Mainland Universities to Admit 145 Hong Kong Students for 2025/26 Academic Year Through Admission Scheme

145 Mainland higher education institutions to admit Hong Kong students

The Education Bureau (EDB) welcomed the announcement by the Ministry of Education that the number of Mainland higher education institutions participating in the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions (Admission Scheme) will increase to 145 (listed in the Annex) for the 2025/26 academic year. The institutions come from 21 provinces/municipalities and one autonomous region of the Mainland, and they will accept applications from candidates sitting for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination in 2025.

A spokesman for the EDB said today (November 11), "The Mainland higher education institutions participating in the Admission Scheme admit Hong Kong students based on their HKDSE Examination results, hence exempting them from taking the Joint Entrance Examination for Mainland Institutions. The 145 participating higher education institutions offer various programmes. We encourage Hong Kong students to pursue further studies on the Mainland through the Admission Scheme and seize the opportunity to learn about the country's latest social, economic and cultural landscape, and plan ahead for their future development. The EDB will continue discussion with the Mainland with a view to inviting more renowned Mainland institutions to participate in the Admission Scheme and providing students with multiple study pathways and opportunities to connect with the country's development.

"As in previous years, there is the School Principal Nomination Scheme under the Admission Scheme, and each secondary school can nominate up to eight students. The minimum entrance requirement adopted by the participating Mainland institutions is 'Attained' in the Citizenship and Social Development subject and a total score of 8 or above in the three core subjects (i.e. Chinese Language, English Language and Mathematics) in the HKDSE Examination, and among them none is below 2."

Students interested in participating in the Admission Scheme for the 2025/26 academic year can log on to the designated website to apply online from December 1 to 31, 2024, and subsequently review and confirm application verification results before January 10, 2025. As for cases in which students provided supplementary information as per the system's request, they can log on and review verification results before January 23, 2025. Those who have passed the application verification should make payment of the application fee (HK$460) by January 31, 2025, after which Mainland institutions participating in the Admission Scheme may arrange interviews based on the application information submitted by students. Institutions will announce admission results in late July 2025 and arrange for supplementary enrolment according to the enrolment situation.

Details of the Admission Scheme are available on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/admissionscheme). Students, teachers and parents can also participate in the Mainland Higher Education Expo 2025/26 jointly organised by the Ministry of Education and the EDB on November 30 and December 1, 2024 (Saturday and Sunday) at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. Details will be announced in due course.

In addition, eligible Hong Kong students enrolled in undergraduate programmes of designated Mainland institutions can apply for a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy under the Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS). The MUSSS is not subject to any quota, the subsidy is granted on a yearly basis, and the subsidised period is the normal duration of the undergraduate programme pursued by the student concerned in a designated Mainland institution. Eligible applicants may only receive either a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy in the same academic year.

HKSARG responds to reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under HKHRDA incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025

​The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (December 26) strongly disapproves of and firmly rejects US' reauthorization of the so-called Sanctions Provisions under the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act (HKHRDA) incorporated in National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025.

A spokesman for the Government said, "In accordance with international law and international practice based on the Charter of the United Nations, it is each and every sovereign state's inherent right to enact laws safeguarding national security, and it is also an international practice. With at least 21 pieces of laws safeguarding national security, the US has exposed its double standards by pointing the finger at the HKSAR's legal system and enforcement mechanism to safeguard national security."

"The Hong Kong National Security Law (NSL) and the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance (SNSO) also clearly stipulate that human rights shall be respected and protected in safeguarding national security in the HKSAR. The offences endangering national security stipulated by the related Ordinance target acts endangering national security with precision, and define the elements and penalties of the offences with clarity, aiming at addressing, combating, deterring and preventing acts and activities of endangering national security. It targets only an extremely small minority of people without affecting the basic rights and freedoms lawfully enjoyed by Hong Kong residents."

He said, "The US openly clamour for so-called 'sanctions' with an aim to intimidate HKSAR officials who resolutely safeguard national security. The HKSAR Government strongly condemns its political grandstanding rife with ill intentions, which have been seen through by all. The HKSAR despises the so-called 'sanctions' and will not be intimidated by such a despicable behaviour. The HKSAR will resolutely continue to discharge the duty of safeguarding national security."

The HKSAR Government has been enforcing the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) fully and vigorously to fulfil our international obligations. We have long been maintaining an effective mechanism for implementing the resolutions of the UNSC. That includes denying entry of vessels designated by the UNSC as well as suspicious vessels, keeping a close watch on and inspecting suspicious Hong Kong-based companies to prevent them from participating in activities evading UNSC sanctions. At the same time, the HKSAR Government has been implementing a comprehensive and robust control regime over the import and export of strategic commodities and maintaining active participation in the Chemical Weapons Convention and the Arms Trade Treaty through the Central People's Government. The effectiveness of our work has been well respected and recognised by our trading partners and internationally.

The US has substantial economic interest in Hong Kong. Over the past decade, it registered a trade surplus of about US$270 billion with Hong Kong. Currently, some 1 390 US companies operate in Hong Kong. If the US insists on its acts, it will ultimately undermine the mutually beneficial relations between Hong Kong and the US, harming the interests of the US and its companies.

The spokesman reiterated that foreign governments and legislatures should not interfere in any form in the internal affairs of the HKSAR.