{
  "id": 2903445,
  "title": "Record non-DSE admissions to Hong Kong’s universities spark calls for quotas",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/record-non-dse-admissions-to-hong-kongs-universities-spark-calls-for",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T00:30:12.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "South China Morning Post",
    "slug": "south-china-morning-post",
    "url": "https://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education/article/3364971/record-non-dse-admissions-hong-kongs-universities-spark-calls-quotas"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Hong Kong's public universities have admitted a record number of non-DSE students, with their intake rising by 63% over seven years to make up nearly 30% of the 15,000 government-funded places. Meanwhile, the number of DSE students admitted has dropped by 7%, with their proportion falling from 82% to 72%.\n\nThe drop in DSE admissions has led to higher admission scores, causing frustration among students who meet the median score but fail to secure a spot. Ng Po-shing, a student guidance consultant, noted that more students are complaining about not getting into certain programmes despite meeting the required scores.\n\nThe DSE is Hong Kong's main university entrance examination, and the SCMP analyzed data from the University Grants Committee (UGC) to identify the trends. Non-DSE admissions have shown an upward trend in both overall numbers and proportions, with admissions increasing from 2,706 in 2019-20 to 4,401 in 2025-26 (63% increase). Their share of total funded university places rose from 18% in 2019-20 to 22% in 2022-23 and reached 28% in 2025-26.\n\nConversely, DSE admissions have shown a declining trend, with the number of admitted candidates falling from 12,355 in 2019-20 to 11,503 in 2025-26 (7% decrease). Their share across the eight universities dropped from 82% to a low of 72% in 2025.\n\nThe trend suggests that students from non-DSE curricula often come from families with higher socio-economic backgrounds and better resources, leading universities to prefer admitting them over DSE students. This has resulted in universities favoring non-DSE students, potentially reinforcing their socio-economic status.\n\nEducation consultant Ng and Hong Kong Subsidised Secondary Schools Council chairwoman Lee Yi-ying called for a cap on non-DSE admissions to protect local interests and ensure a fair opportunity for DSE students. They suggested that at least 80% of places should be reserved for DSE candidates to maintain local competitiveness.",
  "summary": "Hong Kong public universities have admitted a record number of students applying outside the local exam system, with the intake surging by 63 per cent over seven years to account for nearly 30 per cent of the 15,000 government-funded places, the South China Morning Post has found. Meanwhile, the intake of home-grown students taking the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exam has dropped by 7…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "South China Morning Post - Hong Kong",
        "title": "Record non-DSE admissions to Hong Kong’s universities spark calls for quotas",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/record-non-dse-admissions-to-hong-kongs-universities-spark-calls-for-2904791",
        "published": "2026-08-24T00:30:12.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}