HKDSE meaning in Educational Degree ?

The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE) is an examination organised by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA). The HKDSE examination is Hong Kong's university entrance examination, administered at the completion of a three-year senior secondary education, allowing students to gain admissions to undergraduate courses at local universities through JUPAS. Since the implementation of the New Senior Secondary academic structure in 2012, HKDSE replaced the Hong Kong Certificate of Education Examination (O Level, equivalent of GCSE) and Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (A Level).

Under the NSS (New Senior Secondary) academic structure, pupils are required to study four compulsory "core subjects" (Chinese and English languages, mathematics and liberal studies) and choose between one to four elective subjects among the 20 available. However, on 31 March 2021, it has been announced that liberal studies will be renamed "citizenship and social development", and the curriculum will be changed, starting from 2021-2022 academic year and 2024 DSE.