JUPAS Disability Application: How SEN Students Apply for University in Hong Kong

Students with SEN who are academically capable of attending university in Hong Kong face a specific procedural challenge: university accommodations are not automatic. Unlike in secondary school where the SENCO coordinates support, tertiary education requires the student to self-identify, declare their disability through the JUPAS system, and then separately register with the receiving university's SEN office. Miss any step and the student enters university with zero support.

The JUPAS Sub-system for Applicants with Disabilities

JUPAS operates a dedicated Sub-system for Applicants with Disabilities that allows UGC-funded universities to consider SEN applicants holistically. Instead of relying purely on HKDSE scores, institutions can evaluate academic potential alongside the severity of the disability. In many cases, universities offer conditional acceptances or modified entrance requirements before HKDSE results are released, provided the applicant places the programme as a Band A choice and passes an admissions interview.

The declaration deadline for the disability sub-system typically falls in early December — for recent cycles, December 3. Late submissions for the sub-system are generally accepted until late May of the examination year, but early declaration is strongly recommended because it triggers interview scheduling and faculty-level review that cannot be rushed.

Once accepted, the student must pay a non-refundable acceptance fee of HK$5,000 via the JUPAS Office by early August. This amount forms part of the first tuition fee instalment.

What Each University Provides

Every UGC-funded university maintains a dedicated SEN support office. The services are broadly similar but vary in depth. Here is what the major institutions offer.

The University of Hong Kong (HKU): The Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS) manages SEN support. Services include Letters of Recommendation for Reasonable Accommodations sent to each faculty, text conversion into accessible formats through the library, accessible campus routing, and priority housing arrangements. Contact: cedars-SEN@hku.hk, 3917 8388.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK): The SEN Service (SENS) under the Office of Student Affairs coordinates learning aids, special examination arrangements, and an on-campus Rehabus reservation system for students with mobility impairments. SENS also manages the Inclusive Activity Fund and Global Learning Opportunities Subsidy Scheme specifically for SEN students. Contact: sens@cuhk.edu.hk, 3943 5441.

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST): SEN Support provides academic accommodations, assistive technology, and peer mentoring. Contact: sen@ust.hk, 2358 8491.

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU): The SEN Caring Team under the Student Affairs Office provides assistive technologies, psychological counselling, peer support networks, and accessible shuttle services. Contact: sen.support@polyu.edu.hk, 2766 6800.

City University of Hong Kong (CityU): SEN Support Service under Student Development Services offers assistive technologies, counselling, and accessible transport. Contact: sen.support@cityu.edu.hk, 3442 5726.

Why Disclosure Matters

Research funded by the Equal Opportunities Commission found that university students with ASD in Hong Kong frequently mask their condition due to fear of social stigmatization and microaggressions. Many choose not to disclose, reasoning that they managed through secondary school without formal accommodations.

The problem is that university is structurally different from secondary school. There is no SENCO monitoring progress. No school social worker checking in. Lecture halls hold hundreds of students. Assessment is front-loaded into examination periods with minimal continuous assessment. Students who masked successfully in a smaller secondary school environment often struggle dramatically in this setting — and by the time they seek support mid-semester, the accommodation process takes weeks to activate.

Disclosure through JUPAS is the mechanism that ensures support is available from Day 1. Without it, the student must navigate each university's internal application process after enrolment, which is slower and provides no advantage during the admissions stage.

The Accommodation Gap Between School and University

HKDSE Special Examination Arrangements do not automatically transfer to university. A student who received 25% extra time, enlarged fonts, and supervised breaks during the HKDSE must apply separately to their university's SEN office for equivalent accommodations in university examinations. The university conducts its own assessment of what is reasonable based on the student's documentation.

Parents should ensure their child has current psycho-educational assessments (not more than two to three years old) ready to submit upon matriculation. Outdated reports are the most common reason for delayed or denied university accommodations.

Planning the University Transition

The Hong Kong Post-School Transition Roadmap includes a complete university SEN contact matrix for all eight UGC-funded universities, the JUPAS disability declaration timeline, and a step-by-step guide for converting school-based accommodations into university support. For students weighing whether to disclose, the Roadmap walks through the practical consequences of each choice — not in abstract terms, but mapped to the specific examination and assessment structures of Hong Kong's tertiary institutions.

The December declaration deadline arrives fast. If your child is in Form 5 or Form 6 and you have not yet discussed JUPAS disclosure, start now.

See more Hong Kong guides →