The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority is considering expanding the mainland school-candidate system for the Diploma of Secondary Education examination from four schools to 12, through a phased process involving eight more schools for Hong Kong and Macau students in Guangdong.
Before the schools are approved as participating schools, the authority is studying arrangements for eligible Hong Kong and Macau Form Six students enrolled at them to sit the 2027 DSE as private candidates. The proposal remains under consideration and does not mean the eight schools have been approved.
The eight schools being considered are Harrow International School Shenzhen Qianhai; Shenzhen Pulin Yunhai School for Hong Kong and Macau Students; Jinan University School for Hong Kong and Macau Students in Foshan; Shenzhen Jingfan School for Hong Kong and Macau Students; Foshan Zhonghuang Xingyu School for Hong Kong and Macau Students; Guangzhou Zhonghuang School for Hong Kong and Macau Students; Shenzhen St Hilary School; and the Affiliated Hengqin School of Haojiang Middle School.
The four existing Greater Bay Area participating schools can arrange for eligible Hong Kong and Macau students to take the DSE in mainland China as school candidates. About 800 candidates have taken part through the arrangement over the past three years.
The authority said students at Hong Kong and Macau students’ schools are Hong Kong or Macau nationals and would be provided with examination arrangements whether they entered as school candidates or private candidates. It said the proposal therefore would not add candidates or increase competition for local students seeking places at publicly funded universities in Hong Kong.
Registration for the 2027 DSE will open on 11 September 2026 and close on 7 October 2026.
The authority has not yet specified the approval criteria, timetable or detailed stages for the phased expansion, and the final number of students who would enter through the proposed private-candidate arrangement remains undecided.