HONG KONG — A 23-year-old mainland Chinese student has been sentenced for using fake academic credentials in a brazen attempt to gain admission to a Hong Kong university.
The Fanling Magistrates’ Court on Monday handed down the ruling, finding the student guilty of attempting to obtain services by deception.
Authorities said the man had applied to the Health and Physical Education master’s program at the Education University of Hong Kong, initially passing an online interview and receiving a conditional offer.
However, when the university asked him to submit his qualifications, including an English proficiency test, a closer inspection revealed the actual scores did not match his claims. Suspicious, the institution promptly reported the case to police.
The student pleaded guilty to the charges, in a case that highlights the lengths some will go to secure a spot at Hong Kong’s prestigious universities.
“We will adopt a zero-tolerance approach to maintain the reputation of Hong Kong’s higher education system,” police warned, urging the public against using fraudulent academic qualifications.
The ruling serves as a stark reminder that academic dishonesty carries serious consequences, even for international applicants seeking to study in the global financial hub.
