Childcare, Elderly and Community Services

Higher Diploma in Health and Social Care

Full-time S6 or above Higher Diploma

Programme Code CE114309

Higher Diploma in Health and Social Care

This programme was formerly known as “Higher Diploma in Integrated Social and Health Services” in and before AY2025/26. The change was approved by HKCAAVQ. QR record will be updated later.

Programme Edges

Optimistic Employment Prospects

Graduates are graduated with the recognition of Health Care Worker under Social Welfare Department (The registration is pending SWD's approval).

Diversified Career Articulation

Graduates can engage the work related to health care and social services.

Towards Professionalism

Graduates can articulate to the Degree related to social services and health care.

Optimistic Employment Prospects

Graduates are graduated with the recognition of Health Care Worker under Social Welfare Department (The registration is pending SWD's approval).

Diversified Career Articulation

Graduates can engage the work related to health care and social services.

Towards Professionalism

Graduates can articulate to the Degree related to social services and health care.

Basic Information

The programme aims to provide students with professional knowledge of community health, social services, and elderly care, enabling them to master nursing skills, rehabilitation knowledge, and the ability of programme planning for the elderly. Graduates will possess the professional competence to engage in social services, elderly care, and related industries, providing cross-disciplinary services. Additionally, the programme emphasizes the cultivation of students' professional attitudes and empathy, strengthening their confidence and leadership capabilities in pursuing careers in social services.

The programme is also designed with an emphasis on generic and language training, whole-person development and workplace experience to better prepare students for further studies and employment.

Mode of Study Full-time

Duration of Study 2 Years

Offering Campus(es) / Venue(s)

IVE (Sha Tin)

Professional Recognition

Graduates are eligible for registration as health workers with the Social Welfare Department¹.

Remarks

The registration is pending SWD’s approval.

Notes

The programme information is applicable to local applicants. For non-local applicants, please visit here.
Students may be required to attend classes on other VTC campuses. VTC reserves the right to cancel any programme, revise programme title, content or change the offering institute(s) / campus(es) / class venue(s) if circumstances so warrant.
Applicants should note the Social Welfare Department's requirement of academic qualifications for registration as a registered health worker in Hong Kong. The assessment of health worker is mainly conducted in Chinese.

Entrance Requirements

HKDSE

Chinese Language 2

English Language 2

Core/Elective Subject 2

VTC Diploma of Foundation Studies; OR
Diploma Yi Jin / Diploma of Applied Education; OR
Equivalent

Remarks

Applicants can use HKDSE Applied Learning (ApL) subjects (except ApL Chinese) for admission purpose. An "Attained", "Attained with Distinction (I)" and "Attained with Distinction (II)" in an ApL subject (Category B subjects) are regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2", "Level 3" and "Level 4" respectively for admission purpose.
For 2024 HKDSE and before, a "Grade D or E" and a "Grade C or above" in an HKDSE Other Language subject (Category C subjects) are regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2" and "Level 3" respectively; From 2025 HKDSE onwards, Language Proficiency Level A2 or above in French / German / Spanish, N3 or above in Japanese and TOPIK II: Grade 3 or above in Korean are also recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the general entrance requirement. Recognition of Urdu Language subject in 2026 HKDSE Other Language subject (Category C subjects) will be announced later. For details, please click here. One Other Language subject can be counted for admission purpose.
An "Attained" in HKDSE Citizenship and Social Development is regarded as equivalent to an HKDSE subject at "Level 2" for admission purpose.
If one of the five HKDSE subjects is Citizenship and Social Development, the general entrance requirement would become "Attained" for Citizenship and Social Development and Level 2 or above in four other HKDSE subjects including Chinese Language and English Language. Besides, Level 2 or above in Mathematics Extended Part (Module 1 or Module 2) is also recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the general entrance requirement. If applicants have taken both Module 1 and Module 2, either one of the modules (with a higher level) will be counted for admission purpose.
This programme is only applicable to VTC Diploma in Vocational Education / Diploma of Vocational Education graduates who have completed Secondary 6 under New Senior Secondary Academic Structure (students admitted to DVE in AY2017/18 or before are required to complete prescribed further studies modules).
This programme is NOT applicable to VTC Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate graduates.

Articulation / Employment

Articulation

Graduates may apply for admission to full-time / part-time Bachelor Degree programmes at various local and overseas universities, e.g.:

BSc (Hons) in Health and Social Care, the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK (Registration No.: 253136)^#
BSc in Gerontology, the Chinese University of Hong Kong
BA (Hons) in Applied Ageing Studies and Service Management, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
BA (Hons) in Social Policy and Social Entrepreneurship, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
BA (Hons) in Social Design, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
BSSc (Hons) in Social Entrepreneurship and Development Studies, the Education University of Hong Kong
BSSc (Hons) in Innovation in Health and Social Well-Being, Hong Kong Baptist University

^# This 1-year full-time / 1.5-year part-time programme is offered in collaboration with the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) of VTC. It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognise any qualification to which this course may lead. Please refer to the corresponding programme page in the website of SHAPE.

Career Prospects

Graduates may be employed as health care officers, programme workers, rehabilitation assistants and administrative executives in the social welfare and elderly care services industries.

Curriculum

Introduction to Psychology
Sociology of Aging
Service Learning in Elderly Services
Smart Living and Techno-aging
Health and Wellbeing
Essential Workplace Communication: Effective Oral Interaction
Whole Person Development - Mindshift: Achieving Personal Growth & Effectiveness

Health and Nursing Care I
Rehabilitative Care and Exercise for the Elderly
Group Work Practice for the Elderly
Social and Health Policy for Aging Society
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Conversation and Reports
Essential Workplace Communication: Digital Written Correspondence
Whole Person Development - Collaboration, Teamwork & Social Engagement

Programme Planning in Community Health
Health and Nursing Care II
Professional Workplace Communication: Storytelling and Job Search
IT Essentials - Services
Enrichment Module B

Research Studies in Elderly Services
Health and Nursing Care III
Working with Persons with Dementia
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Presentations and Promotional Text Writing
Professional Workplace Communication: Pitching and Persuasive Presentation
Whole Person Development - Enhancing Competencies in the 21^st Century Workplace
Enrichment Module A
Elective (choose one of the following):
- Social Enterprise and Business Management
- Horticultural Practice for the Elderly
- Elderly Fitness
- Pre-retirement Planning
- Non-Pharmacological Pain Management Therapies for Older Adults
- Practice of Expressive Art for the Elderly

Fieldwork Placement (Residential Care Services for Older Adults)
Professional Ethics in Elderly Services
Hospice and Palliative Care
Professional Workplace Communication: Proposal and Report Writing

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for AY2026/27 will be announced at a later stage.

Programme Highlights

On-site Placement

Students were prepared to undergo health care placement after the pandemic outbreak.

Experiential Learning

Students organised the "Life Education Festival," which includes various interactive booths and experiential activities to explore and reflect the meaning and value of life.