Apply Now

Childcare, Elderly and Community Services

Full-time S6 or above Higher Diploma

Programme Code CE114305

Higher Diploma in Special Child Care and Inclusive Education

Programme Edges

Professional Recognition

Graduates recognised by Education Bureau and Social Welfare Department.

Professional Training in Special Child Care and Education

Facilitate students to become professional special child care educators through placement.

Promising Career Prospects

Monthly average salary of graudates from this programme is HK$25,060.

Professional Recognition

Graduates recognised by Education Bureau and Social Welfare Department.

Professional Training in Special Child Care and Education

Facilitate students to become professional special child care educators through placement.

Promising Career Prospects

Monthly average salary of graudates from this programme is HK$25,060.

Basic Information

With an emphasis on the integration of theory and practice, the programme aims to equip students with the professional knowledge, transferable skills and attitude for the future career in the field of special child care and inclusive education. Fieldwork placement opportunities are provided for the comprehensive learning of students to become professional special child care educators.

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 Kindergarten Teachers with the Education Bureau of the HKSAR. They are also eligible for registration as Child Care Workers, Child Care Supervisors and Special Child Care Workers with the Social Welfare Department of the HKSAR.

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.
Applicants should note the HKSAR Government's requirement of academic qualifications for registration as a qualified kindergarten teacher in Hong Kong.
Except for specific modules of specific content, the medium of instruction for Higher Diploma programmes is English and may be supplemented with 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.
One Other Language subject (Category C subjects) can be counted for admission purpose. For 2024 HKDSE and before, a "Grade D or E" and a "Grade C or above" in an HKDSE Other Languages 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 recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the general entrance requirement. Starting from 2026 HKDSE, a Grade E or above in Urdu language will also be recognised for the same purpose. For details, please click here.
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.

Articulation / Employment

Articulation

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

BA (Hons) in Early Childhood, the University of the West of England, Bristol, UK (Registration No.: 253201)^#
BEd (Hons) (Early Childhood Education), the Education University of Hong Kong
BEd (Hons) (Early Childhood Education) in Leadership and Non-Chinese Speaking Children, the Education University of Hong Kong
BA (Hons) in Special Education, the Education University of Hong Kong
BA (Early Childhood Education), the Chinese University of Hong Kong
BEd (Hons) in Early Childhood Education, School of Continuing Education, the Hong Kong Baptist University
BEd (Hons) in Early Childhood Education (Leadership and Special Educational Needs), the Hong Kong Metropolitan University
BSc in Applied Child Development, the University of Hong Kong
BHE (Hons), the Education University of Hong Kong

^# 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.

Full-time top-up degree programmes in collaboration with the School for Higher and Professional Education (SHAPE) of VTC is not applicable to Mainland Students. For admission arrangements of part-time programmes, please visit website of SHAPE.

Career Prospects

Graduates may be employed as kindergarten teachers, child care workers, child care supervisors and special child care workers. They can serve children with and without special educational needs and non-Chinese speaking children in kindergartens and child care centres.

Curriculum

Child Development
Introduction to Special Education and Inclusion
Observation and Assessment
Contemporary Issues in Early Childhood Education
Creative Play
Professional Goals and Reflective Practice in Early Childhood Education
Essential Workplace Communication: Effective Oral Interaction
Essential Workplace Communication: Digital Written Correspondence
Whole Person Development: Mindshift: Achieving Personal Growth & Effectiveness

Fieldwork Placement
Advanced Child Development
Introduction to Special Education and Inclusion
Curriculum in Early Childhood Education
Teaching Approaches in Early Childhood Education
Observation and Assessment
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Conversation and Reports
Professional Workplace Communication: Storytelling and Job Search
Whole Person Development: Collaboration, Teamwork & Social Engagement
Enrichment Module B

Curriculum in Early Childhood Education
Support families with diverse needs and collaborating with professionals
Fieldwork Placement
Information Technology Essentials – Services
Whole Person Development: Enhancing Competencies in the 21^st Century Workplace

Children with Learning Difficulties and Developmental Delay
Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders and Social-Emotional and Behavioural Problems
Children with Physical and Sensory Disabilities
Individual Education Plan
Health and Care for Infants and Children
Professional Development and Practice in Workplace
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Presentations and Promotional Text Writing
Professional Workplace Communication: Pitching and Persuasive Presentation
Enrichment Module A

Electives (Sem 4 & 5) (Choose one of the following):

Supporting Literacy in Play-Based Curriculum
Integrated Arts and Play Education
Free Play in Practice
Working with Children with Diverse Needs
Nature Play in Practice
Infant and Toddler Curriculum in Practice
Supporting Non-Chinese-Speaking Children and Their Families
Inquiry Learning and Scientific Exploration in Early Childhood Education
IT Application in Early Childhood Education
AI Technology in Supporting Care for 0-3 Years old and Training SEN Children
Child-Centred Play Interventions
Applying Brain Science in Teaching and Interventions
Practical Application of Assessment Tools for Children with Special Education Needs

Educational Leadership and Management for the Services of Early Childhood Settings
Research Methods in Early Childhood Education
Learning and Caring Skills for Infants and Toddlers
Advanced Placement
Professional Workplace Communication: Proposal and Report Writing

Tuition Fees

The tuition fees for AY2027/28 will be announced at a later stage. The tuition fees for the AY2026/27 is listed below for reference.

1st Year Tuition Fees (HK$)

$35,140

Remarks

The study duration of Higher Diploma programmes is normally 2 years. The tuition fee is payable in two instalments each year. Each instalment is HK$17,570.
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 2^nd Year will be reviewed subject to inflationary adjustments and other relevant factors.
Applicants shall refer to the Government's revised eligibility criteria for subvented study places and subsidies for AY2027/28 and beyond. Applicants not meeting the revised eligibility criteria are subject to self-finance fees. If you need any further enquiry on visa requirements, please contact the Immigration Department of the HKSAR.
The information listed above is only applicable to local students.

Programme Highlights

Connect to Community

Students participated the community services with their professaional skills and knowledge.

Experiential Learning

Students practiced their skills on conducting activities through WePark which served as the Discipline's laboratory for training child care educators.