Up to 36.5 percent of Hong Kong’s secondary school graduates have secured places at local universities, as well as for diploma courses this year, through the city’s joint admissions program.
According to the allocations announced today by the Joint University Programs Admissions System, more than 43,200 students applied under the program, with 15,808 of the applicants having secured places for tertiary education. About 83 percent of those to be admitted received offers according to their top three preferences.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong came first in the race for elite students by recruiting seven of the “top scorers” in the university entrance exam -- the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education examination. They included one student who got 5** grades in eight subjects, four with 5** grades in seven subjects, and two others who scored 5** in six subjects. They will be admitted to The CUHK’s Medicine Program Global Physician-Leadership Stream.
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Under Hong Kong’s examinations setting, the best 10 percent of students who achieved the highest 5 grade will be awarded 5** grades. Those who get 5** grades in at least six subjects – three core and three selective – are the “top scorers”.
The University of Hong Kong admitted five “top scorers”, as well as over 60 students who received 5** in four or more subjects. They have opted to take up courses in medicine, business administration, and computing and data science.
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology enrolled three “top scorers” who’ll take up majors like international research enrichment and quantitative finance. The HKUST has also admitted a student who was among the “top scorers” last year and reapplied through JUPAS this year for its Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance program.
A total of 4,904 applicants also secured subsidized places for designated first-year-first-degree programs offered by eight self-funded higher education institutions, including The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong and Hong Kong Chu Hai College.
Contact the writer at amberwu@chinadailyhk.com