The number of sub-degree programmes and places offered in Hong Kong is falling, which in turn will impact student recruitment for TNE top-up degrees.

According to this article by the South China Morning Post, self-financing institutions started 44 new sub-degree programmes but closed 77 for the just-started academic year. This represents 2,028 and 3,628 places accordingly. This trend is stated to continue for the next academic year. In total there are around 36,000 places offered in 2014.

A government press release about this can be viewed here, Annex A contains a list of new and discontinued programmes. Annex B contains a list of tuition fees.

Commentary by Steve Corry, British Council Hong Kong:

UK institutions who are offering TNE programmes at the undergraduate top-up degree level should be aware of this trend, as graduates from self-financing sub-degree programmes form the bulk of the supply of students. This drop in the number of programmes and places offered is due to demographics, with a declining number of secondary school students graduating over the next few years. Any top-up degree provision that is currently marginal in revenue terms may become unfeasible in the near future.

TNE providers might want to refer to the annex documents attached to the government press release, as a reference to subject areas with new or discontinued courses, or to tuition fees that are charged in Hong Kong.