Mainland Students DSE for Mainland Students

DSE Private Candidate Registration Process and Fees

A complete walkthrough of registering for the DSE as a private candidate: creating an account, special application, formal registration and waiting for approval, with a reference to the 2027 examination fees.

Four Registration Steps

Create an account: open a private-candidate account at www.hkdse.hkeaa.edu.hk;
Special application: if applicable, upload documents and pay via the special application system;
Formal registration: select subjects and examination centre, then pay the examination fee;
Wait for approval: around 5–8 weeks for special applicants, then receive the admission form and sit the exam.

Reference Examination Fees (2027)

Language subjects (Chinese/English): HKD 808 per subject
Non-language subjects: HKD 540 per subject
Subjects not taken at a local Hong Kong school: HKD 2,058 per subject
Subjects taken at a local school: HKD 1,790 per subject
Special application fee: HKD 2,500 (non-refundable)

Actual fees are set by the HKEAA for the current examination year.

Important Reminders

Regardless of the approval outcome, you must complete online registration before the regular deadline;
Deadlines are strict and late applications may not be processed;
Keep your documents valid, and be wary of unofficial agencies promising "shadow enrolment".

Reference

HKEAA DSE private candidate registration site