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Education System of Hong Kong
INSTITUTION TYPES & CREDENTIALS Types of higher education institutions: University Polytechnic University Open University Institute of Education Academy of Performing Arts Institute of Vocational Education School leaving and higher education credentials: Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination Diploma Associate Degree Bachelor's Degree Bachelor's Degree Honours Postgraduate Certificate Postgraduate Diploma Master's Degree Master of Philosophy Doctor's Degree STRUCTURE OF EDUCATION SYSTEM Pre-higher education: Duration of compulsory education: Age of entry: 6 Age of exit: 15 Structure of school system: Primary Type of school providing this education: Primary School Length of program in years: 6 Age level from: 6 to: 11 Junior Secondary Type of school providing this education: Secondary/Prevocational/Secondary Technical/Practical Skills, Opportunity Schools Length of program in years: 3 Age level from: 12 to: 14 Senior Secondary Type of school providing this education: Secondary/Prevocational/Secondary Technical Schools Length of program in years: 2 Age level from: 15 to: 16 Certificate/diploma awarded: Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination Sixth Form Type of school providing this education: Secondary/Prevocational/Secondary Technical Schools Length of program in years: 2 Age level from: 17 to: 18 Certificate/diploma awarded: Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination School education: Primary education lasts for six years. There are five types of secondary schools by curriculum: grammar, secondary technical, prevocational, practical and skills opportunity schools. The first three types offer five-year secondary (Secondary 1 to 5) courses in a wide range of subjects leading to the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination, while the latter two offer three-year junior secondary (Secondary 1 to 3) courses. Grammar schools offer a broad range of academic, cultural and practical subjects; secondary technical schools lay emphasis on technical and commercial subjects; prevocational schools offer an alternative form of secondary education with a larger share of technical and practical content for students with such aptitudes; practical schools offer a curriculum with a practical orientation to prepare students for further studies in vocational training or senior secondary education; and skills opportunity schools offer skills-orientated curricula to help students who have severe learning problems. Grammar, prevocational and secondary technical schools also offer two-year sixth form (Secondary 6 and 7) courses leading to the Hong Kong Advanced Supplementary Level Examination and the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination. As from 1998-1999, in Secondary I, Chinese has been adopted by most public sector secondary schools as the medium of instruction. Higher education: Higher education is provided by universities and other types of tertiary institutions. The University Grants Committee (UGC) is the advisory body which makes recommendations to the Government about the development of the tertiary education sector, the financing of UGC-funded tertiary institutions and the administration of government grants to higher education. Currently, there are eight UGC-funded institutions offering publicly-funded programmes at sub-degree, degree, taught-postgraduate and research-postgraduate levels. Among the eight institutions, seven are universities with self-accrediting status. The remaining is the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd) which has self-accrediting status in respect of its teacher education programmes at degree and above levels. Each of these institutions is an autonomous body with its own Ordinance and governing Council. They are free to manage their internal affairs within the restraints of the laws of Hong Kong. Academic year: Classes from: Sep to: Jun Languages of instruction: Chinese, English Stages of studies: Non-university level post-secondary studies (technical/vocational type): Non-university level: Vocational education is offered by the Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) of the Vocational Training Council. The IVE offers courses at higher technician, technician and draft levels leading to the awards of Higher Diploma, Higher Certificate, Diploma and Certificate. Admission is generally based on HKCEE. Technician and higher technician courses are taught in English, whereas craft courses are taught in Chinese. Upon completion of their Diplomas or Higher Diplomas, students enter industry or commerce. However, Diploma students may continue their studies on a part-time basis for Higher Certificate or Higher Diploma qualifications. University level studies: University level first stage: Associate Degree, Higher Diploma, Bachelor's Degree and Honours Degree: Associate Degrees and Higher Diploma programmes normally last for two to three years. The first stage of higher education leads to a Bachelor's Degree normally after three years os study. Some of the Bachelor's Degree programmes may take up to six years depending on the subject areas. University level second stage: Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma, Master's Degree and Master of Philosophy: Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates are offered after one year of full-time postgraduate studies. Master's Degrees without research training are conferred after one to two years of full-time study following the Bachelor's Degree, in general. Masters of Philosophy are conferred usually after two years of research training and on submission of a thesis following the Bachelor's Degree. University level third stage: Doctorate: The third stage leads to the award of a Doctor of Philosophy after a period of research work and on submission of a thesis. Studies generally last for three years. Teacher education: Training of pre-primary and primary/basic school teachers Non-graduate teachers are trained through the Certificate in Education programmes offered by the Hong Kong Institute of Education (HKIEd). Graduate teachers are trained through the Bachelor of Education programme offered by the HKIEd and other higher education institutions. Graduate teachers who do not possess recognised teacher training may take the Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme offered by the HKIEd and other higher education institutions. Training of secondary school teachers Graduate teachers are trained through the Bachelor of Education programme offered by the HKIEd and other higher education institutions. Graduate teachers who have not undertaken recognised teacher training may take the Postgraduate Diploma in Education programme offered by the HKIEd and other higher education institutions. Training of higher education teachers Academic staff in the higher education institutions are usually graduates with local or overseas higher degrees. Non-traditional studies: Distance higher education Distance higher education is offered at the Open University of Hong Kong, founded in 1989. It offers courses in Arts, Business, and Science and Technology. The teaching materials are delivered in various ways including printed texts, television broadcast and multi-media resources on the Internet, etc. Lifelong higher education Lifelong higher education is provided by the continuing education units of the higher education institutions mainly offering part-time courses leading to the award of certificates, diplomas and degrees. Higher education training in industry The higher education institutions offer a number of 'study-work' programmes, with students undertaking a period of training in approved industrial undertakings for the purpose of gaining practical experience. Other forms of non-formal higher education Non-formal studies are offered by the continuing education units of the higher education institutions. NATIONAL BODIES Administration & co-ordination: Responsible authorities: Education and Manpower Bureau Head: Arthur Li, Secretary for Education and Manpower 9/F
Central Government Offices Tel: +852 28102108 Fax: +852 21473207 EMail: embinfo@emb.gov.hk WWW: http://www.info.gov.hk/emb/eng University Grants Committee (UGC) Head: Alice Lam, Chair 7/F, Shui
On Centre Tel: +852 25243987 Fax: +852 28451596 EMail: ugc@ugc.edu.hk WWW: http://www.ugc.edu.hk Heads of Universities Committee (HUCOM) Head: C.K. Poon, President The Hong
Kong Polytechnic University Tel: +852 27665168 Fax: +852 23631349 EMail: pphucom@polyu.edu.hk WWW: http://www.polyu.edu.hk Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) Head: Peter W. Hill, Secretary General Administrative officer: Cheung Wing-Ming, Deputy Secretary General 13/F
Southorn Centre Tel: +852 28344377 Fax: +852 25729167 EMail: pwhill@hkeaa.edu.hk WWW: http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk Role of governing body: Statutory examination and assessment body. ADMISSIONS TO HIGHER EDUCATION Admission to non university higher education studies Name of secondary school credential required: Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination Admission to university-level studies Name of secondary school credential required: Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination Foreign students admission Quotas: Starting from the academic year 2005/2006, the quota for admission of non-local students is relaxed to 10% of the aggregate number of the approved publicly-funded student number targets of full-time programmes at the sub-degree, undergraduate and taught postgraduate levels. For part-time locally accredited and publicly-funded taught postgraduate programmes, in brief, the quota for non-local students is 10% of the approved student number target. There is no restriction for the number of non-local students at the research postgraduate level and for part-time self-financing taught programmes. In addition, for full-time self-financing undergraduate and sub-degree programmes, there is no restriction for the number of non-local students coming from places other than Mainland China, Taiwan and Macau. For students from these three places, they can be admitted to the full-time self-financing undergraduate and sub-degree programmes only up to 10% of the actual local student enrollment of the same programmes offred by individual institutions in the preceding year. Admission requirements: Foreign students must satisfy the entrance requirements of the institution they wish to attend. There may be additional requirements for certain programmes. Application for exemption or credit transfer should be made to individual institutions. Entry regulations: Foreign students entering Hong Kong for the purpose of education must hold a student visa / entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration. Language requirements: Students should have a good knowledge of English. Depending on the discipline pursued, proficiency in Chinese may also be required. References to further information on foreign student admissions and recognition of studies Title: Prospectuses of Higher Education Institutions STUDENT LIFE Student expenses and financial aid Student costs: Home students tuition fees: Minimum: 31575 (Hong Kong Dollar) Maximum: 42100 (Hong Kong Dollar) Foreign students tuition fees: Minimum: 60000 (Hong Kong Dollar) Maximum: 80000 (Hong Kong Dollar) Publications on student services and financial aid: Title: Study Abroad 2006-2007 Author: UNESCO Publisher: UNESCO Publishing Year of publication: 2005 GRADING SYSTEM Usual grading system in secondary school Full Description: A-E Highest on scale: A Lowest on scale: E Main grading system used by higher education institutions Full Description: First class honours; Second class honours upper division; second class honours lower division; third class honours; pass. NOTES ON HIGHER EDUCATION SYSTEM Data for academic year: 2005-2006 Source: IAU from Secretary for Education and Manpower, HKSARG, Hong-Kong, China, 2006
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