Pathways between Hong Kong’s New Academic Structure and UK higher education went one step closer to being established with the successful application by the first Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) students to UK universities. We are delighted that UK universities, including the most competitive, have been able to make conditional offers to the first candidates, based on their published admissions requirements. These candidates have contributed to the 37 per cent increase in UCAS applications from Hong Kong received by 15 January 2012.

Feedback from leading local schools indicates that there are in fact more applications from HKDSE students than from Hong Kong A-level students both in previous years and amongst this year’s final A-level cohort.

The majority of offers seen appear to be fair. However, we have also received feedback that should be taken note of in order to ensure UK is best positioned in the Hong Kong market under the new structure. This includes:

1. Inconsistencies in offers for the same candidate/subject, from very similar UK institutions. For example, conditional offers for one candidate ranged from three Level 5s in the HKDSE to seven Level 5s/5*s.
2. Confused wording, in particular related to core and elective subjects and the mathematics core subject in the HKDSE which includes both compulsory and extended parts.

This issue was covered at length in our Country Partners meeting in February. Please see my market briefing and a briefing by Nick O’Connell, a careers guidance counsellor from St Paul’s Co-Educational College, for further details.

We recommend that whilst you cannot interfere with academic decisions, you monitor the first offers for clarity, and be ready to recommend that your requirements should be reviewed after the first administration of the HKDSE

Please click here to find the latest summary of HKDSE requirements submitted by UK institutions to the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority, for your reference. We have included this as an insert in our new leaflet for the public: “The UK welcomes you – Pathways to UK education from Hong Kong’s New Academic Structure”.