I want to get into a prestigious university in the mainland, but my grades are not ideal, or I even failed the college entrance examination, and there is no remedy.

　　What should I do about my child's future? How should I plan for the future? Should I work or repeat my studies? ...

　　Hong Kong Associate Degree Program - The Best Study Abroad Path for Mainland Students

　　In recent years, many students have chosen to study for an associate degree in Hong Kong, hoping to enter their ideal university in the "2+2" (associate degree + undergraduate degree) way.

　　So, what is a Hong Kong associate degree? What is the difference between a mainland junior college and a mainland junior college? What are the advantages? ...

　　The editor will tell you about the relevant information of the Hong Kong associate degree, hoping to give some reference and suggestions to confused parents and students.

　　1 What is a Hong Kong associate degree?

　　●Hong Kong's "Associate's Degree" is a junior degree originating from the United States and Canada, with a two-year study period, equivalent to the first two years of a four-year university. After graduation, students can use their associate degree results to enter the third year of undergraduate courses in Hong Kong or overseas, and then obtain a bachelor's degree after two more years of study. The Hong Kong associate degree course is equivalent to a higher diploma and is offered by the relevant colleges in the university. This course is not only recognized by the Hong Kong government, but also recognized by overseas universities.

　　The gold content of the Hong Kong associate degree is relatively high and is regarded as part of elite education. It uses all-English teaching, provides high-quality teachers and curriculum settings, has the same teaching format as undergraduates, and shares teaching facilities and educational resources. After completing the associate degree course, students can directly apply for the third year of undergraduate studies at local universities in Hong Kong, or choose to enter the third year of undergraduate studies at some first-tier universities in the mainland, such as Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (UIC), Jinan University, and Huaqiao University.

　　●In addition, after graduating from the associate degree, in addition to being able to enter local universities, you can also use Hong Kong as a springboard to apply for overseas prestigious universities. At present, most local universities in Hong Kong that offer associate degrees have articulation agreements with many overseas universities, and students can give priority to overseas universities that cooperate with their own schools.

　　Many universities in Hong Kong have signed articulation agreements with many foreign universities. After graduation, students can go to universities in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia and other countries and regions to complete 2 or 3 years of bachelor's degree studies (associate degree graduates can study as a junior at a 4-year university in North America or a sophomore at a 3-year university in the United Kingdom). Some credits can be exempted or transferred (you can also continue to apply for undergraduate studies at the eight major universities in Hong Kong in Hong Kong).

　　●More importantly, the admission of associate degrees does not conflict with the admission of full-time universities in China. The two can be done in parallel, that is, while everyone is working hard to prepare for the college entrance examination and apply for domestic universities, they can give themselves one more choice.

　　In this regard, the associate degree does provide another opportunity for students who want to realize their dreams of receiving higher education and prestigious schools for those who do not have ideal college entrance examination results in the mainland.

　　2 Hong Kong associate degree ≠ mainland college diploma

　　● 2 years of associate degree + 2 years of bachelor's degree, you can get a diploma.

　　● Or take 2+2+1, complete undergraduate and master's degree in 5 years, and get the same opportunity to enter a prestigious university as the top scorer in the college entrance examination.

　　● Or 2+2+1+2, obtain Hong Kong identity in 7 years. Use the associate degree as a springboard to complete the counterattack in a prestigious university.

　　There is an essential difference between the associate degree in Hong Kong and the junior college degree in the Mainland. Both the associate degree and the junior college degree are stepping stones to enter the university, and both are transitional stages before undergraduate studies. It's just that the associate degree in Hong Kong is more recognized overseas than the junior college degree in the Mainland.

　　In Hong Kong, the associate degree course is not only consistent with the undergraduate course in teaching content and teaching materials, but also in academic requirements. It is equivalent to the first two years of undergraduate education. Even many schools have courses directly with the main students.

　　Students with an associate degree can apply to enter local universities in Hong Kong or well-known overseas universities for further studies based on their GPA (grade point average) and English scores during their two years of study. Through this "2+2" model, that is, a two-year associate degree plus a two-year undergraduate study path, students can eventually obtain the same bachelor's degree as students who start their undergraduate studies directly from the freshman year.

　　Some celebrities we are familiar with have an associate degree education background. For example: Obama, Leung Chun-ying, and Wendi Deng all studied for a bachelor's degree through an associate degree.

3 Who is the Hong Kong Associate Degree suitable for?

　　●Ordinary first-tier students/second-tier students/students near the undergraduate line

　　●Scores not lower than the second-tier line

　　●Students who performed poorly in the college entrance examination and want to counterattack the top 100 universities through an associate degree

　　●Students with overseas high school qualifications who want to study in Hong Kong

　　●Students who want to obtain Hong Kong identity

　　4 Advantages of Hong Kong associate degrees

　　1. The associate degree program is two years of full-time

　　Like undergraduate courses, these two years are for students to learn general knowledge of the subject. In order to help students connect to the third year of university, most of the classes in the associate degree program are the same as the first and second year stages of undergraduate studies.

　　2. Relatively low admission requirements

　　The admission score requirements are generally around the "second-tier" score line of the mainland college entrance examination. Mainland students are admitted mainly based on their college entrance examination scores, English proficiency and interview results.

　　3. Tuition and living expenses are relatively low

　　The tuition fee for Hong Kong's associate degree program is about 50,000 to 70,000 Hong Kong dollars per year, and the basic living expenses are 100,000 to 120,000 Hong Kong dollars per year, and the total cost per year is basically around 200,000 Hong Kong dollars.

　　4. A golden springboard for undergraduate studies at overseas universities

　　Hong Kong's associate degree programs are not only recognized by local institutions, but also accepted by many European and American universities. After completing two years of associate degree, you can freely choose to stay in Hong Kong or go to other overseas universities to continue your undergraduate degree studies.

　　5. English-taught, high employment rate

　　With seminar-style teaching, you can make adequate preparations for future employment in Hong Kong or studying abroad. The employment rate of graduates is high, the starting salary is high, and there are more opportunities.

　　6. Hong Kong identity

　　After living for 7 years, you can obtain a Hong Kong permanent resident identity card.

　　5 Hong Kong Associate Degree Application Guide

     The path for associate degree holders to advance to undergraduate degrees in Hong Kong usually starts in September of the first semester of sophomore year.

　　The following is a general application strategy:

　　● GPA reaches 3.2 or above: eligible to apply for undergraduate degrees from the eight prestigious universities in Hong Kong, and can also consider applying for other overseas universities.

　　● GPA does not meet the above standards: Students can consider applying for undergraduate degrees from non-eight universities in Hong Kong, or overseas universities, and try to obtain the Bachelor of Political Science and Finance degree offered by the eight universities.

　　Generally speaking, associate degrees are obviously better than mainland colleges in all aspects; there is no need to squeeze for the rare quota for undergraduate admission, and there is a high probability of admission to a prestigious university; it has the same teaching quality as undergraduates, but a broader vision; it has a very high international recognition and many overseas opportunities; the graduation certificate is the same as that of undergraduates, and there is no trace of past academic qualifications.

　　There are thousands of ways to study, and an associate degree is definitely a plan B that is worth your preference! Hurry up and contact KOI's academic planning consultant to learn more about the process of associate degree admission in Hong Kong. Finally, I also wish that the students who are about to take the college entrance examination this year can study in their favorite schools and start a happy university life.

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