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Childcare, Elderly and Community Services

Higher Diploma in Social Services for Silver Market

Full-time S6 or above Higher Diploma

Programme Code CE114310

Higher Diploma in Social Services for Silver Market

This programme was formerly known as “Higher Diploma in Community Service Planning and Navigation” in and before AY2025/26. The change was approved by HKCAAVQ. QR record will be updated later.

Programme Edges

Diversified Career Articulation

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

Extensive Learning

The programme included the business element for social services.

Towards Professionalism

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

Diversified Career Articulation

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

Extensive Learning

The programme included the business element for social services.

Towards Professionalism

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

Basic Information

The programme aims to enable students to understand the societal needs and emerging opportunities within the silver-haired market, fostering social innovation in this sector. Students will apply design thinking to conceptualize social solutions and utilize project management and digital marketing skills to drive community initiatives. Through industry internships and programme planning, students will be trained to become community project coordinators who design and implement social innovation projects with empathy, professional competence, and creative thinking.

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)

Study Places IVE (Sha Tin) - 55

Admission Score Average Result: 12 ¹
Score Range: 10 - 13 ¹

Remarks

Admission score in 2025 refers to score of the best 5 HKDSE subjects, including Chinese Language and English Language of admitted students in 2025. For reference only. (Scoring scale: 5** = 7 points; 5* = 6 points; 5 = 5 points; 4 = 4 points; 3 = 3 points; 2 = 2 points; 1 = 1 point)

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.

Entrance Requirements

HKDSE

Chinese Language 2

English Language 2

Core/Elective Subject 2

VTC Diploma of Foundation Studies; OR
VTC Diploma of Vocational Education / VTC Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate; OR
Diploma Yi Jin / Diploma of Applied Education; OR
Relevant and substantial work experience and/or prior qualification(s) obtained in or outside Hong Kong (e.g. assessed through recognition of prior learning and credit accumulation and transfer), with demonstrated ability to undertake sub-degree 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.
Applicable to holders of Diploma in Vocational Education / Diploma of Vocational Education (DVE) (students admitted to DVE in AY2017/18 or before are required to complete prescribed further studies modules).
Upon completion of the Diploma of Vocational Baccalaureate (DVB) programmes, students can progress to Higher Diploma programmes in VTC, subject to their BTEC and IGCSE results.
Applications with work experience and/or prior qualification(s) submitted will be assessed individually by the departments concerned.

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 community executives, community development officers, programme workers, rehabilitation assistants and gerontech ambassadors in social enterprises, business and non-governmental organisations.

Curriculum

Introduction to Psychology
Sociology of Aging
Smart Living and Techno-aging
Health and Well-being
Principles of Community Navigation and Leadership
Essential Workplace Communication: Effective Oral Interaction
Whole Person Development - Mindshift: Achieving Personal Growth & Effectiveness

Group Work Practice for the Elderly
Social Policy and Aging Society
Innovation and Creativity in Silver Market
Seminars on Silver Market Projects
Social and Digital Marketing in Community Services
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Conversation and Reports
Essential Workplace Communication: Digital Written Correspondence

Seminars on Silver Market Projects
Project Management in Community and Social Services
Professional Workplace Communication: Storytelling and Job Search
Whole Person Development - Collaboration, Teamwork & Social Engagement
IT Essentials - Services
Enrichment Module B

Rehabilitative Care and Exercise for the Elderly
Social Enterprise and Business Management
Programme Planning for Silver Market
Vocational Chinese Communication: Putonghua Presentations and Promotional Text Writing
Professional Workplace Communication: Pitching and Persuasive Presentation
Enrichment Module A
Elective (choose one of the following):
- Horticultural Practice for the Elderly
- Elderly Fitness
- Pre-retirement Planning
- Non-Pharmacological Pain Management Therapies for Elders
- Practice of Expressive Art for the Elderly
- Working with Persons with Dementia

Industrial Attachment
Research Studies in Aging
Values and Ethics in Social Services
Professional Workplace Communication: Proposal and Report Writing
Whole Person Development - Enhancing Competencies in the 21^st Century Workplace

Tuition Fees

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 installments each year. Each installment 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.
The information listed above is only applicable to local students.

Programme Highlights

Putting the Learning into Practice

The student team designed the board game, "Shooting Marble Go! Go! Go!”, which draws inspiration from elderly traditional games. The game received the sponsorship from The Hong Kong Society for the Aged for publication and utilization in their elderly services.

Express the Spirit of Social Innovation

Students project received the “SIE Fund” to establish a social enterprise, “KOElderly,” at creating a platform for elderly KOLs and providing relevant training for seniors with social innovation.