Wallis Wang

The University of Hong Kong's early childhood and special education program is the most competitive undergraduate program in the SAR's top institution of higher learning, with 178 students competing for 18 available places, according to the university's latest statistics on the Joint University Programmes Admissions System.

This comes as more than 18,000 out of the 40,000 Diploma of Secondary Education students this year achieved the minimum requirements to get into university.

Other highly competitive programs at the university include:

? Bachelor of education and bachelor of science, with 143 applicants for 16 places; and

? English language and education, Chinese medicine, and social work, with seven to eight applicants for each place.

Its bachelor of science program saw the most applicants at 1,473, but it was not as competitive as it had 305 places available.

At Chinese University, the physical education, exercise science and health program saw the most applicants with 447 for 17 places, meaning only one out of every 26 will be admitted.

The university's Chinese studies and early childhood education programs also saw many in the race, with 22 and 20 applicants competing for one place, respectively.

The most competitive course at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology is its environmental management and technology program, with 149 students competing for 16 places.

Its global China studies and finance programs also saw high competition, with four students fighting for each spot.

At City University, the department of social and behavioral sciences, including criminology, sociology, psychology, social work and counseling, saw stiff competition, with nearly 30 students in the race for each place.

Physical education and recreation management is the most competitive at Baptist University, with 667 vying for 22 places.

Its communication in game design and animation program also saw 550 applicants vie for the 20 available places.

Top programs see stiff competition at universities