Admission scores fall for physiotherapy programmes

By the Editorial Team · Monday, October 12, 2026

Admission scores and student interest in physiotherapy programs at multiple Hong Kong universities have dropped sharply in 2026, linked to concerns over job prospects amid ongoing government healthcare budget cuts. These trends have led to reduced subsidised intake and raised calls from professional bodies to revisit funding decisions, even as demand for physiotherapists persists due to an aging population.

Admission scores for physiotherapy degree programs at several Hong Kong tertiary institutions declined significantly this year, reflecting waning student interest amid concerns about career prospects in the field, according to recent data. The downturn has prompted calls from professional bodies to reconsider ongoing cuts to healthcare funding, which are seen as contributing to a tightening job market for new physiotherapy graduates.

Data from the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (Jupas) shows that across four institutions, 23 percent of students admitted into physiotherapy programs ranked the course outside their top three choices in 2026, compared to only 2 percent in 2025. This shift suggests that fewer first-year students view physiotherapy as their preferred academic or career path.

The decline in admission scores and popularity follows the Hong Kong government’s announcement last year of a 1 to 2 percent reduction in recurrent public healthcare expenditure for fiscal years 2025-26, with the cuts extended through 2027-28. These budgetary constraints coincide with an influx of newly qualified physiotherapists entering a saturated job market.

At The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), the first publicly funded institution in the city to offer allied health programs, the number of students listing physiotherapy among their top three course choices dropped sharply by 57 percent, from 581 in 2025 to 246 in 2026. Correspondingly, the program’s average Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) score, adjusted for subject weighting, declined from 329.3 to 303.6—the steepest decrease among the university’s undergraduate offerings.

Meanwhile, education authorities are set to reduce subsidised places for physiotherapy at three self-financing institutions by roughly one-third for the 2027-28 academic year. These reductions will cut total intake from 175 spots in 2026-27 to 120 in 2027-28.

Tung Wah College experienced a 40 percent drop over two years in applicants placing its physiotherapy course in their top three choices, falling from 369 in 2024 to 224 in 2026. Its mean admission score decreased by about 10 percent, from 22.2 to 20 during the same period. Hong Kong Metropolitan University also saw a decline in median admission scores, from 25 in 2024 to 20 in 2026, marking a 20 percent decrease over two years. Saint Francis University reported a 37 percent reduction in students ranking its physiotherapy program among their top three choices, from 508 in 2025 to 319 in 2026.

Despite these challenges, Alexander Woo Chuen-hau, president of the Hong Kong Physiotherapy Association, emphasized that all physiotherapy programs filled their available places. He highlighted that admission scores do not always predict graduates’ performance or employability. Woo pointed to the region’s rapidly aging population as a factor sustaining demand for physiotherapists and encouraged prospective students to pursue the profession if they have genuine interest. “If you like it, go for it and study hard,” he advised.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.