DSE fee on mainland climbs to HK$8,000

By the Editorial Team · Saturday, August 1, 2026

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority will raise HKDSE fees significantly next year, with mainland exam centre registration fees jumping from HK$2,500 to HK$8,000 and local subject fees increasing by about 6 percent. This fee hike follows the end of a three-year mainland pilot scheme, as the authority seeks to cover rising operational costs and maintain sustainable exam services for all candidates.

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) announced significant fee increases for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) starting next year, primarily due to the conclusion of a three-year pilot scheme that allowed students to take the exam at centres on the Chinese mainland.

Under the pilot program, which began in 2024, exam centres were established in mainland China to enable eligible Hong Kong students to sit the HKDSE remotely. This arrangement aimed to accommodate Hong Kong children studying across the border. The centres' operational costs included enhanced exam security measures, special equipment, additional personnel, and secure transportation and storage of examination materials. Initially, the HKEAA subsidized these expenses through its operating budget.

With the pilot ending in 2027, the HKEAA said it could no longer sustain these subsidies regularly. As a result, the registration fee for candidates taking the HKDSE on the mainland will rise sharply from HK$2,500 to HK$8,000, a 220 percent increase. The authority described this adjustment as necessary to support the ongoing sustainable operation of mainland exam centres.

Around 480 students from four mainland institutions for Hong Kong children are currently using the mainland exam centres, sitting the HKDSE as registered school candidates.

In addition to the mainland fee adjustments, local students in Hong Kong will face a 6 percent increase in the per-subject examination fees, with charges ranging between HK$540 and HK$808. This follows a 4 percent overall fee increase for local candidates—those holding a Hong Kong permanent identity card—bringing the total cost for a typical six-subject candidate (two language subjects and four others) to HK$3,775, up from HK$3,630 last year. The HKEAA noted this rise is consistent with past annual increases.

For first-time candidates under the age of 19 who take the HKDSE privately through the "special entry" route, which mostly includes students from the mainland, the application fee will increase by 25 percent to HK$2,500 from the previous HK$2,000. Around 3,000 candidates used this route last year.

Students without a Hong Kong permanent identity card will also see a rise in fees. Language subject fees will increase by roughly 50 percent to HK$8,058 per subject, while fees for other subjects will go up by about 60 percent, reaching HK$1,790 each.

The HKEAA emphasized that the fee amendments aim to strike a balance between operational costs and revenue, ensuring the examinations can continue to run effectively across all testing locations.

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.