Frequently Asked Questions

In 2012, the Education Bureau was allocated a sum of $1 billion to implement the Diploma Yi Jin (DYJ) programme. The commitment is expected to sustain the programme until 2022/23 academic year. After reviewing the effectiveness of the programme, the bureau found that there is a stable and clear demand for a pathway for obtaining a formal qualification for further articulation. It has therefore been decided that a new and regular Diploma of Applied Education (DAE) programme should be launched from 2023/24 academic year onwards

The DAE programme will continue to provide an alternative pathway for secondary 6 school leavers and adult learners to obtain a formal qualification for the purposes of employment and further study. The curriculum design and content of the new programme have been optimised, incorporating a large number of VPET elements, including a brand new VPET stream, communication and information technology skills etc., aiming to help students articulate to the VPET programmes. In addition, the title of the DAE programme can clearly reflect the optimised course content to help the society better understand the nature of the programme.

Course Content and Recognition

2. What is the difference between the DAE programme and the DYJ programme? What qualification can be attained after completion of the DAE Programme?

The DYJ programme comprises five designated core courses (Chinese Language, English Language, Mathematics, Liberal Studies and Communication Skills) and three elective courses. The DAE programme provides greater flexibility by allowing students to choose a general or VPET stream based on their own abilities and aspirations. In the general stream, students can opt for three core courses (i.e., Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics) and five complementary courses (i.e., Career and Life Planning, Digital Citizenship, Interpersonal Communication and Personal Development, Maths Plus and Technological Innovation); students who choose the VPET stream will take the above three core courses, any two complementary courses plus three elective courses. The combination of complementary courses and elective courses offered by different institutions may be different. In order to enrich students’ learning experience, the DAE students must also complete at least 10 hours of life-wide learning activities in order to obtain the diploma.

The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications has assessed and confirmed that for students who have successfully completed^Note1 the DAE programme, the qualification thus obtained is deemed comparable to the attainment of Level 2 standard in five subjects including Chinese Language and English Language in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination. For students who have successfully completed^Note2 Maths Plus complementary course, the qualification acquired under the Programme is comparable to the attainment of Level 2 standard in five subjects including Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics in the HKDSE Examination.

The DAE programme is recognised under the Qualifications Framework as meeting the accreditation standards at Qualifications Framework Level 3. This recognition is applicable to the DAE qualification obtained by students who are admitted to the full-time or part-time programme and who have graduated after successfully completing^Note1 all eight courses during the three academic years from 2023/24 to 2025/26.

3. What is the difference between enrolling on the Diploma Applied Education (DAE) Programme and repeating Secondary 6?

Although the DAE programme includes Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics, the course content is more focused on the application in daily life and work, students may also take a more focused VPET stream, and thus the DAE programme is suitable for learners who are more interested in practical knowledge.

4. What is the course content of the five new complementary courses in the DAE programme?

Learning Focus of Five Complementary Courses:

Career and Life Planning

• Learn to master the employment trend, understand the path for employment and further study
• Assess students’ vocational personalities and abilities, providing opportunities for self-improvement and making prospective career choices
• Reflect on their career planning through classroom group activities and thematic exercises

Digital Citizenship

• Learn to identify different types of media information, and analyse its quality
• Apply the basics of visual communication to convey ideas and insights
• Master the knowledge of digital security
• Including group activities, class discussions and project presentation etc.

Interpersonal Communication and Personal Development

• Learn to communicate in various situations to deal with interpersonal conflict positively
• Use effective communication skills to strategically improve and develop interpersonal relationships
• Understand and accept different personal traits in thematic study, while understanding the factors that influence interpersonal communication

Technological Innovation

• Understand the basic concepts of programming, and use multimedia technology to conceive and express technological design ideas
• Use logical thinking and creative thinking to solve problems in life
• Develop coordination skills through teamwork
• Develop a product in a group to accumulate practical technology experience

Maths Plus

• Use mathematics to solve related problems in real-life situations
• Use mathematical language, symbols, charts, pictures and images to communicate with people and express their ideas
• Use data processing skills to judge the credibility of inferences based on data
• Deepen the theory of graphics, columns and statistical theory, improve mathematical level, and meet the needs of future employment

If a student achieved Level 4 or above in Mathematics in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination, he/she can be exempted from taking Mathematics in the core subjects of the DAE programme during application.

In addition, if students successfully completed the Applied Learning course in the New Senior Secondary Curriculum and achieved the result of “Attained” or “Attained with Distinction”, they can be exempted from taking up to two elective subjects related to the study category when studying the DAE programme. On a case-by-case basis, institutions will examine in details the Applied Learning courses and relevant elective courses of DAE programme, and determine the number of exemption or the exemption based on the relevancy of the course content.

Programme Operation and Quality Assurance

From 2025/26 academic year onwards, 7 institutions will provide the DAE programme, including

• Lingnan Institute of Further Education
• School of Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University
• Hong Kong Institute of Technology
• Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Li Ka Shing School of Professional and Continuing Education
• Hong Kong College of Technology
• Caritas Institute of Community Education
• UOW College Hong Kong

The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications has assessed the DAE programme in 2022 and confirmed that the programme had passed the Council’s Qualifications Framework review and is recognised under the Qualifications Framework as meeting the accreditation standards at Qualifications Framework Level 3. This recognition applies to the Diploma of Applied Education obtained by students who are admitted to the full-time or part-time programme and who have graduated after successfully completing all the eight courses during the three academic years from 2023/24 to 2025/26 (i.e., students who obtain the Diploma of Applied Education by successfully completing the programme either full-time or part-time in eight subjects within the above validity period).

Entry Requirement

The target students of the programme are Secondary 6 school leavers or adult learners aged 21 or above. If you fulfil the one of the previously mentioned requirements, you are welcome to enrol on the DAE programme.

Duration of Study
9. What is the duration of study for the DAE programme?

The duration for full-time students is one year while part-time students can normally complete all the courses within two years. Regardless of his/her mode of study (i.e. full-time or part-time), students must complete the entire programme within 4 years. Otherwise, they will not be awarded the Diploma.

Support to Students and Teachers
10. How will the Education Bureau enhance the support to students and teachers of DAE programme?

The Education Bureau has earmarked funds in the annual recurrent expense to provide support to students and teachers. The scope of funding includes support services to students and teachers, such as organizing extra-curricular activities, student counselling and career guidance services, and teacher professional development training.

11. Is the DAE programme suitable for non-Chinese speakers?

In order to integrate non-Chinese speakers into society, they are welcome to enrol on the DAE programme. However, the DAE programme aims to provide an alternative pathway for secondary 6 school leavers as well as adult learners to obtain a formal qualification for the purposes of employment and further study. As such, the curriculum of DAE is designed according to the capabilities and needs of the students. In general, except for English Language course, the medium of instruction of all courses (including Compulsory, Complementary and Elective courses) is Cantonese and the course materials are mainly in Chinese. Based on the above-mentioned characteristics of curriculum design, the applicants must possess a certain level of Chinese and Cantonese proficiency to meet the learning requirements of the course.

Graduate Prospects

The objective of the DAE programme is to equip students with an array of generic skills and general knowledge to ensure that their attainment under the programme is comparable to Level 2 standard in five subjects including Chinese Language and English Language in the HKDSE Examination for the purposes of further studies and employment. For students who have successfully completed the Maths Plus complementary course, the exit standard of their DAE programme is comparable to the attainment of Level 2 standard in five subjects including Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics in the HKDSE Examination.

The DAE programme is accepted by member institutions of the Federation for Self-financing Tertiary Education (FSTE) as meeting the admission criteria of their Associate Degree and Higher Diploma or equivalent programmes. For those students who have successfully completed the Maths Plus complementary course, the DAE qualification obtained is accepted by the FSTE member institutions as meeting the admission criteria of programmes requiring the attainment of Level 2 standard in five subjects including Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics in the HKDSE Examination. DAE graduates can apply for admission to continuing education programmes offered by member institutions of the FSTE to obtain higher qualifications.

The DAE qualification is accepted by the Government as meeting the academic entry requirement of civil service posts which require Level 2 standard in five subjects including Chinese Language and English Language in the HKDSE Examination. For those students who have successfully completed the Maths Plus complementary course, the Diploma of Applied Education qualification obtained is also accepted by the Government as meeting the academic entry requirement of civil service posts requiring Level 2 standard in five subjects including Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics in the HKDSE Examination.

Financial Assistance of the Programme
14. What subsidy schemes can DAE students apply? Tuition Fee Reimbursement?

Both full-time and part-time eligible DAE students will receive reimbursement of 30% of the tuition fees paid for each satisfactorily completed course^Note3 , subject to their having attained an overall pass in the course and achieved 80% attendance or above for the course as confirmed by the institutions. Nevertheless, the courses must be essential for the completion of the DAE programme. Under the programme a student can only receive tuition fee reimbursement for a maximum of 8 courses. As the reimbursement is course-based, students who cannot satisfactorily complete individual courses are still eligible for tuition fee reimbursement for the other courses in respect of which they have satisfactorily completed. Needy students meeting the assessment criteria for full level or half level of assistance under the means test administered by the Student Finance Office (SFO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency are eligible for 100% or 50% reimbursement of the tuition fees paid for each satisfactorily completed course.

Besides, DAE students who have the right of abode, or alternatively, the students or their families who have resided in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong) continuously for three complete years prior to the commencement of the course may apply for a loan under the Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme to pay their tuition fees.

Full-time DAE students passing the means test of the SFO may receive Student Travel Subsidy, Subsidy for Internet Access Charges (the subsidy is granted on a household basis) and the flat-rate academic expense grant.