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Most Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination candidates will start preparing for the examinations and mapping out their study pathways after the Lunar New Year holiday. The Education Bureau (EDB)'s enhanced Electronic Advance Application System for Post-secondary Programmes (E-APP) will help them plan their further studies early.
A spokesman for the EDB today (February 14) said, "E-APP will assist HKDSE Examination candidates in making advance applications for locally accredited post-secondary programmes not covered by the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS).
"Using this one-stop Internet-based service, candidates will only need to complete and submit one application via E-APP to apply for multiple programmes. Institutions will process E-APP applications at their earliest time and may give eligible candidates conditional offers before the announcement of HKDSE Examination results."
About 28,000 students made use of E-APP last year, including Chan Ka-long and Chow Wing-lam, who are now studying non-JUPAS post-secondary programmes.
They both made use of the one-stop system to identify suitable study pathways and apply for courses they were interested in, and they were also given conditional offers before the announcement of the HKDSE Examination results.
Chan, who is now taking a higher diploma programme in tourism, said, "As I was granted conditional offers by two institutions while I was doing the HKDSE examination, I was able to put my mind at ease." He plans to get some work experience in the tourism field after graduating from the higher diploma programme, before taking a degree course.
Chow, an associate degree student in business studies, said the E-APP saved her from going to various institutions to submit applications in person, thus giving her enough time to plan her study pathways.
"All I needed to do was to get information on courses and institutions from the Information Portal for Accredited Post-secondary Programmes (iPASS) and then make the applications online. It was so fast and convenient," she said.
Chow, who has always wanted to become a teacher, said she was not in despair when she found out that her HKDSE Examination results did not meet the university entrance requirements because she had already been given a conditional offer on an associate degree programme. She said an associate degree would enable her to have articulation to a degree course.
Both students called on this year's HKDSE Examination candidates to make early use of E-APP and plan for their further studies.
"The enhanced E-APP launched on December 3, 2012, provides a search function whereby students can search for programme information by area of study. In addition, requests for change of programme choices can be submitted to institutions through E-APP. The change will be effected upon confirmation by the relevant institution," the EDB spokesman said.
"In order to allow ample time for students to map out their study pathways, the E-APP main round applications will last until May 19, while the second round will be from May 27 to June 30. In general, institutions will first process applications submitted in the main round," the spokesman reminded HKDSE Examination candidates.
Further information on E-APP is available at www.eapp.gov.hk.
Meanwhile, the EDB has also updated the iPASS website (www.ipass.gov.hk) to assist students in programme selection and application. The iPASS provides details of some 460 full-time locally accredited non-JUPAS higher diploma, associate degree and undergraduate programmes for the 2013/14 academic year, including information on tuition fees, entry requirements, accreditation and recognition by relevant professional bodies, and institutions' planned intakes in the 2013/14 academic year. The EDB will also upload a summary of institutions' application and admission arrangements for the 2013/14 academic year onto the iPASS.
Ends/Thursday, February 14, 2013
Issued at HKT 12:18
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