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Programmes

Family and Child Welfare Services (NEW)

Associate of Applied Social Sciences inFamily and Child Welfare Services (NEW)

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Programme Code

  • HP822 Year 1 & 2, Associate Degree (AD)

Application Code: ASSFCWS

Phone 2975 5655　　Email jamie.ho@hkuspace.hku.hk

Hong Kong is a rapidly evolving society, and the well-being of children and families has become a key focus of social development. In light of recent government initiatives — such as the Community Living Room Project and the School-based After School Care Service Scheme launched in December 2023 — there is growing demand for professionals who can support families living in subdivided flats and facing challenges like long public housing wait times and poor living conditions.

This programme equips students with essential knowledge and practical skills in Family and Child Welfare, preparing them to serve in diverse settings such as government departments, non-profit organisations, and integrated family service centres. With strong support from Po Leung Kuk’s longstanding expertise in social services, students will gain valuable field experience to meet the increasing needs of the community.

 

Programme Aims and Features

Programme Aims:

The programme aims to provide students with a broad-based social sciences education, equipping them with a solid foundation in the knowledge, theories and methods necessary for advanced studies in this field. It covers both theoretical and practical knowledge, particularly in the biological, psychological, social and cognitive development of adolescents. Students will gain essential skills to work in child and family settings at individual, group and community levels. They will learn to utilise available resources and programmes to support child and family development, and will be academically and practically prepared for further professional training and studies at the degree level.

 

On completion of the programme, students should be able to​:

  • communicate ideas in a manner appropriate to the circumstance using English and Chinese languages (oral and written) in social and academic contexts;
  • use information technology and quantitative/ numerical skills to manage information and solve daily life problems;
  • analyse and integrate fundamental concepts and ideas across a broad range of core curriculum subjects and describe their relevance to human experiences;
  • analyse and discuss the concepts, theories, knowledge and skills in social sciences studies;
  • review and analyse current social policies and social services rendered for children and families in Hong Kong;
  • identify major theories and models related to children and family development.

 

Opportunities for Further Studies

UGC-funded Universities

Graduates are eligible to apply for admission to Bachelor’s degree programmes in Social Sciences or other related disciplines offered by local universities (including HKU).

The list below shows the degree programmes that our graduates may apply for further studies*:

  • The University of Hong Kong
    ​Bachelor of Social Sciences
    Bachelor of Social Work
  • The Chinese University of Hong Kong
    Bachelor of Social Science
    BSSc Social Work
  • City University of Hong Kong
    Bachelor of Social Sciences
    BSocSc Psychology
    BSocSc Social Work

*The above list is not exhaustive and only shows some of the examples.

Graduates are also eligible to apply for the below degree programmes offered by other institutions:

Other Local Institutions

  • HKU SPACE
    • Part-time, 2-year, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Social Sciences, offered by Edinburgh Napier University (UK) in collaboration with HKU SPACE

 

Career Prospects

Graduates can take up positions in children services, community services, family services, career guidance and social security services, in both the government and NGOs.

  • Obtain Level 2 or above in 5 subjects*§ including English Language and Chinese Language# in the HKDSE Examination; OR
  • Hold a recognised Diploma in Foundation Studies programme; OR
  • Hold a Diploma of Applied Education / Diploma Yi Jin; OR
  • Equivalent qualifications will be considered by the College.
​
​Applicants who do not meet the entry requirements of the 2-year Associate Degree programme should apply for admission to the Diploma in Foundation Studies (DFS) programme.

 

Mature Students

Applicants who do not possess the above academic qualifications, but are aged 21 or above and with relevant work experience will be considered on individual merit.

 

*Applicants are allowed to use not more than 2 Applied Learning (ApL) subjects in the application. The recognition of the ApL subjects is as follows: 

“Attained with Distinction (II)” is deemed equivalent to Level 4 or above;
“Attained with Distinction (I)” is deemed equivalent to Level 3; and 
“Attained” is deemed equivalent to Level 2 in the HKDSE Examination.

#ApL Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) would be accepted as an alternative Chinese Language qualification.

§ If one of the five HKDSE subjects is Citizenship and Social Development, the requirement will be “Attained” for the subject.

Effective from 2026-27 Academic Year:

 

Associate Degree Year 1

  • Introduction to Academic English
  • English for Academic Purposes I
  • Quantitative Analysis I
  • Information Technology Fundamentals
  • Advanced Chinese Language*
  • Critical Analysis and Reasoning in Discipline-based Studies
  • Social Problems in Contemporary Societies
  • Intra- and Interpersonal Competencies
  • Principles of Sociology
  • Foundation Psychology
 
 

Associate Degree Year 2

  • English for Academic Purposes II
  • English for Arts and Humanities
  • Health, Technology and Society
  • Representation of People in Popular Art Forms
  • Introduction to Social Welfare in Hong Kong
  • Introduction to Social Work
  • Introduction to Developmental Psychology
  • Understanding Child and Adolescent Development
  • Family-based Service and Support
  • Programme Planning and Evaluation in Social Services
 
 
 

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded an Associate of Applied Social Sciences in Family and Child Welfare Services, students should:

  • obtain 60 credits (i.e. 240 QF credits) of courses as prescribed in the Years 1 & 2 curricula of the programme for which they are registered;
  • achieve a Cumulative GPA of 1.7 or above;
  • obtain Grade C- or above in all core English courses; and
  • obtain a pass for the course “CCSA8004 – China’s Development, Hong Kong and the National Security Law”. 

 

Award

Successful completion of this programme leads to the "Associate of Applied Social Sciences in Family and Child Welfare Services" awarded within the HKU system through HKU SPACE.

 

The College reserves the right to make modifications to individual courses on a need basis.

* Non-Chinese speaking students or students who have not received sufficient training in the Chinese language may apply for exemption from the Chinese course(s), and alternative courses may be assigned.

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