Higher Diploma in Psychology

The programme aims to equip students with foundational psychological knowledge and skills to develop a career in human services, especially in social welfare and healthcare settings. Students will learn the interaction between psychological and social factors in shaping psychological well-being, personal development, and group behaviours. Graduates will be able to apply knowledge, communication and interpersonal skills, a caring attitude, as well as professional ethics to work in health and social care and related services. They can also pursue further study in psychology and other related disciplines.

• Degree accredited by HKCAAVQ, admitted into QF Level 4 
• Direct articulation into TWC’s BSSc (Applied Psychology) upon completion 
• Internship relevant to the field of psychology and social services at TWGHs or other organizations to enhance employability 
• Free English enhancement programme to strengthen students’ language proficiency 
• Attractive entrance scholarship provided to local and non-local students 
• Comprehensive syllabus covering theoretical, research-orientated and applied aspects of psychology 
• Practical courses taught by experienced professors and practitioners (including counselors, educational and clinical psychologists) 
• Curriculum designed to prepare students for further studies in psychology-related discipline and a career in education, social services welfare and healthcare settings 
• Introduces students to the use of laboratory instruments employed by applied psychologists

At least 1 overseas study visit to broaden students’ exposure

At least 240 hours of full-time context-related internship

Dr. Iris SUN 

Email: irissun@twc.edu.hk

• Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Macau
•  Master of Education in Educational Psychology, Faculty of Education, University of Macau 
• BSc in Applied Psychology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine 

Please click here for details.

* Alternate Chinese course for “non-Chinese speaking” students only

Applicants should meet one of the following requirements:

1. Have obtained level 2 in five HKDSE subjects⁽¹⁾, including Chinese Language⁽²⁾, English Language (Applicant is allowed to use Applied Learning subjects⁽³⁾ in the application); or
2. Have obtained a pass in one AL subject or passes in two AS subjects in HKALE and five passes in HKCEE including Chinese language and English Language; or
3. Have obtained a pass in one AL subject or passes in two AS subjects in HKALE and three passes in HKCEE plus Level 2 for Chinese Language and English Language; or
4. Have successfully completed a Pre-Associate Degree programme^#; or
5. Have successfully completed Yi Jin Diploma programme / Diploma of Applied Education programme; or
6. Have obtained an equivalent qualification⁽⁴⁾; or
7. Have relevant and substantial work experience and/or prior qualification(s) obtained in or outside Hong Kong (e.g., assessed through recognition of prior learning and credit accumulation and transfer), with demonstrated ability to undertake sub-degree education; or
8. Have reached the age of 21 years old or above before 1 September in the year in which admission is sought.

# Qualification(s) in the relevant discipline at QF Level 3 with a total learning size of normally 150 QF Credits with learning contents covering Chinese and English Languages.

Remarks:

1. If one of the five HKDSE subjects is Citizenship and Social Development subject, the minimum entrance requirement would become “Attained” for Citizenship and Social Development subject and Level 2 in four other HKDSE subjects including Chinese and English. Besides, Level 2 in Mathematics Extended Part (Module 1 or Module 2) is also recognised as one of the five HKDSE subjects in fulfilling the minimum entrance requirement.

2. For non-Chinese-speaking learners, alternative Chinese Language qualifications will be accepted for students who have met the specified conditions:

   • Students who have learned Chinese Language for less than 6 years while receiving primary and secondary education; or
   • Students who have learned Chinese Language for 6 years or more in schools, but have been taught an adapted and simpler Chinese Language curriculum not normally applicable to the majority of students in local schools.

   ApL Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) should, in general, be accepted as an alternative Chinese Language qualification, among other acceptable alternative Chinese Language qualifications.

3. The ApL subjects do not include ApL Chinese (for non-Chinese speaking students) as this subject is introduced to provide an additional channel exclusively for non-Chinese speaking students to obtain an alternative Chinese language qualification. For the 2012-2017 HKDSE Examinations, students attaining the results of “Attained” and “Attained with Distinction” in the ApL subjects are accepted as attaining the competencies required at Level 2 and Level 3 or above of Category A subjects of the HKDSE Examination respectively for the purposes of further studies and work. Effective from the 2018 HKDSE Examination, the reporting of students’ performance is refined to “Attained”, “Attained with Distinction (I)” and “Attained with Distinction (II)”. Performance of “Attained with Distinction (I)” is comparable to Level 3 while “Attained with Distinction (II)” is comparable to Level 4 or above of Category A subjects of the HKDSE Examination.
4. Please refer to the College’s website for examples of equivalent non-local qualifications for admission to Higher Diploma programmes.

• Career in human and social care services including psychological service assistants, counseling assistants, welfare workers, marketing assistants, human resource assistants, and student development assistants.
• Graduates with satisfactory performance can articulate to senior year entry of the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) in Applied Psychology at TWC, or relevant bachelor’s degree programmes at other institutions.

Directly articulate to senior year entry of the Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) programme upon completion of studies.

The Psychology Society launched a welcome party on September 12, 2025, gathering over 40 members, new students, and all psychology faculty. The event included engaging icebreaker activities, refreshments, and an overview of the society's planned activities for the year.

This programme offers internships relevant to psychology and social services at TWGHs and other organizations, designed to enhance students' employability. Also, the Huizhou Internship Programme 2025 providesdfurther opportunities for practical experience for psychology students.

 To enhance the educational experience, we will invite industry partners and professionals to conduct seminars and workshops tailored to psychology students. These sessions will focus on relevant career topics, offering valuable insights and networking opportunities. By connecting students with experts in the field, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of career pathways in psychology, empowering students to make informed decisions about their professional futures.

Psychology is the scientific study of human mental processes and behaviour. The discipline embraces all aspects of the human experience from the functions of the brain, to the actions of different people in our society; from child development, to the care of our elderly. Through the study of psychology, students would work to understand complicated human mental processes and experiences. Throughout the above learning processes, students will enhance their understanding of self and others; polish their communication, problem solving, critical thinking and analytical abilities; and develop their conflict resolution skills.

The programme includes courses that develop students' ability to work in health and social care settings, as well as their professional ethics for working in public services, private sectors and non-governmental organisations. Students will be able to put the psychological knowledge and skills acquired in these courses into practice through participation in different kinds of volunteer work under the Community Services Programme, which is one of the graduation requirements at TWC.

We would be looking for the following qualities at interview when selecting potential students: a genuine interest in psychology, human experiences and social science; an all-rounded and mature personality; an enthusiastic learning attitude; good communication skills; and a caring attitude.

Graduates are equipped to enter the workforce at para-professional levels in human services, especially in social welfare and healthcare settings. Graduates will be able to apply psychological knowledge, communication and interpersonal skills, caring attitude as well as professional ethics to work in health and social care and related services. Graduates with satisfactory performance can articulate to Bachelor of Social Science (Honours) Major in Applied Psychology at TWC as senior-year entry students or further their studies in other social sciences disciplines, health services management, education, etc.

Holders of Higher Diploma in Psychology can articulate to a bachelor's degree programme in psychology, which is a pre-requisite for applying for membership of professional bodies such as The Hong Kong Psychological Society (HKPS) and The Hong Kong Professional Counselling Association (HKPCA). They may then pursue further study at a master's degree level to become a registered professional such as clinical psychologist, educational psychologist and counsellor.