Youth and Social Services - Youth and Social Services - Applied Social Sciences - Associate Degree Programmes - Programmes - HKU SPACE Po Leung Kuk Stanley Ho Community College

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Programme Code

HP001 Diploma in Foundation Studies (DFS)
HP203 Year 1 & 2, Associate Degree (AD)

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Programme Leaflet

QF Level: 4
QR Registration No.: 07/001828/4
Registration Validity Period: 05/05/2008 to ongoing
Successful completion of this programme leads to an award within The University of Hong Kong system through HKU SPACE

DFS Application Code: HPDFS-YSS

AD Application Code: ASSYSS

Hong Kong is a rapidly developing society and young people have always been our central focus. Government policies in education, health, social welfare and labour have been laid down to prepare for positive future development of adolescents. However, there are still many youth problems in the community. That is why we need trained personnel in youth work to assist our young people in an era of rapid changes.

Youth and social services in Hong Kong are delivered by a team of professionally trained personnel who help the needy to cope with life transitions and challenges, and this programme is specially designed to meet that need. Po Leung Kuk, with its well-established reputation and tradition in social service in Hong Kong, has much to offer in support of students’ practical training in the field.

Programme Aims and Features

The programme equips students with the basic competencies in understanding the characteriatics of social welfare services users and young persons, analyse their needs and problems and identify the appropriate strategies for delivering services and rendering support. Students will develop a professional understanding of the social welfare service sector while the programme will enhance their social awareness, analytical abilities, communication proficiency, and workplace performance. In addition, this programme provides students with a broad-based foundation in Social Sciences to prepare them for higher level studies in related disciplines.

Opportunities for Further Studies

Programmes offered by local 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 offers that our graduates/ students received in the past*:

The University of Hong Kong
Bachelor of Social Work
Bachelor of Social Sciences
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
BSSc Gender Studies
BSSc Global Studies
BSSc Social Work
City University of Hong Kong
BSocSc Applied Sociology
BSocSc Asian and International Studies
BSocSc Criminology
BSocSc Criminology and Sociology
BSocSc Psychology
BSocSc Public Policy and Politics
BSocSc Social Work
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
BA (Hons) Social Policy and Administration
Broad Discipline of Social Sciences
Hong Kong Baptist University
Bachelor of Social Work (Hons)
The Education University of Hong Kong
BA (Hons) Education for Sustainability
BA (Hons) Liberal Studies Education
BEd (Hons) (Primary) General Studies
BEd (Hons) (Primary) Mathematics

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

Programmes offered by overseas universities

Graduates are also eligible to apply for admission to Bachelor’s degree programmes in Social Sciences or other related disciplines offered by overseas universities:

Full-time, Bachelor’s degree programmes offered locally by overseas universities in collaboration with HKU SPACE:
- 2-year, Bachelor of Arts (Honours) Social Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University (UK).

Career Prospects

Graduates of this programme will be able to undertake a wide range of jobs in children and youth services, community services, family services, career guidance and social security services, in both the government and non-government organisations.

2-year Associate Degree Programme

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 Yi Jin; OR
Equivalent qualifications will be considered by the College.

Applicants whose HKDSE results 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.

Diploma in Foundation Studies Programme

Obtain Level 1 or above in English Language and Chinese Language^# in the HKDSE Examination, AND at least 6 points⁺ in the best 5 subjects^{*^}; OR
Have completed at least Secondary 5 and have gained in International General Certificate of Secondary Education (IGCSE) or General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Grade C (or Grade 4) or above in a minimum of 5 subjects including English Language and another language subject; OR
Equivalent qualifications will be considered by the College.

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 by the College.

^*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 the candidate has attempted less than 5 subjects but obtained 6 points or above, the application will still be considered.

⁺ Level 5** = 7 points; Level 5* = 6 points; Level 5 = 5 points; Level 4 = 4 points; Level 3 = 3 points; Level 2 = 2 points; Level 1 = 1 point.

Effective from 2022-23 Academic Year:

Diploma in Foundation Studies

General English I & II
College Speaking / Youth and Culture
College Writing / Foundation English
Foundation of Chinese Language* / How Things in Everyday Life Work
Chinese Language Enhancement / Western Images of China
Basic Mathematics
Elements of Business
Multiple Intelligences and Competencies
Understanding Hong Kong Popular Culture

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
Understanding Social Problems in Hong Kong
SELF-Exploration & Enrichment
Principles of Sociology
Foundation Psychology

Associate Degree Year 2

English for Academic Purposes II
English for Arts and Humanities
Health, Technology and Society
Histories, Societies and Identities: Connecting the Past to the Present
Introduction to Social Welfare in Hong Kong
Introduction to Social Work
The Youth-at-risk and Delinquents
Counseling Skills
Adventure-based and Experiential Learning
Practicum - Youth and Social Services

* 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.