Mainland China DSE students ready to spend up to HK$22,000 for university guidance services.
In the competitive world of higher education, mainland Chinese students are increasingly seeking consultancy services to navigate the complex process of university applications, particularly for institutions in Hong Kong.
With at least 72 schools on the mainland offering the Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) curriculum, the demand for consultancy services is in line with the rising number of mainland students sitting the DSE exams. These students are willing to pay up to 20,000 yuan for such services, as they face high application-related fees due to expensive tuition at mainland-based Hong Kong curriculum schools and entrance exam preparation costs.
The choice of institutions is influenced by various factors. The reputation and curriculum of the school offering DSE prep courses on the mainland, which directly prepares students for Hong Kong university entrance, is a significant consideration. The rising tuition and fees at Hong Kong universities themselves also play a role, as students may be swayed towards programs or universities perceived as more affordable or better suited to their career goals.
Accessibility and visa arrangements for non-local students in Hong Kong universities, location of schooling on the mainland, and the prestige of Hong Kong higher education institutions and the recognition of their degrees abroad are also key factors.
Notably, four of the schools offering the DSE curriculum are designated for Hong Kong children living across the border. However, the article does not specify whether the services offered by Isaac Liang Weiyi's company, Winning Star, are convertible to HK dollars or US dollars, or whether they fall within the previously mentioned range of 10,000 to 20,000 yuan.
Isaac Liang Weiyi, founder of a Shenzhen-based consulting company, Winning Star, catering to students applying to overseas universities, has 50 clients as of the article's publication. Interestingly, mainland students place a significant emphasis on the global ranking of institutions, while Hong Kong students tend to choose undergraduate programmes based on their interests, rather than global rankings.
This trend highlights the unique challenges and preferences faced by mainland Chinese students in their university application journey, underscoring the need for tailored consultancy services to guide them through this complex process.
- Mainland Chinese students, seeking consultancy services to aid their university applications, often prioritize education-and-self-development establishments that offer Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) curriculum, as these directly prepare them for Hong Kong university entrance.
- Personal-finance considerations play a vital role, with students willing to invest up to 20,000 yuan for such services, factoring in high application-related fees due to costly tuition at mainland-based Hong Kong curriculum schools and entrance exam preparation costs.
- In addition to the curriculum, reputation, and affordability, mainland students also consider other factors like accessibility, visa arrangements, location of schooling, and the prestige of Hong Kong higher education institutions, as well as the recognition of their degrees abroad.
