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Childcare, Elderly and Community Services

Full-time S6 or above Higher Diploma

Programme Code CE114303

Higher Diploma in Social Work

Programme Edges

Promising Career

Salary of Social Work Assistant starts from HK$25,115.

The Lowest Tuition Fees of Social Work Sub-degree Programmes in Hong Kong

The only one government subvented social work sub-degree programmes in Hong Kong.

High Employment Rate

High Employment Rate at 97%.

Promising Career

Salary of Social Work Assistant starts from HK$25,115.

The Lowest Tuition Fees of Social Work Sub-degree Programmes in Hong Kong

The only one government subvented social work sub-degree programmes in Hong Kong.

High Employment Rate

High Employment Rate at 97%.

Basic Information

With an emphasis on the integration of theories and practice, the programme enables students to develop a sound understanding of essential social work theories, local social welfare systems and related policies as well as practical competences to provide support to individuals, families and communities. From learning to fieldwork placements, such comprehensive learning aims to facilitate students to become professional, competent and accountable social workers who will be able to promote the well-being of Hong Kong citizens and the development of social welfare in Hong Kong.

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 Registered Social Workers (RSW) with the Social Workers Registration Board.

Remarks

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.
Interviews for Higher Diploma in Social Work will be conducted in May 2026. Applicants who have submitted application and paid the application fee on or before 28 February 2026 may be invited to attend an interview. Applicants who are invited to attend an interview will normally be notified 2 days before the interview. For applications submitted after February, applicants are invited to join Central Admission in July 2026.

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 NOT applicable to VTC Diploma in Vocational Education / Diploma of Vocational Education / Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate graduates.
Applicants are required to pass an interview.

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)^#
BA (Hons) in Social Work, the Hong Kong Polytechnic University
BSSc in Social Work, the City University of Hong Kong
BSW (Hons), the Hong Kong Baptist University
BSW (Hons) Programme, the Hong Kong Shue Yan University
BSW (Hons), School of Professional Education and Executive Development of The Hong Kong Polytechnic 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 social work assistants or related position.

Curriculum

Social Work Theories and Practice II (Working with Groups)
Introduction to Sociology
Social Welfare System and Social Policies
Human Behaviour and Social Environment
Social Work Skills Training Workshop
Year 1 Class Tutorial (non-credit bearing): Pre-placement activities (Fundamentals of Social Work and Thematic Workshops)
Essential Workplace Communication: Effective Oral Interaction
Essential Workplace Communication: Digital Written Correspondence
IT Essentials - Services

Social Work Theories and Practice I (Working with Individuals and Families)
Human Behaviour and Social Environment
Social Work Theories and Practice III (Working with Communities)
Social Work Skills Training Workshop
Health and Service Project (Social Work)
Year 1 Class Tutorial (non-credit bearing): Pre-placement activities (Practicum Preparation)
Elective (choose one of the following):
- Working with Young People
- Working with Elderly
- Working with People with Disabilities
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Conversation and Reports
Professional Workplace Communication: Storytelling and Job Search
Enrichment Module B

(Completed 100 hours of pre-placement activities)

Fieldwork Placement I

Service Administration and Management
Understanding of Mental Health
Ethics for Social Workers
Year 2 Class Tutorial Workshop I: Integration of Theory and Practice
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Presentations and Promotional Text Writing
Professional Workplace Communication: Pitching and Persuasive Presentation
Enrichment Module A

Fieldwork Placement II
Year 2 Class Tutorial Workshop II: Professional Development
Elective (choose one of the following):

Working with Substance Abusers / Addictions
Working with Children and Youth with Special Educational Needs
Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Professional Workplace Communication: Proposal and Report Writing
Whole Person Development - Enhancing Competencies in the 21^st Century Workplace

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for the AY2025/26 is listed below for reference. The tuition fees for AY2026/27 will be announced at a later stage.

1st Year Tuition Fees (HK$)

$33,310

2nd Year Tuition Fees (HK$)

$33,310

Remarks

The study duration of Higher Diploma programmes is normally 2 years. The tuition fee is payable in two installments each year.
In addition to tuition fees, students will be required to pay other fees, such as caution money and students’ union annual fees. Students of Higher Diploma programmes will be required to pay the study package fees for Chinese & Putonghua modules.
Some students may be required to study bridging modules or enhancement programmes to support their study; or to attend additional training, industrial attachments, public examinations for which separate fees will be charged.
Tuition fees are subject to annual review. The tuition fee levels for 2nd Year will be reviewed subject to inflationary adjustments and other relevant factors.
The information listed above is only applicable to local students.

Programme Highlights

Student Wellness Activities

Student Wellness Activities organised by the teaching team, taking care students on different dimensions of wellness including, Vocational, Social, Emotional, Physical aspects, etc,.