Academic watchdog flags fake degrees as applications rise 2.4pc

Hong Kong’s academic accreditation body identified 37 suspected fake qualification cases during the 2024-25 academic year and has referred them to the police, according to its latest annual report.

The Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) said it detected the cases during its credential assessment process and reported them to law enforcement authorities.

The council said it has been working closely with degree-awarding institutions to strengthen verification of academic credentials submitted by applicants. It also cross-checks qualifications through databases in other countries and regions to confirm authenticity and identify fraudulent claims.

According to the annual report submitted to the Legislative Council, the council handled 5,903 qualification assessment applications during the year, representing a 2.4 percent increase compared with the previous year.

Applicants from mainland China accounted for the largest share, with 2,287 cases, or about 38 percent of the total. The second-largest group came from the United Kingdom, accounting for 25 percent.

Among mainland applicants, 99.2 percent were assessed as meeting the academic level under Hong Kong’s Qualifications Framework.

During the reporting period, 922 applications were not accepted. Reasons included qualifications not recognized by the awarding country or region, submission of fake credentials, or failure by applicants to provide sufficient supporting information.