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Programmes

English for Professional Communication

Higher Diploma inEnglish for Professional Communication

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Programme Code

  • HP816 Year 1 & 2, Higher Diploma (HD)

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qf

QF Level: 4
QR Registration No.: 25/000108/L4
Registration Validity Period: 1/9/2025 to ongoing
Successful completion of this programme leads to an award within The University of Hong Kong system through HKU SPACE

Application Code: HDEPC

Phone 3762 2284　　Email hdepc@hkuspace.hku.hk

Hong Kong, as a global city and financial hub, has a significant demand in professionals who are not only proficient in general English but also skilled in vocational and professional communication in local industries and international businesses. 

The Higher Diploma in English for Professional Communication (HDEPC) programme aims to enhance students’ English language proficiency, with an emphasis on developing their professional writing skills in English, as well as various presentation skills applicable in different industries, including mass communications, business, hospitality, and tourism.

Ultimately, this programme prepares students for immediate employment with the tools they need to excel in their chosen career, such as corporate communications officer, content writer, media relations officer, project coordinator, public affairs officer, executive assistant, customer service officers and teachers.

 

Programme Aims and Features

Programme Aims:

This programme aims to enhance students’ English language proficiency, with an emphasis on developing their professional writing skills in English, as well as various presentation skills applicable in different industries, including mass communications, business, hospitality, and tourism. It also incorporates various business and public relations concepts and theories in the production of practical documents for business and public relations purposes. The practical training in professional English writing and speaking will prepare students for career pathways in diverse local sectors, including culture, education, media, public relations, administration, catering, and hotel and tourism.

 

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 advanced concepts in English communication across diverse subject areas within the fields of business management, service and media industries;
  • Implement various functions within professional English communications for general administration and operation in business, service, and communication sectors;
  • Identify the functions and linguistics features of the English language across different styles and uses in various social and corporate contexts;
  • Develop a strong self-awareness of one’s aptitudes and abilities together with an understanding of social responsibility and civic values in professional and ethical issues associated with professional communications in various social and corporate contexts.

 

Opportunities for Further Studies

UGC-funded Universities

Graduates are eligible to apply for admission to Bachelor’s degree programmes in English Communications or other related disciplines offered by local universities.

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

  • The University of Hong Kong
    BBA (Business Analytics)
    BBA (Major in Human Resource Management / Marketing)
    BBA (International Business and Global Management)
  • The Chinese University of Hong Kong 
    Integrated Bachelor of Business Administration Programme (Concentrations: Human Resource Management / Management of International Business / Marketing / Big Data and Quantitative Marketing)
  • The Hong Kong University of Science & Technology
    BBA Global Business
    BBA Management
    BBA Marketing
  • The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
    BA (Hons) English and Applied Linguistics
    BBA (Hons) Scheme in Management and Marketing
  • City University of Hong Kong
    BA English (Stream: English and Professional Communication)
    BBA Marketing
    BA Media and Communication
  • Hong Kong Baptist University
    Bachelor of Communication (Hons) Interactive Media Publishing
    BBA (Hons) Marketing Concentration
    BBA (Hons) Strategic Retail Management and Innovation Concentration
  • The Education University of Hong Kong
    BA (Hons) English Studies and Digital Communication
    Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Language Studies (Chinese Major / English Major)
    BA (Hons) Language Studies and BEd (Hons) (English Language)
    Bachelor of Education (Hons) (English Language) – Primary
     

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

Other Local Institutions

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

  • Hong Kong Metropolitan University
    Bachelor of English Language Studies with Honours
  • PolyU SPEED
    Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Language and Professional Communication (Digital Media)
  • CityU SCOPE – University of Central Lancashire
    Bachelor of Arts in English for International Corporate Communication

 

Career Prospects

To provide a comprehensive perspective, the interdisciplinary nature of this programme seeks to provide students with a comprehensive foundation in languages for specific vocational purposes, critical thinking, communication, and business studies. Ultimately, this programme prepares students for roles such as corporate communications officer, content writer, media relations officer, project coordinator, public affairs officer, executive assistant, customer service officer, etc. Graduates can develop careers across diverse fields, such as hotel hospitality and tourism, public relations, business management, media studies, and public administration.

 

Press Interview

HK01, 7 July 2025

HPSHCC新課程切合商業趨勢所需 以英語及科技助學生突圍而出

HPSHCC新課程切合商業趨勢所需 以英語及科技助學生突圍而出

  • 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 Higher Diploma programme should apply for admission to the Diploma in Foundation Studies (DFS) programme.

 

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

Relevant and substantial work experience and / or prior qualifications obtained in or outside Hong Kong (e.g. assessed through recognition of prior learning and credit accumulation and transfer), with demonstrated ability to undertake sub-degree education, 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 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 2025-26 Academic Year:

 

Higher Diploma Year 1

  • Introduction to Academic English
  • English for Academic Purposes I
  • English for Business
  • Elementary Statistics
  • Intra- and Interpersonal Competencies
  • Practical Promotional Writing in Professional Context
  • Introduction to Media and Communications
  • Introduction to Marketing
  • Professional Communication Strategies
  • Professional English for the Service Industry

 

Higher Diploma Year 2

  • English for Academic Purposes II
  • Practical Chinese
  • Information Technology Fundamentals
  • Persuasion in Public Speaking and Presentation
  • Principles of Digital Communications
  • Professional Organisational Communication
  • Intercultural Communication in Business
  • Marketing Communications
  • Language and Society
  • Literary Linguistics

 

Graduation Requirements

To be awarded a Higher Diploma in English for Professional Communication, 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 "Higher Diploma in English for Professional Communication" 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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