beyond-language-barriers-ethnic-minority-students-shine-hong-kong-dse-tests?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318484/beyond-language-barriers-ethnic-minority-students-shine-hong-kong-dse-tests?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 12:54:17 +0000 Yohji Lam Yohji Lam On Wednesday, more than 55,000 Hong Kong students received their results for the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE), the city’s university entrance exam. Sixteen top scorers from 14 schools achieved the perfect 5** grades in six subjects, with 10 of them becoming “super top scorers” excelling in the extended module. Here they share their insights and tips on how they excelled in their DSE studies. 1. Time management and self-discipline Norris Kung Yan-long, 18, a super top scorer from St... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3318476/top-achievers-hong-kongs-dse-tests-share-their-study-tips?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/article/3318476/top-achievers-hong-kongs-dse-tests-share-their-study-tips?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 12:07:07 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu More than 55,000 candidates learned the results of their university entrance exams in Hong Kong on Wednesday, with many top performers saying that they had used AI to help with their studies. At least 11 of the 16 star pupils in this year’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) have opted to study medicine locally, while three plan to head to overseas universities and one is looking at a career as a vet. A total of 55,489 candidates sat the DSE exams this year, a 10 per cent increase from the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318416/hong-kongs-dse-stars-praise-power-ai-eye-local-medical-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3318416/hong-kongs-dse-stars-praise-power-ai-eye-local-medical-degrees?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 07:46:10 +0000 Doris Wai Doris Wai With about 55,000 Hong Kong candidates receiving their Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam results on Wednesday, some will have performed less well than they expected or did not meet the minimum university entry requirements. So what can students left disappointed by their results do? The Post has sought advice from teachers and a mental health expert. 1. What options do students with fewer than 20 points have? DSE subjects are graded from level 1 to 5**, the highest mark. The grades... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318362/disappointed-your-hong-kong-dse-results-heres-what-you-can-do-next?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318362/disappointed-your-hong-kong-dse-results-heres-what-you-can-do-next?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 16 Jul 2025 04:00:13 +0000 Doris Wai Doris Wai More than 55,000 Hong Kong pupils will receive their Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam results on Wednesday, a pivotal milestone that may trigger anxiety and also bring opportunity. Here are some useful tips to mentally prepare for the big day, along with a handy checklist of what to bring. 1. Want to apply to a local university? Students who have applied through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (Jupas) or Electronic Advance Application System (EAPP) and received a... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318276/how-can-pupils-parents-be-mentally-prepared-hong-kong-dse-results-day?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318276/how-can-pupils-parents-be-mentally-prepared-hong-kong-dse-results-day?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 09:48:29 +0000 William Yiu,Lo Hoi-ying William Yiu,Lo Hoi-ying Sixteen students have achieved perfect scores in Hong Kong’s university entrance exams, a record for the diploma programme and up from 11 last year, with authorities attributing it partly to a decrease in lesson time for core subjects following a curriculum change. One top Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) scorer secured the highest grade across seven subjects, including three core ones and four electives and the extended maths module, as well as securing an “attained” grade in citizenship... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318275/hong-kong-dse-16-students-achieve-perfect-scores-highest-exams-history?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3318275/hong-kong-dse-16-students-achieve-perfect-scores-highest-exams-history?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 15 Jul 2025 08:09:53 +0000 Letters Letters Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification The recent youth survey (“Nearly 30% of Hong Kong secondary pupils thought of self-harm, suicide: study”, May 12) should not be dismissed as trivial or viewed with contempt by adults who see the... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3314299/hong-kongs-culture-comparison-weighing-down-students?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3314299/hong-kongs-culture-comparison-weighing-down-students?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 15 Jun 2025 03:30:07 +0000 Brian Wong Brian Wong A Hong Kong student who starred in a popular web documentary about the city’s university entrance exams has been convicted of theft for a second time after pleading guilty to shoplifting at a supermarket. Eastern Court on Thursday recorded a guilty plea from Tang Ngai-hong, who admitted to stealing a bag of fruit and two packets of potato chips from the Fresh supermarket at Kornhill Plaza North in Quarry Bay on January 5. The offence took place just five months after the 19-year-old was fined... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3314139/teen-star-hong-kong-film-dse-exams-convicted-theft-again?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3314139/teen-star-hong-kong-film-dse-exams-convicted-theft-again?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 12 Jun 2025 08:17:23 +0000 Kelly Fung Kelly Fung About 48,000 candidates sat the citizen and social development (CSD) paper in Hong Kong’s university entrance exams on Tuesday, with students asked to discuss the city’s strengths in promoting Chinese culture and the influence of China’s foreign aid. A teacher who reviewed the paper in this year’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination said it offered more global perspectives, while some students who took the test described it as “easy”. The inaugural exam in the subject was held last... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3305716/hong-kong-dse-citizen-and-social-development-exam-easy-some-students-say?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3305716/hong-kong-dse-citizen-and-social-development-exam-easy-some-students-say?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:03:56 +0000 William Yiu William Yiu The success rate of eligible candidates who sat for the exam to be admitted into Hong Kong’s publicly funded universities has fallen from 70 per cent in 2023 to 61 per cent, government statistics show, even as the scrapping of the liberal studies core subject allowed more students to meet minimum entrance requirements. According to figures recently submitted by the Education Bureau to the Legislative Council, 19,262 candidates who took the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) last year met the... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3305139/61-eligible-dse-candidates-get-hong-kong-public-universities-down-70?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3305139/61-eligible-dse-candidates-get-hong-kong-public-universities-down-70?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 04 Apr 2025 00:35:22 +0000 Doris Wai Doris Wai Students and teachers received a surprise on Thursday when celebrities such as singer Taylor Swift and actor Hugh Jackman appeared in the reading section of Hong Kong’s Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) English exam. About 51,000 candidates sat for the reading and writing papers, with the listening section to be held on Saturday. The exams will end on April 30, with results scheduled to be released on July 16. Some students were taken aback by the slight changes to the questions, with one DSE... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3305117/taylor-swift-and-hugh-jackman-pop-hong-kongs-dse-english-exam?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3305117/taylor-swift-and-hugh-jackman-pop-hong-kongs-dse-english-exam?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:33:46 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification As a former English language teacher in Hong Kong, I have observed a number of issues with the implementation of English language school-based assessment (SBA). First, there appear to be... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3300046/give-hong-kongs-students-space-showcase-their-spoken-english?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3300046/give-hong-kongs-students-space-showcase-their-spoken-english?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 26 Feb 2025 03:30:10 +0000 The rise of DeepSeek, a low-cost alternative to OpenAI’s model, has ignited a global conversation about making artificial intelligence (AI) more widely accessible. The affordability of such a platform is a godsend to businesses seeking cutting-edge tools on a budget. As these technologies spread like wildfire, they raise alarms in the field of education: What happens when AI becomes cheap, commonplace and unregulated? The answer is a mix of opportunity and peril. Hong Kong’s education system,... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3297406/will-ai-empower-students-or-undermine-learning-choice-ours?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3297406/will-ai-empower-students-or-undermine-learning-choice-ours?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 07 Feb 2025 09:30:08 +0000 Talent defies geographical boundaries. As the Hong Kong government works towards making the city a higher education hub, local universities are well poised to attract talented international students. But there is a catch: the main pathway for non-Chinese-speaking students to access our universities is almost blocked. As an international university entrance exam, the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) is relatively young. Born in 2012 as part of the city’s education reform, it is the main route... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3296768/hong-kongs-university-entrance-exam-should-be-bridge-not-barrier?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/hong-kong-opinion/article/3296768/hong-kongs-university-entrance-exam-should-be-bridge-not-barrier?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 01 Feb 2025 01:15:07 +0000 Hong Kong may require students to have lived in the city for a minimum period to be classified as “local” after some mainland Chinese professionals were accused of exploiting talent schemes to secure cheaper university tuition for their children. Secretary for Education Christine Choi Yuk-lin said on Tuesday she would take reference from jurisdictions such as England and Singapore to potentially redefine local students, a category which determines eligibility for subsidised university... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3295699/hong-kong-may-require-minimum-stay-obtain-local-student-university-status?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3295699/hong-kong-may-require-minimum-stay-obtain-local-student-university-status?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2025 13:44:52 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Anyone who has been through the local education system typically ends up with a phobia of speaking English. We tend to avoid it, don’t we? There are instances of hesitation across the board, from... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3295480/why-so-many-hongkongers-have-phobia-speaking-english?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3295480/why-so-many-hongkongers-have-phobia-speaking-english?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 21 Jan 2025 03:30:08 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification In her recent piece for the Post, Lijia Zhang explores the intricacies of writing in a non-native language, drawing on the experiences of renowned authors to illustrate her insight (“What I gained... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3287333/multilingual-writers-enrich-worlds-literary-canon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3287333/multilingual-writers-enrich-worlds-literary-canon?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 24 Nov 2024 03:30:15 +0000 Sammy Heung Sammy Heung A university in Macau will expel 24 students who enrolled using fake Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) credentials, with the case also triggering a police investigation in the financial hub. Hong Kong’s education minister, Christine Choi Yuk-lin, said on Saturday the bogus applications were “outrageous”, as she warned of serious consequences for anyone caught breaking laws. “Using a fake document is a serious crime, which can result in the maximum penalty of a 14-year jail... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3286853/university-macau-uncovers-20-students-using-fake-hong-kong-exam-credentials?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3286853/university-macau-uncovers-20-students-using-fake-hong-kong-exam-credentials?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Nov 2024 06:27:45 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification After reading the letter, “To fix Hong Kong’s technician shortage, change how we teach them” (October 24), I can’t help but agree with your clear-minded correspondent who pointed out that something... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3286040/dse-waste-time-hong-kong-youth-not-cut-out-academics?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3286040/dse-waste-time-hong-kong-youth-not-cut-out-academics?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 12 Nov 2024 06:30:09 +0000 It’s hard to imagine life today without digital technology, from the internet and smartphones, to social media and artificial intelligence (AI). From the ways we get information to the ways we communicate, the digital revolution has made life easier, faster and more convenient. However, in the world of education, there is still one area that has remained stubbornly traditional. For the longest time, exams have been paper-based and administered in dedicated exam centres. Usually taking place at... https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3285546/cambridge-international-education-announces-all-exams-be-digital-june-2026?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/special-reports/article/3285546/cambridge-international-education-announces-all-exams-be-digital-june-2026?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 07 Nov 2024 23:15:11 +0000 Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at letters@scmp.com or filling in this Google form. Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification The Hong Kong government has acknowledged an increase in demand for halal dining options for Muslim visitors from Asia, the Middle East and beyond. Its efforts to make the city a destination that is... https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3282582/better-grasp-halal-needs-will-boost-hong-kongs-tourism-sector?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/opinion/letters/article/3282582/better-grasp-halal-needs-will-boost-hong-kongs-tourism-sector?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 20 Oct 2024 03:30:08 +0000 Jiang Chuqin,Wynna Wong Jiang Chuqin,Wynna Wong Students in the city will have the option of applying to the Shenzhen campus of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) by using their local results in addition to an existing pathway via mainland China’s joint entrance examination. A spokesman said on Friday that Chinese University would join forces with other higher education institutions across the border to consider applications from Hong Kong students taking the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examinations. Admission decisions would... https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3282980/students-able-use-hong-kong-exam-results-apply-chinese-university-shenzhen-campus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3282980/students-able-use-hong-kong-exam-results-apply-chinese-university-shenzhen-campus?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 18 Oct 2024 11:13:40 +0000