Scheme exempting Hong Kong students from entrance exams into mainland universities extended to seven more schools
Move brings total number of institutions across border and under special arrangement to 109, but competition still stiff, especially for elite art schools
To “relieve pressure” on students, Hong Kong high school graduates can apply to seven more mainland universities – including three top music and art academies in Beijing – starting from next year without taking a separate entrance exam, education authorities have announced.
The latest move will bring the total number of universities from across the border under the special arrangement for local students to 109.
Although the requirements to qualify for the scheme were considered to be low, art students who were successfully enrolled said competition was fierce, and while they had wide access to resources, there were also limits to themes they could explore.
The specific admission conditions of each university would be disclosed at the Mainland Higher Education Expo held in the city on December 1 and 2, according to Hong Kong’s Education Bureau.
Jointly established by the bureau and China’s Ministry of Education in 2012, the special admission arrangement allows Hong Kong students who attain a total score of 10 or more in the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) examination to apply for a place in selected mainland universities.
