Students can start applying for direct admission to secondary schools, junior colleges and polytechnics this month.

The Direct School Admission (DSA) scheme, which started in 2004, gives schools and polytechnics the flexibility to take in students early, based on their talents, achievements and personal qualities.

This year, 123 schools will take part in the DSA-Secondary exercise for students moving to Secondary 1 in 2015, a slight increase from 121 last year.

Selection exercises for the DSA start in July.

Students will be informed of the results by November, together with their their Primary School Leaving Examination results.

At the junior college level, a total of 21 institutions will take part in the DSA-JC Exercise.

The schools may start to offer places to selected students from June onwards.

Interested students should visit the websites of the participating schools for more details.