Sixth School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme Opens for Applications in October; Over 300 UGC-Funded Bachelor's Degree Programmes Participating

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The Education Bureau announced today (24 September) that the sixth School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS) will open for applications from local Form 6 students who will sit the 2027 Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) and progress to bachelor's degree programmes in September of the same year.

📋 Aim of the Scheme: Recognising Exceptional Talent and Providing Direct Admission Opportunities
An Education Bureau spokesman said: "The SNDAS has been implemented since the 2022/23 academic year. It aims to recognise students with exceptional talent in specific areas that may not be fully assessed through the HKDSE. The scheme matches students with special or diverse talents to programmes that suit their potential, providing opportunities for local universities to consider direct admission."

🗓️ Nomination Period from 7 October to 2 December; Each School May Nominate Two Students
The nomination period for the sixth SNDAS is from 7 October to 2 December 2026. Students interested in applying for their preferred programmes through the scheme must be nominated by their secondary schools. Each local secondary school may nominate two students with exceptional talent and interest in individual subjects/areas to participate in the scheme. Each nominated student may apply for one designated UGC-funded bachelor's degree programme participating in the scheme.

🏛️ Over 300 Publicly Funded Bachelor's Programmes Participating; Non-DSE Admission Criteria Set
The eight UGC-funded universities have designated over 300 publicly funded bachelor's degree programmes to participate in the sixth SNDAS, and have set admission criteria for individual programmes that are not based on HKDSE results. Details of the SNDAS and the specific admission requirements of individual participating programmes have been uploaded to the scheme's website.

📝 Two-Track Approach: Must Also Apply to Universities via JUPAS and Sit the HKDSE
The Education Bureau added that the SNDAS aims to provide an additional pathway to university for students with specific exceptional talents. Students nominated to participate in the SNDAS must, like ordinary Form 6 students, simultaneously apply for university programmes through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS) via the general route and sit the HKDSE as scheduled, so as not to limit their further study opportunities. Nominated students must include the selected SNDAS-designated bachelor's degree programme among their 20 programme choices in their JUPAS application.

📅 Interview and Admission Arrangements
Universities participating in the SNDAS will arrange interviews for all nominated students and will issue "direct admission" notifications to successful applicants before the release of the 2027 HKDSE results. Successful applicants must decide whether to accept the offer before the release of the 2027 HKDSE results. Once a student accepts the "direct admission," it is binding. Regardless of their HKDSE results, they will not be considered for or admitted to other programmes, and their JUPAS application will be automatically deleted from the JUPAS system. For students who are unsuccessful, their JUPAS applications will be retained and continue to be processed.