If parents want their child to attend a university in the mainland, the Hong Kong DSE may not be ideal. However, for studies in Hong Kong or abroad, DSE is an excellent choice!

Consider this from following aspects:

• Is Hong Kong an ideal destination for further studies?
• Is the DSE curriculum necessary for studying in Hong Kong
• or are there other pathways available?

Advantages of Hong Kong

• Hong Kong universities provide great value, featuring five top 100 global institutions and high admission success rates, making them a strong choice for further studies.

• Although Hong Kong is 1,500 kilometers from Tongxiang, it's only a 2-hour flight. With the high-speed rail, it takes just 8 hours, making it more convenient than traveling to the UK, US, or Canada. Parents can visit their children over the weekend with a same-day return.

• In recent years, studying abroad has become uncertain and complex. Hong Kong, being part of China, provides stable security, safety, and fewer cultural differences.

• Recently, Hong Kong has doubled international student spots (including mainland students) from about 3,000 to 6,000 for the 2024-2025 academic year, boosting their chances of attending preferred universities.

• The DSE curriculum is flexible, suitable for studies in Hong Kong, and recognized by over 600 universities globally for admission.

Hong Kong universities are popular among mainland students. In the 2023-2024 academic year, there were 14,800 non-local undergraduates, with 70% (10,358) from the mainland. In 2024-2025, there are 1,200 new non-local undergraduates, half from the mainland.

Curriculum Comparison

Did these students use the DSE curriculum for Hong Kong studies? Mainland schools were only approved to offer DSE in 2021. Before then, students mainly used IB or A Level. How should parents choose?

Each of these three curricula has distinct advantages:

IB curriculum from Switzerland can be localized, with non-language subjects available in Chinese. Students study six subjects, including two languages, math, humanities, sciences, arts or computer science, and physical education/health, offering a comprehensive program. It includes three core components: Theory of Knowledge (TOK), Extended Essay (EE), and Creativity, Activity, Service (CAS). TOK involves a research topic and oral presentation, while EE requires a 4,000-word report. The IB demands high academic ability and participation in 18 months of service or arts activities, with weekly reflection reports.

A Level curriculum has clear assessment criteria and unit-based study, offering two exam opportunities per year for flexibility. However, it requires a longer study period, starting with IGCSE exams, leading to exam pressure. The main challenge is that instruction is solely in English, requiring students to both learn and take exams in English, which can be difficult.

DSE curriculum offers clear standards, letting students choose subjects based on abilities and interests in arts, sciences, or business. Language study is flexible, allowing subjects like physics in English and economics in Chinese. Exam results are valid for two years, enabling retakes for specific subjects to improve university applications.

YWIES DSE

• YWIES Tongxiang has extensive experience in A Level courses, with a teaching team skilled in its content and assessments. They are well-equipped to teach the DSE curriculum, which is based on A Level.

• YWIES Tongxiang's Chinese teachers offer bilingual instruction, adjusting the language based on subject needs and student abilities, ensuring language does not impact learning.

• YWIES Tongxiang offers diverse extracurricular activities to boost students' creativity and support their development.