VTC Applied Learning - FAQs

Classes of ApL course are offered in September of every academic year.

The duration of each ApL course is 180 contact hours, generally spanning 2 school years at the senior secondary level.
S5 cohort - classes commence at S5 (Sept) and completes by S6 (Dec).
S4 cohort - classes commence at S4 (Sept) and normally complete by S5 (May).

With a view to the facilities and equipment requirements of individual courses, lesson timetable and venue arrangement can be flexibly arranged at VTC and/or schools and are subject to mutual agreement by VTC and schools.

All ApL courses are delivered by tutors recognised by VTC.

Generally speaking, medium of instruction (MOI) of ApL courses can be Chinese as well as English. Some courses can only adopt either Chinese or English as the MOI due to their specific nature.

VTC will decide finally whether to operate classes with Chinese/English as the MOI according to individual situation (e.g. number of applicants for individual courses.)

The designated class size for the majority of courses is 17, and being 16 for some particular courses such as “Western Cuisine”, “Hotel Operations”, “Applied Learning (Vocational English) — English Communication” and “Food Technology and Nutrition”.

Note: If the number of admitted students is less than the designated number of students, the course fee of a particular class will still be calculated according to the designated number.

Yes, and such Partnership Agreement is valid for a complete course duration of 180 hours.

S4 Courses: for S3 students’ entry
S5 Courses: for S4 students’ entry

Interested student(s) should contact their respective schools for details.

S4 Courses | S5 Courses

All students in aided, government and Direct Subsidy Scheme secondary schools, caput schools and special schools with senior secondary classes following the senior secondary curriculum recommended by Curriculum Development Council will be fully subsidised by the Education Bureau (EDB) to take ApL courses. Students do not need to pay the course fees. Each student may take a maximum of two ApL courses* as elective subjects in senior secondary.

Note: Including Applied Learning (Vocational English) but excluding Applied Learning (Chinese).

All students must make their application to the EDB through their schools. Whether applications of students successful or not is subject to the selection results from VTC.

If a student has completed Year 1 of ApL course but repeats his/her secondary level, the student may continue to study Year 2 or choose to repeat Year 1 of the course with the support of respective school principal and VTC (if the course is still offered).

ApL courses are Category B subjects of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), and there is no public examination for ApL courses. The assessment of each ApL course comprises 6 to 10 assessment tasks to be undertaken within the period of study.

VTC will conduct assessments of respective ApL courses while the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) is responsible for moderation of the assessment results submitted by VTC. The moderated results will be recorded on the HKDSE certificate.

The reporting of ApL students’ performance is categorised as “Attained”, “Attained with Distinction (I)” and “Attained with Distinction (II)”.

Candidates with performance below the standard of ‘Attained’, or attendance rates below 80%, will be designated as ‘Unattained’, which will not be reported on the certificate.

Vocational Training Council views ApL courses as elective subjects. Each student is allowed to use up to two ApL courses in the application to Undergraduate, Higher Diploma or Diploma programme(s).

Students with special educational needs can take ApL courses as other students. Schools may opt to submit supplementary information for the students with SEN in submitting application for ApL courses for the reference of VTC so as to effectively support the students taking ApL courses.

Besides, VTC provides Adapted ApL Courses for senior secondary students with intellectual disabilities.