This year 47,891 candidates took the local university entrance exam - Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) and obtained their results this morning (21 July). The total number of DSE candidates decreased by 8 per cent from last year. 42.1 per cent of day school candidates met the general entrance requirements for local first-degree programmes (3322), which is comparable to 2021. This figure is also lower than last year’s figure by 3 per cent (around 500 students). 

These 17,269 day school candidates will now be competing for about 13,000 places offered by publicly funded universities through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS, the Hong Kong universities admissions system). Those who did not meet the general requirements will either look to study abroad or enter expensive self-funded programmes. Meanwhile, 28,740 candidates of day schools achieved level 2 or above in five subjects, which is the minimum criteria required to apply for civil services posts or enter sub-degree programmes.

In general, the size of the 2022 cohort is considered as hitting a record low since the DSE exam introduced 10 years ago (2012) – declined by 34.5 per cent. Local news reported this may be owing to the steadily shrinking secondary student population as well as the continuing wave of emigration from the city. In the meantime, local influencers also highlighted this ongoing trend of studying outside of Hong Kong or globally amongst parents and students. One of the local careers counselling associations surveyed around 500 high school leavers this year and found the proportion of respondents who expressed their interest in studying abroad has increased from one fifth in 2019 to a third in 2022.

In terms of feedback from education agents, with the British National Overseas (BNO) scheme and the weakening of British Pounds Sterling (GBP1: HKD9.36, the British Council book-keeping rate, July 2022), they estimated the UK may become even more attractive to parents and students this year.

As the next step, students will be able to modify their subject choices from now until 23 July and to obtain their unconditional firm offers by JUPAS on 10 August.

Sources:

• Full results are included in the attached press release from HKEAA: https://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/DocLibrary/Media/PR/DSE2022_E_PressRelease.pdf
• DSE 2022: almost all Hong Kong students with perfect scores from elite schools, SCMP Young Post
• More Hong Kong students pick Britain for further education as pound sinks to record low, South China Morning Post

Commentary by The British Council

This year marks as the 10 years anniversary of HKDSE since it was launched in 2012. However, the number of DSE day school candidates have been decreasing year on year. Before the social movement and the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic, there were 50,447 students sitting the exam in 2018 and then rapidly dropped by 7.4 per cent down to 46,717 in 2019. This year, the figure reached to a record low to 41,196. Many students dropped out from local schools to follow their parents to emigrate to countries such as the UK, Canada, and Australia.

In light of this, local publicly funded universities such as University of Hong Kong, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology introduced flexible admissions policies to capture those who did not achieve satisfactory grades on core subjects but achieved excellent scores in elective subjects related to their chosen course. Private tertiary education providers are striving to diversifying its course offering (e.g. Nursing, Physiotherapy, Social Work) and eyeing on current employees who are seeking to upgrade themselves academically.

It comes as no surprise to see both HK and the UK universities will be facing a tougher competition due to the decrease of DSE candidates this year. Nevertheless, given concerns over the city’s future and the lower costs of studying and living in the UK, it is believed that these factors will uphold the UK’s market share and enable institutions to attract more last-minute applications from HK over the summer.