Guide for New Students

• Students who do not have local Chinese Language background at Secondary 4 or above; or

• Students with overseas Qualifications (IB Diploma, SAT, GCE, IGCE or IGCSE result); or 

• Students who have taken Applied Learning Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students); or

• Other qualifications to be considered on a case by case basis.

Note: Students who have sat for HKDSE/ HKCEE/ HKALE Chinese subjects or equivalent will NOT be considered for exemption from Chinese course(s) regardless of the examination results.

• Students with satisfactory results in a course equivalent to the specified core English course they are required to take; or

• Students with outstanding results in the public examination (e.g. HKDSE/ IELTS/ GCSE).

• Make an application via e-Form “(HP31-CEX-C) Application for Course Exemption for students who have not received sufficient training in Chinese Language” along with the required supporting documents and pay a non-refundable and non-transferable application fee of HK$200 (per application) by 31 August 2025.

• Attend interviews and sit for placement tests, if necessary.

Note: Students who have applied through the Stage 1 Online Registration System or submitted an earlier application DO NOT need to apply again.

• Make an application via e-Form “(HP31-CEX-E) Application for Course Exemption / Exemption from Course Attendance of Core English Courses” along with the required supporting documents and pay a non-refundable and non-transferable application fee of HK$200 (per course) via e-Form by 31 August 2025.

Note: Exemption from the core English courses does not apply to HD Applied Health and Rehabilitation Care, HD Applied Intelligent Technologies, HD Food Science and Safety and HD Nutrition and Food Management programmes.

Once all required documents are received, the College will review the application and notify applicants of the result by email within about two weeks.

The College will assign a substitute course based on student’s class schedule and availability. No change of the proposed substitute courses can be made by the students.

• If the exemption from the course “CCEN4003 Introduction to Academic English” is approved, the student has to take a substitute course. The substitute course will be assigned based on student’s class schedule and availability. No change to the substitute course assigned can be made by the students.

• If the exemption from attending the lessons of other core English courses, students are still required to complete the course assessments (e.g. assignments/ tests/ examination). Students have to communicate with the course lecturer from time to time for the schedule of coursework submission, test and examination.