Applied Learning

Applied Learning (ApL) courses are elective subjects within the senior secondary curriculum. ApL offers studies with dual emphasis on practice and theory linked to broad professional and vocational fields. A flexible combination of ApL with core subjects, elective subjects and Other Learning Experiences helps provide students with holistic learning. ApL aims to enable students to understand fundamental theories and concepts, develop their beginners’ skill set, career-related competencies and generic skills. ApL helps students explore their career aspirations and orientation for lifelong learning.

Latest Information
Arrangement for Student Selection (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses offered at Secondary 5 in the 2025/26 School Year (2025-27 Cohort; 2027 HKDSE). For details, please click here to access relevant information. Course Information and Commencement Arrangement (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses (2025-27 Cohort; 2027 HKDSE) (Applicable to Applied Learning Courses to be commenced at Secondary 5 in the 2025/26 School Year offering in Mode 1). Please click here to access relevant information. Prospectus, Leaflet and Posters for Applied Learning Courses (2026-28 cohort) are uploaded onto the ApL Webpage for reference. Please click here to access relevant information. The Junior Taster Programmes of Applied Learning (2026-28 Cohort; 2028 HKDSE) for S2 and S3 students in the 2024/25 school year will be conducted via online mode on 3 May (Saturday). Face-to-face activities of individual courses will be arranged on 10 May (Saturday). Schools have to submit online applications through the “Applied Learning System” on or before 24 April (Thursday). For details, please click here (teachers may refer to the message sent via the Fast Information Transmission System – School Messaging Module (SMM) on 9 April). The Education Bureau issued the Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 48/2025 to announce the implementation details for the Applied Learning (ApL) courses (2026-28 Cohort; 2028 HKDSE), and invite schools to offer ApL courses and submit applications for their students on 8 Apr 2025. Please click here to access relevant information. The short video for the "Taster Programme of Applied Learning 2024" has been uploaded to the EDB Educational Multimedia (EMM). Please click here to watch the video. The “Applied Learning System” is officially launched. Please click here to access relevant reference materials ( teachers may refer to the message sent via the Fast Information Transmission System – School Messaging Module (SMM) on 1 November 2024 ). Jointly organised by the Education Bureau and Applied Learning course providers, the “Applied Learning Online Exhibition 2024” is now available online until May 31 2025. For details, please click here. Teachers may also click here to browse the Applied Learning Online Exhibition 2024 – Browser Tour. Note: For the latest notices on course arrangement made by the course providers, please click here to access to their websites. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Students can access the following information online to learn more about Applied Learning courses. Prospectus for Applied Learning Courses (2026-28 Cohort) [ Version as at April 2025 (Last updated: 16.4.2025) ] Applied Learning Leaflet (2026-28 Cohort) Applied Learning Poster (2026-28 Cohort) Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) Poster (2026-28 Cohort) Course List (2025-27 Cohort) Overview of Applied Learning Videos

Latest Information

Arrangement for Student Selection (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses offered at Secondary 5 in the 2025/26 School Year (2025-27 Cohort; 2027 HKDSE). For details, please click here to access relevant information.
Course Information and Commencement Arrangement (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses (2025-27 Cohort; 2027 HKDSE) (Applicable to Applied Learning Courses to be commenced at Secondary 5 in the 2025/26 School Year offering in Mode 1). Please click here to access relevant information.
Prospectus, Leaflet and Posters for Applied Learning Courses (2026-28 cohort) are uploaded onto the ApL Webpage for reference. Please click here to access relevant information.
The Junior Taster Programmes of Applied Learning (2026-28 Cohort; 2028 HKDSE) for S2 and S3 students in the 2024/25 school year will be conducted via online mode on 3 May (Saturday). Face-to-face activities of individual courses will be arranged on 10 May (Saturday). Schools have to submit online applications through the “Applied Learning System” on or before 24 April (Thursday). For details, please click here (teachers may refer to the message sent via the Fast Information Transmission System – School Messaging Module (SMM) on 9 April).
The Education Bureau issued the Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 48/2025 to announce the implementation details for the Applied Learning (ApL) courses (2026-28 Cohort; 2028 HKDSE), and invite schools to offer ApL courses and submit applications for their students on 8 Apr 2025. Please click here to access relevant information.
The short video for the "Taster Programme of Applied Learning 2024" has been uploaded to the EDB Educational Multimedia (EMM). Please click here to watch the video.
The “Applied Learning System” is officially launched. Please click here to access relevant reference materials ( teachers may refer to the message sent via the Fast Information Transmission System – School Messaging Module (SMM) on 1 November 2024 ).
Jointly organised by the Education Bureau and Applied Learning course providers, the “Applied Learning Online Exhibition 2024” is now available online until May 31 2025. For details, please click here. Teachers may also click here to browse the Applied Learning Online Exhibition 2024 – Browser Tour.

Note: For the latest notices on course arrangement made by the course providers, please click here to access to their websites.

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Students can access the following information online to learn more about Applied Learning courses.

Prospectus for Applied Learning Courses (2026-28 Cohort) [ Version as at April 2025 (Last updated: 16.4.2025) ]
Applied Learning Leaflet (2026-28 Cohort)
Applied Learning Poster (2026-28 Cohort)
Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) Poster (2026-28 Cohort)
Course List (2025-27 Cohort)
Overview of Applied Learning
Videos

Repository Curriculum Documents Course Information Applied Learning Courses Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) Invitation to Expression of Interest (Submission deadline: 9 August 2024) Course Providers		Quality Assurance and Articulation Professional Development Programmes References & Resources Forms Download Questions & Answers Useful Links Contact Us

應用學習課程課堂的圖片

Position

In addition to the core subjects, senior secondary students may choose ApL course(s) as elective subject(s) according to their interests, aspirations and abilities.

Overarching Aims

ApL aims at:

offering diverse learning programmes for students with interest and inclination in areas other than those provided by the existing school curriculum;
providing students with the opportunities to explore their orientation for lifelong learning and career aspirations in specific areas;
preparing students for further studies and/or work as well as lifelong learning through the development of foundation skills, thinking skills, people skills, values and attitudes, and career-related competencies; and
offering a substantial outcome for students to obtain recognition for further studies, work, or both at the senior secondary level.

Direction

ApL courses are designed according to the principles of balance, coherence, articulation and responsiveness to offer a sound learning platform for students. The courses are provided by various course providers including tertiary institutes.

Areas of Studies

There are six areas of studies for ApL:

Creative Studies
Media and Communication
Business, Management and Law
Services
Applied Science
Engineering and Production

The duration of each ApL course is 180 contact hours, generally spanning two school years at the senior secondary level.

Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) (ApL(C)) is introduced, starting from the 2014/15 school year, to provide an additional channel exclusively for non-Chinese speaking students to obtain an alternative Chinese language qualification to prepare them for further studies and career pursuits. The duration of each ApL(C) course is 270 contact hours, spanning Secondary 4 to Secondary 6.