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
Taster Programmes of Applied Learning (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE) for S4 students in the 2022/23 school year will be conducted via online mode on 11 and 18 March (Saturdays). Face-to-face activities of individual courses will be provided on 1 April (Saturday). Schools have to submit online applications direct to the respective course providers on or before 24 February (Friday). For details, please click here (teachers may refer to the message sent via the Fast Information Transmission System – School Messaging Module (SMM) on 7 February). Course Information and Commencement Arrangement (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE). Please click here to access relevant information. Interview Arrangement for Student Selection (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE). For details, please click here to access relevant information. Course Information and Commencement Arrangement (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE) (Applicable to Applied Learning Courses to be commenced at Secondary 4 in the 2022/23 School Year offering in Mode 1). Please click here to access relevant information. Course Information and Commencement Arrangement (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses (2022-24 Cohort; 2024 HKDSE) (Applicable to Applied Learning Courses to be commenced at Secondary 5 in the 2022/23 School Year offering in Mode 1). Please click here to access relevant information. Applied Learning Courses offered at Secondary 4 in the 2022/23 School Year (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE): Additional Classes in Mode 1 on Weekdays Course Information and Commencement Arrangement. Please click here to access relevant information. Prospectus for Applied Learning (2023-25 cohort) is now available for reference. For details, please click here to access course information. Arrangement for Student Selection (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses offered at Secondary 5 in the 2022/23 School Year (2024 HKDSE Examination). For details, please click here to access relevant information. The Education Bureau issued the Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 73/2022 to announce the implementation details for the Applied Learning (ApL) courses (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE), and invite schools to offer ApL courses and submit applications for their students on 10 May 2022, Please click here to access relevant information. Jointly organised by the Education Bureau and Applied Learning course providers, the “Applied Learning Virtual Exhibition 2022” is now available online until August 31. For details, please click here (teachers may refer to our CDS message sent to schools on 31 March) and also click here to browse the ApL Virtual Exhibition 2022 – Browser Tour. Applied Learning Courses offered at Secondary 5 in the 2022/23 School Year (2022-24 Cohort; 2024 HKDSE): Additional Classes in Mode 1 on Weekdays Class Arrangements and Application Period (Not applicable to the early commencement of ApL courses at Secondary 4 in the 2021/22 school year). For details, please click here (teachers may refer to our CDS message sent to schools on 22 February). 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. Applied Learning Leaflet (2023-25 Cohort) Applied Learning Poster (2023-25 Cohort) Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) Poster (2023-25 Cohort) Course List (2023-25 Cohort) Prospectus for Applied Learning Courses (2023-25 Cohort) Overview of Applied Learning Videos

Latest Information

Taster Programmes of Applied Learning (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE) for S4 students in the 2022/23 school year will be conducted via online mode on 11 and 18 March (Saturdays). Face-to-face activities of individual courses will be provided on 1 April (Saturday). Schools have to submit online applications direct to the respective course providers on or before 24 February (Friday). For details, please click here (teachers may refer to the message sent via the Fast Information Transmission System – School Messaging Module (SMM) on 7 February).
Course Information and Commencement Arrangement (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE). Please click here to access relevant information.
Interview Arrangement for Student Selection (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE). For details, please click here to access relevant information.
Course Information and Commencement Arrangement (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE) (Applicable to Applied Learning Courses to be commenced at Secondary 4 in the 2022/23 School Year offering in Mode 1). Please click here to access relevant information.
Course Information and Commencement Arrangement (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses (2022-24 Cohort; 2024 HKDSE) (Applicable to Applied Learning Courses to be commenced at Secondary 5 in the 2022/23 School Year offering in Mode 1). Please click here to access relevant information.
Applied Learning Courses offered at Secondary 4 in the 2022/23 School Year (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE): Additional Classes in Mode 1 on Weekdays Course Information and Commencement Arrangement. Please click here to access relevant information.
Prospectus for Applied Learning (2023-25 cohort) is now available for reference. For details, please click here to access course information.
Arrangement for Student Selection (Mode 1) for Applied Learning Courses offered at Secondary 5 in the 2022/23 School Year (2024 HKDSE Examination). For details, please click here to access relevant information.
The Education Bureau issued the Education Bureau Circular Memorandum No. 73/2022 to announce the implementation details for the Applied Learning (ApL) courses (2023-25 Cohort; 2025 HKDSE), and invite schools to offer ApL courses and submit applications for their students on 10 May 2022, Please click here to access relevant information.
Jointly organised by the Education Bureau and Applied Learning course providers, the “Applied Learning Virtual Exhibition 2022” is now available online until August 31. For details, please click here (teachers may refer to our CDS message sent to schools on 31 March) and also click here to browse the ApL Virtual Exhibition 2022 – Browser Tour.
Applied Learning Courses offered at Secondary 5 in the 2022/23 School Year (2022-24 Cohort; 2024 HKDSE): Additional Classes in Mode 1 on Weekdays Class Arrangements and Application Period (Not applicable to the early commencement of ApL courses at Secondary 4 in the 2021/22 school year). For details, please click here (teachers may refer to our CDS message sent to schools on 22 February).

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.

Repository Curriculum Documents Course Information Applied Learning Courses Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) Invitation to Expression of Interest (Submission deadline: 8 June 2022) Course Providers		Quality Assurance and Articulation Professional Development Programmes References & Resources Forms Download Questions & Answers Useful Links Contact Us

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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.