Educators have called for the creation of more subsidised degree places as 82,350 pupils prepare to collect their Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) exam results next week.

The limited number of government-funded degree places means the door is closed to thousands who reach the minimum university admission requirements of Level 3 in Chinese and English, and Level 2 in mathematics and liberal studies.

Last year, 36.7 per cent of the HKDSE candidates met the threshold for a publicly funded degree place but only 18 per cent received one due to the government cap of 15,000 on publicly funded first-year degree places.

More young people aspire to further their study after finishing school. Last September an estimated 34,000 pupils enrolled in associate degree and higher diploma programmes, compared with 22,881 in 2011-12.

The president of private university Centennial College, Professor John Malpas, supports the provision of more university places saying it is needed to maintain Hong Kong's competitiveness in a globalised world.

Reports Linda Yeung for South China Morning Post.