HKDSE fees to increase by 4pc in 2026

The Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) has announced a 4 percent increase in the fees for the 2026 Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) exams, following approval from the government.

Under the revised fee structure, school candidates will be charged HK$777 per language subject, which is an increase of HK$30 from 2025, and HK$519 for other subjects, marking an increase of HK$20. A typical candidate taking six subjects will now pay a total of HK$3,630, which is HK$140 more than this year.

Private candidates will see their registration fee increase to HK$595, up by HK$23. Additionally, fees at exam centers in mainland China will see a significant rise of 21 percent, going from HK$2,059 to HK$2,500.

The HKEAA has also introduced a new special application fee of HK$2,000 for non-standard exam arrangements.

The fee adjustment takes into account factors such as rising operational costs, the financial health of the authority, and the affordability for families. The HKEAA describes the increase as "moderate" and consistent with adjustments in previous years.

Moreover, the authority highlighted a significant increase in the number of private candidates, which has led to the implementation of a dual-fee system based on residency. Under this system, non-residents will pay higher fees, adhering to the "user pays" principle, as they do not benefit from government subsidies.