Joint University Programmes Admissions System

The Joint University Programmes Admissions System (Chinese: 大學聯合招生辦法) or JUPAS (聯招) in Hong Kong is a unified system for applying to the nine universities for undergraduate programmes (mostly degree programmes). In 2008 admissions, 35,298 [ [http://www.jupas.edu.hk/jupas/content_stat_application.htm JUPAS Application Statistics] provided by JUPAS, 30 June 2006, URL accessed 18 July 2008.] students applied for programs of the 9 institutions under this scheme. Originally all programmes under JUPAS are government-funded, until the participation of Open University of Hong Kong in 2006, which providing only self-financed degrees.

The system was introduced in 1990 to unify the process of admission of the 5 universities in Hong Kong on that time. Initially starting with City University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong Baptist University, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and The University of Hong Kong. Later added with The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (1991), The Hong Kong Institute of Education (1998), Lingnan University(1999), and Open University of Hong Kong(2006).

In 2000, all government-funded Higher diplomas from The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Associate Degrees from City University of Hong Kong are also allocated under JUPAS. However, since 2005, the latter started converting all their government-funded Associate Degrees programmes to self-financed one, which are managed by a community college owned by the university. The government-funded Associate Degrees are expected to be cancelled in 2008, but this was pushed back to 2009 admissions. [JUPAS Guide 2008, published by JUPAS] [ [http://www.edb.gov.hk/FileManager/TC/Content_2174/c_cb(2)1403_04-05(01).pdf http://www.edb.gov.hk/FileManager/TC/Content_2174/c_cb(2)1403_04-05(01).pdf] ]

As particapation in Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination is required prior, or in the same academic year which the applicant apply for JUPAS, almost all JUPAS applicants are sitting for at least 1 subject in the HKALE that year. In addition, certain requirments in Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination are required in most programmes. Different requirements of HKALE and HKCEE are set in degree and sub-degree programmes. As JUPAS system uses the HKALE and HKCEE as a selection criteria, the HKHLE cames to its end after the introduction of JUPAS.

Participating Institutes and courses

Currently, JUPAS applicants can apply for government-funded full-time degrees offered by:
* City University of Hong Kong
* Hong Kong Baptist University
* Lingnan University
* The Chinese University of Hong Kong
* The Hong Kong Institute of Education
* The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
* The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
* The University of Hong Kong
* Any Joint-University-Programme(s) organized by more than one institutions listed above

and/or self-financed full-time degrees offered by:
* Open University of Hong Kong

and/or government-funded full-time higher diplomas offered by:
* The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

JUPAS applicants are not needed, and not allowed to apply any undergradurate programmes directly to the member institutions. In such cases, JUPAS applications will always have the first priority and will void all other direct applications automanically. However, applications of programmes from non-JUPAS member institutes (like Shue Yan University or Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education), or community colleges owned by JUPAS institutes are not affacted.

Application process

Applicants applying through JUPAS can select up to 25 choices of any program offered by the 9 local institutes via the online portal, provided that they satisfied the prerequisites. The application form is sub-divided into different bandings, namely Band A, B, C, D & E. Putting choices in different bands will affect the scoring of the applicants in the JUPAS process, therefore putting a program higher in their priority list will increase the chance of getting into a program in most cases.

election process

Each and every program offered under JUPAS will make a "Merit order list" for all its applicants based on their academic performances, interview performances and extra curricular activities. Note that most of the programs only look into the applicants' academic performance(especially in HKALE) when they create their "Merit order list". For students that the HKALE result are too close to be listed while they are in the cut-off line, usually their performance of HKCEE are considered first before considering other factors like interviews and choice orders.

The "Merit order list" and the applicants rank list are then entered into a match-making process. The process uses elminations so that all applicants will only get into a program that they preferred most in their application form and which they qualify.

Mainly affacted by the difficulty of HKALE and the steady quota of places in universities in recent years, JUPAS is considered as one of the most competitive university application scheme in the world, which medias and scholers claimed only less competitive than the National Higher Education Entrance Examination in China. In 2007, more than 17000 students were able to meet the minimum requirements entering the degree programmes from JUPAS institutites (passing in both language subjects, plus 2 AL equivent subjects in HKALE) [ [http://www.hkeaa.edu.hk/doc/fd/2007ale/alexamstat07_3.pdf HKALE Statistics 2007] provided by HKEAA, 29 June 2007, URL accessed 18 July, 2008] . However, only about 11500 students are being selected to study a degree by JUPAS institutites in the same year [ [http://www.jupas.edu.hk/jupas/content_stat_mainround.htm JUPAS Offer Statistics] provided by JUPAS, 18 July 2006, URL accessed 18 July 2008.] Which means about 35% of applicants that have a minimum requirement ends up not being offered a degree by any member institutes. Moreover, the number of degrees offered by JUPAS institutes are decreasing every year, about 13% between 2002 to 2006, through the number of degree rise a bit in both 2007 and 2008 admissions, mostly affacted by the addition of OUHK's programmes.

ub-systems/Schemes

Apart from the main selection scheme and the EAS Scheme, JUPAS also offer a few sub-systems and schemes for candidates who may not do well academically but with proved qualities/needs in other areas.

ub-system for Applicants with a Disability

Applicants with the following disability may apply through this scheme:
* Physical handicapped
* Hearing impairment
* Visual impairment
* Visceral disability
* Speech impairment
* Autism
* Mental illness

The goal of this sub-system is to allow applicants to find out as early as possible the special assistance and facilities institutions could provide to them on their admission. Applicants may receive separate offers through this sub-system.

ub-system for School Principal's Nominations

Each principal of a local secondary school may nominate up to three students from his/her own school. Those students must be having outstanding achievements in non-academic areas such as sports, music, social services, other cultural activities, or who have demonstrated leadership abilities. The goal of this scheme is to encourage students to go beyond academic during their secondary studies.

elf Recommendation Scheme

This scheme is for applicants with outstanding achievements in extracurricular activities. Applicants who apply for this scheme in addition to the main scheme will be able to provide a portfolio of extracurricular activities to the institutes he/she applies, so that those institutes may also consider the applicants' achievements in other areas in addition to their academic achievements. The goal for this scheme is to encourage students to participate in more extracurricular activities during their secondary studies.

Footnotes

See also

* Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination
* Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination
* Early Admission Scheme (Hong Kong)
* Education in Hong Kong
* Higher education in Hong Kong

External links

* [http://www.jupas.edu.hk/ Official website]