Record non-DSE university entries spark demands for enrolment quotas

By the Editorial Team · Monday, August 24, 2026

Hong Kong public universities have increased admissions from students with alternative qualifications by 63 percent between 2019-20 and 2025-26, now representing almost 30 percent of government-funded places, while admissions from local DSE exam takers declined. This shift is raising concerns about tougher competition and higher entry requirements for DSE students, prompting calls for reserved quotas to ensure local candidates maintain majority access to university spots.

Hong Kong’s public universities have seen a significant increase in admissions from students applying through alternative qualifications outside the local Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam system, according to data from the University Grants Committee (UGC). Between the 2019-20 and 2025-26 academic years, admissions from non-DSE routes rose by 63 percent, accounting for nearly 30 percent of all government-funded university places this year.

The rise in non-DSE admissions contrasts with a 7 percent decline in DSE student intake during the same period. In 2019-20, DSE students occupied 82 percent of the 15,000 funded places, but their share dropped to 72 percent in 2025-26. This shift has led to concerns that local students taking the DSE face stiffer competition for university spots and may need higher scores to secure admission.

The non-DSE category includes students who completed the International Baccalaureate (IB), GCE A-levels, or International A-levels, as well as those from international, private, and Direct Subsidy Scheme (DSS) schools, overseas returnees, and participants in the School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS). Over the six-year period, the number of non-DSE admissions increased from 2,706 to 4,401 places, while DSE admissions fell from 12,355 to 11,503.

The data shows notable variation across universities. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) recorded the lowest proportions of DSE admissions last year, at 61 percent and 62 percent respectively, down from 83 percent and 78 percent in 2019-20. At the same time, HKUST’s non-DSE admissions surged 156 percent, and HKU’s increased by 87 percent. The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) was the only publicly funded institution to see a marginal rise in its DSE intake, increasing from 84 percent to 86 percent over the period.

Representatives from HKUST and HKU emphasized that admissions decisions are based on merit, with all applicants evaluated independently regardless of qualification routes. A HKU spokesman noted that the diversification of educational pathways in Hong Kong is reflected in their intake, which includes the highest number of students admitted through SNDAS.

Some experts and educators have expressed concern that students from non-DSE curricula, who often come from more affluent backgrounds, may have advantages in university admissions, potentially exacerbating socio-economic disparities. Ng Po-shing, a student guidance consultant, suggested that these students’ higher resources contribute to better academic outcomes, making universities more inclined to admit them over DSE candidates.

With the declining share of DSE admissions, Ng anticipates that local students may face rising entry requirements in the future. Lee Yi-ying, chairwoman of the Hong Kong Subsidised Secondary Schools Council, described the DSE as an important local credential and called for universities to reaffirm their confidence in admitting DSE candidates. Both Lee and Ng advocated for a quota system to reserve a majority of publicly funded university places—Lee proposed at least 80 percent—for DSE students to protect local interests.

The Education Bureau responded by noting that the changing admission patterns reflect students’ individual preferences for their education paths and are not indicative of the DSE curriculum’s overall attractiveness, underscoring the commitment to merit-based selection in Hong Kong’s universities.

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.