Hong Kong’s Diocesan Boys’ School to become first to offer 3 university pathways

Hong Kong's prestigious Diocesan Boys' School (DBS) is poised to become the city's first institution to offer three distinct university pathways: the International Advanced Level (IAL), the International Baccalaureate (IB), and the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE). Headmaster Ronnie Cheng Kay-yen announced this development on Saturday, contingent upon approval from the Education Bureau.

Currently, DBS houses 1,400 secondary students and 900 primary students, each with varying learning needs and abilities. The school aims to cater to these differences by providing multiple learning models, including the Diploma of Secondary Education, the International Baccalaureate, and the International Advanced Level curricula.

The change in curriculum offerings comes at a time when Hong Kong public universities have witnessed a significant surge in admissions from students applying outside the local DSE exam system, up 63% from 2,706 in 2019-20 to 4,401 in 2025-26. However, the number of local students taking the DSE exam has decreased by 7%, from 12,355 to 11,503 over the same period.

Education consultants suggest that parents should weigh the merits of each curriculum based on their child's individual strengths, interests, and learning styles. While DSE has proven less effective in gaining overseas university admissions, IB and IAL offer more comprehensive and flexible learning experiences. Currently, only a handful of schools in Hong Kong provide non-local curricula, including international schools, private independent schools, and semi-private local schools.

Parents express excitement about the expanded options, as they believe it will enhance DBS's appeal and competitiveness in the global educational landscape.