70 Mainland higher education institutions to exempt HK students from taking joint entrance examination
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     The Education Bureau (EDB) today (November 1) welcomed the announcement by the Ministry of Education of detailed arrangements on the scheme for the admission of Hong Kong students to Mainland higher education institutions based on their results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination and the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE), thus exempting them from taking the Joint Entrance Examination for Universities in the Mainland. A total of 70 Mainland higher education institutions will participate in the scheme in 2013.

     The scheme is one of the supporting measures announced by the Vice-Premier of the State Council, Mr Li Keqiang, during his visit to Hong Kong in August last year.

     A spokesman for the EDB said, "The New Academic Structure for Senior Secondary Education and the qualifications of the HKDSE are nationally accepted. This will not only provide an alternative pathway for Hong Kong students and relieve their pressure in getting entry into universities, but also help them in their career development in the Mainland or Hong Kong and nurture talent for our country.

     "Students will have more choices with seven more institutions participating in the scheme in 2013 compared with 2012."

     The 70 institutions come from 12 provinces and municipalities in the Mainland, including Beijing, Shanghai, Tianjin, Chongqing, Guangdong, Fujian, Zhejiang, Hubei, Jiangsu, Sichuan, Yunnan and Hunan. They cover a wide array of institutions with distinct characteristics, including comprehensive universities, normal universities, medical universities, universities of Chinese medicine and universities of finance and economics as well as language universities, a fashion institute, an academy of fine arts, a conservatory of music and a communication university. The newly added institutions include two foreign language universities. (See list of institutions in the Annex.)

     Candidates sitting for the HKDSE and the HKALE in 2013 are eligible for enrolment in the scheme. The enrolment process will consist of both online application and subsequent on-site confirmation of application. The Ministry of Education has commissioned the Co-Office of the Mainland Chinese Universities and Colleges of P.R. China for the Joint Examinations and Enrolment of the Students from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and Overseas Chinese-Resident Areas and Countries (Joint Enrolment Office) to handle online application and admission screening. The China Education Exchange (HK) Centre is also commissioned to handle on-site confirmation of applications, eligibility vetting and admissions publicity.

     Candidates may apply to four institutions according to their priority of choice and four programmes for each of the institutions during online application. Candidates' applications will be forwarded to the institutions in accordance with their priority of choice.

      The minimum entrance requirement for admission to the institutions is "3322", i.e. attaining Level 3 for Chinese Language and English Language and Level 2 for Mathematics and Liberal Studies. For those applying for arts and sports programmes, the minimum entrance requirement is "2211".

     Apart from the four core subjects, individual institutions may, based on the requirements of individual programmes, specify the attainment level required for elective subjects. Institutions may also consider the Other Learning Experiences recorded in the Student Learning Profiles for reference and admit students on a merit basis.

     According to the admission procedure for 2013, students can apply online from May 6 to June 6, 2013 and perform on-site confirmation and settle the admission fee at the China Education Exchange (HK) Centre from June 7 to 30. Institutions may arrange interviews based on the application information submitted by candidates. The admission stage will start in late July. Institutions will announce admission results in early August, and will arrange supplementary enrolment in mid-August based on their admission results.

     Details of the scheme are available on the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/expo12).

     To help students and parents gain a better understanding of the scheme, the Ministry of Education and the EDB will jointly organise the 2012 Mainland Higher Education Expo on November 3 and 4.

     During the event, there will be talks by the Ministry of Education on the details of the application procedures and admission arrangements under the scheme, as well as briefing sessions conducted by the representatives from the institutions on the characteristics and career prospects of individual programmes.

     70 Mainland higher education institutions that are participating under the scheme will set up exhibition booths and organise talks to provide information on areas such as features of the faculties and subjects, admission criteria, number of places and tuition fees.

     There will also be sharing sessions during which some Hong Kong students who have graduated from Mainland institutions will talk about their study life in the Mainland. In addition, human resources consultants and senior management members of large corporations will give talks on the career prospects of students after graduation from Mainland higher education institutions.

     The Expo will be held at Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre from 10am to 7pm on November 3 (Saturday), and from 10am to 6pm on November 4 (Sunday). Admission is free.

     The EDB and Hok Yau Club have jointly compiled a Chinese handbook on the Mainland higher education institutions admission scheme for Hong Kong students. The handbook provides comprehensive information on the scheme and further study in the Mainland, including information on all the institutions participating in the scheme, programmes offered, strategy on programme choices, and sharing by graduates of Mainland universities. The Handbook will be distributed free of charge at the Expo. The e-version will also be posted on the website of the EDB at (www.edb.gov.hk/expo12).

Ends/Thursday, November 1, 2012
Issued at HKT 16:45

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