1. Admission to BFA

1.1. Selection is based upon candidates' results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSEE), which awards grading from Levels 1 to 5** for core and elective subjects, and “attained” or “attained with distinction” for applied learning subjects, and other public examinations. The School of Chinese Opera follows the Academy’s minimum entrance requirements for BFA, which are:

Table 1. Admission requirements for BFA

1.2. Chinese Opera considers candidates' previous relevant training or experience in their chosen stream of study, a written statement of personal goals, and a written portfolio as applicable. Only those candidates who pass the preliminary selection will be invited to attend an audition or interview.

1.3. In addition to the above preliminary requirements, candidates for admission to BFA will be further asked to demonstrate their ability and potential in Cantonese opera performance which is judged by the Academy as comparable to the standard expected of a student after completion of the first year of the Diploma.

1.4. Applicants who do not have the stipulated academic qualifications can submit proof of acceptable alternative qualifications, such as the proof of practice or graduation from mainland Chinese institutions. Those who satisfy the above requirements, together with those who have satisfied the general admission requirements, will be invited for an audition and interview.

1.5. The BFA targets candidates who have been receiving sound training in Cantonese opera since their primary-school years and have satisfied the admission requirements. Similarly, candidates who have satisfied the admission requirements but have inadequate opera training might also be admitted provided they can provide evidence of training in drama, dance, singing and/or instrumental playing. Other sources of candidates include local holders of diplomas and advanced diplomas, and local, international and mainland-Chinese students who have equivalent qualifications.

2. Admission to Diploma

2.1. The normal admission requirements for the Diploma programme follow the general entry requirements for all sub-degree programmes offered by the Academy. To be eligible for admission to the Diploma, an applicant should obtain the following results in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), which awards grading from Levels 1 to 5** for core and elective subjects, and “attained” or “attained with distinction” for Applied Learning subjects, and other public examinations.

Table 2. Admission requirements

2.2. Applicants who do not have the normal HKDSE qualifications will be asked to submit proof of qualifications that are deemed equivalent to the normal entry requirements.

2.3. Applicants will be required to attend an audition.

3. Admission to Advanced Diploma

3.1. Graduates from the diploma with a major study GPA of 2.3 or above, and a programme GPA of 2.0 or above will be eligible to progress to the Advanced Diploma.

3.2. New applicants to the Advanced Diploma are required to attain the same HKDSE academic qualifications as the Diploma (Table 2 above).

3.3. Applicants will be required to attend an audition.

3.4 Applicants are required to evidence their practical experience.

Audition requirement

Audition to the Performance stream

Candidates invited to attend an audition will be required to perform the following:

• Basic operatic movements and gestures;
• Further Cantonese opera stage movements either as directed by the Academy or at the candidate's choice;
• Cantonese opera singing either as directed by the Academy or at the candidate's choice with his/her recorded music;
• Recitation of two monologues selected from Cantonese opera, one of the candidate's choice, one prescribed by the Academy;
• Discussion of the candidate's expectations of, and commitment to, Cantonese opera studies.

 Audition to Music Stream 

Candidates having passed the preliminary selection will be invited to attend an audition during which they will be asked to:

• Demonstrate their ability to play Cantonese opera percussion or at least one melodic instrument of their choice;
• Discuss their expectations of, and commitment to, Cantonese opera studies;
• Sit a written test on Cantonese opera music theory.