Higher Diploma

Programme Code:	8C123
Academic Division:	Division of Social Sciences, Humanities and Design
Programme Leader:	CHEN, Chau-lin Charlie
Assistant Programme Leader:	IP, Cheung-sau Heidi
WhatsApp:	37460887

Programme Code:

What is this programme about?

• Why this programme?Full-time employment rate nearly 29% in 2024...
  Articulation rate over 59% in 2024

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  • Full-time employment rate of 2024 graduates nearly 29%; average monthly salary nearly HK$24,000
  • Articulation rate over 59% in 2024
  • Graduates are eligible for registration as Registered Social Workers
  • Graduates can apply for PolyU's BA (Hons) in Social Work or PolyU SPEED's Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) or other bachelor's degree programmes in social work offered by local or overseas universities
  • Students are required to engage in over 700 hours of fieldwork placement in a social welfare organisation to acquire social work practical skills and knowledge
  • Professional values, knowledge and skills in social work, as well as students' self-reflective learning are cultivated through a holistic approach

  This programme, with emphasis on the social work practice in Hong Kong, will equip you to become a committed and competent social worker. Through a holistic and systematic approach, you will acquire professional knowledge and skills which are essential to the delivery of effective social work services. This programme is also devoted to developing your social consciousness and passion for the underprivileged groups in society as well as your reflective ability and inquiry skills.

  HKCC Associate Degree/ Higher Diploma programmes are listed on the Qualifications Register (QR) of The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); the qualification is recognised under the Qualifications Framework (QF) and is commensurate with Level 4 of the Generic Level Descriptors. For details of the QR and QF, please click here.
  
  
  

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• What will I learn?Curriculum Structure
  You are required to take, in two years, 23-24 subjects in total, ...

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  Curriculum Structure⁺

  You are required to take, in two years, 23-24 subjects in total, comprising 7-8 General Education Subjects and 16 Discipline-specific Subjects.

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  General Education Subjects

  5 Compulsory Subjects

  • Academic English (Social Sciences) I OR English for Academic Studies (Social Sciences) I
  • Academic English (Social Sciences) II OR English for Academic Studies (Social Sciences) II
  • Chinese Communication for College Students (Cantonese Version) ^C OR Chinese Communication for College Students (Putonghua Version) ^C OR Elementary Chinese ^{E & C ~}
  • Self Understanding and Communication Skills ^{E & C}
  • Essential Components of General Education (Non-credit bearing)
    Two e-modules:

  1. Academic Integrity
  2. National Education 

  ^~ Students who are non-Chinese speakers, or whose Chinese standards are at junior secondary level or below are required to take this subject.

  2-3 Elective Subjects ^*# (from the following cluster areas)

  • Chinese History and Culture
  • Cultures, Organisations, Societies and Globalisation
  • Human Nature, Relations and Development
  • Language and Communication
  • Science, Technology and Environment

  For the full list of more than 30 General Education subjects, please click here.
  
  

  ^*Students with Level 3 or above in any one HKDSE subject (other than English) only need to take two General Education elective subjects.
  
  Medium of Instruction: Most subjects are taught in English, although due to their nature and objectives, some subjects are taught in Chinese. Language subjects are taught in the language in question.
  
  E & C English and Chinese
  C        Chinese

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  Discipline-specific Subjects

  15 Compulsory Subjects

  • Foundation Placement ^{E & C}
  • Hong Kong Society ^{E & C}
  • Human Behaviour and Social Environment
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Introduction to Social Work
  • Introduction to Sociology
  • Management in Human Services
  • Preparatory Workshop I - Foundation Placement ^{E & C}
  • Preparatory Workshop II - Professional Placement ^{E & C}
  • Professional Placement ^{E & C}
  • Social Welfare, Social Services and Social Policy in Hong Kong ^{E & C}
  • Social Work Practice Workshop ^{E & C}
  • Social Work Theory and Practice ^{E & C}
  • Working with Groups, Communities and Organisations ^{E & C}
  • Working with Individuals and Families ^{E & C}

  1 Elective Subject ^# (from the following discipline-specific elective subjects )

  • Ageing and Social Work ^{E & C}
  • Children and Social Work ^{E & C}
  • Disadvantaged Communities and Social Work ^{E & C}
  • Rehabilitation and Social Work ^{E & C}
  • Substance Abuse and Social Work ^{E & C}
  • Youth and Social Work ^{E & C}

  ⁺For students admitted from 2022/23
  ^#Offering of individual elective subjects is subject to resources and quota availability.
  
  Medium of Instruction: Most subjects are taught in English, although due to their nature and objectives, some subjects are taught in Chinese. Language subjects are taught in the language in question.

  E & C English and Chinese
  C        Chinese

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  Intended Learning Outcomes

  Upon successful completion of this programme, graduates will be able to achieve its intended learning outcomes. For details, please click here.

• Where will I go after HKCC?

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  Articulation Track Record of Graduates

  For the articulation track record of graduates, please click here.

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  Career Prospects

  • Social Work
  • Work in Human Service Organisations

  Among the employed graduates of this programme in 2022, 88.5% found a job within 3 months after graduation.
  
  

  Source: HKCC Graduate Survey 2022 (figures as of October 2022)

• Admission Score

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  Admission Score for this programme (2024/25 Cohort):

  15.94 (Mean) ; 20 (Highest)

  Click here to view admission score (2024/25 Cohort) for all programmes.