Top Scholarships to Study in Hong Kong for International Students 2025

Top scholarships to study in Hong Kong- Hong Kong, one of the growing study destinations that offers a number of top courses. Hong Kong is considered the best destination to study social sciences and management, engineering and technology, natural sciences as well as arts and humanities. The Hong Kong government, as well as the universities, offer a number of top scholarships to study in Hong Kong to help eligible students to get a chance as the study programs are quiet expensive there . The scholarships in Hong Kong usually cover the tuition fee and pay for the living expenses for the duration of the study.

Read the complete article to know more about the top scholarships to study in Hong Kong.

Top Scholarships to Study in Hong Kong

A few of the top study abroad scholarships for Hong Kong are as mentioned:

1. HKSAR Government Scholarships Fund

In an attempt to attract international students to pursue higher education in Hong Kong, the government offers scholarships in Hong Kong at selected institutions. Each year, the Hong Kong Government distributes money to nine institutions (eight University Grants Committee-funded institutions and the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA)) which offer full-time publicly-funded programmes at degree or higher levels to study in Hong Kong. The scholarship amount offered is HKD 3,12,000 (INR 29,34,000) for local students and HKD 6,24,000 (INR 58,90,000) for international students. These scholarships in Hong Kong are offered to students enrolled in publicly-funded higher education programmes. This is one of the well-known government scholarships for interantional students in Hong Kong.

Selection Criteria:

The selection criteria for the scholarship includes excellent academic records as well as extracurricular interests as listed below.

• excellent performance in academic studies;

• recognized contribution to the institution/society;

• demonstrated leadership and good communication skills; and/or

• a strong commitment to the Hong Kong community

Applicants for full-time publicly-funded sub-degree courses:

• high standard of academic performance;

• demonstration of leadership and good communication skills;

• valuable contribution to the institution/community; and/or

• strong commitment to the Hong Kong community

Top Exams: IELTS | TOEFL | GRE | GMAT
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2. Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)

One of the well-known scholarships to study in Hong Kong is offered by the City University of Hong Kong (CityU). It is one of the eight University Grants Committee-funded institutions in the HKSAR. The PhD fellowship established by the Research Grants Council invites students from all over the world to pursue research and PhD at CityU.

Aspirants for this fellowship should satisfy the following requirements:

• hold a higher degree by research (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university; or

• hold a taught Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university; or

• hold a Bachelor’s degree with first class honours (or equivalent qualification) from a recognised university.

• Applicants from non-English speaking countries have to prove their English Language Proficiency Score through IELTS or TOEFL

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) participating universities

• City University of Hong Kong
• Hong Kong Baptist University
• Lingnan University
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong
• The Education University of Hong Kong
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
• The University of Hong Kong

3. Entrance Scholarship Scheme

International students with excellent academic performance can receive the Entrance Scholarship Scheme at CityU. This scholarship in Hong Kong for international students is offered to students who are admitted to full-time government-funded undergraduate degree programmes.

Three kinds of scholarships are offered under this scheme:

• The scholarship amount is HKD180,000 (approximately USD 23,000). This amount covers the annual tuition fees for the course, on-campus accommodation and living expenses for the duration of the course

• Full Tuition Scholarships. The amount covers annual tuition fees of approximately US$18,000; and

• Half Tuition Scholarships. The amount covers half of the annual tuition fees of approximately US$9,000

Candidates do not have to apply for the Entrance Scholarship Scheme. It offers based on merit Scholarship awardees are required to maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) of 3.2 or above during each year of the period study for the scholarship to be continued

4. Student Athletes Admission Scheme (SAAS)

The Student Development Services (SDS) CityU offers a special scholarship in Hong Kong to international athletes called the Student Athletes Admission Scheme (SAAS). The scholarship was introduced in 1997 and continues to date. With the scholarship, CityU intends to attract high performing international athletes to CityU and further enhance the performance of our sports teams.

Scholarship Categories

The scholarship offers 2 categories:

• Outstanding Athletes Entrance Scholarship for International / Continental Level (HK$160,000 per annum)

• Outstanding Athletes Entrance Scholarship for Regional Level (HK$20,000 per annum)

5. HKSAR Government Talent Development Scholarship (TDS)

With an intention to develop the talents of students in multiple areas, the HKSAR government has instituted a Talent Development Scholarship (TDS) to encourage aspirants who have showcased talent in non -academic areas to study in Hong Kong.

The Talent Development Scholarship aims to award HK$10,000 to local and international undergraduate students pursuing a program funded by the UGC. Candidates who have demonstrated talent in any of the following categories will be considered for this scholarship in Hong Kong.

• Sports and games;

• Music and performing arts;

• Culture, arts and design; or

• Innovation, science and technology

In order to encourage students to develop their talents in other areas in addition to their academic study, the Talent Development Scholarship (TDS) was established by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government to give recognition to students who have demonstrated achievement or talent in non-academic areas and provide support for them to further develop their talent and potential.

Eligibility
The eligibility conditions for this scholarship in Hong Kong are:

• The candidates should have scored a CGPA of 2.50 or above after their first semester.
• The study in Hong Kong, aspirants should also showcase achievements during the current period in the areas above mentioned. Additionally, the candidate should have also:

(a) received an award in national or regional competitions/performances; or represented their institution or association in national or regional competitions / performances and have good recommendation/assessment by the institution or relevant organization on the capability or talent; or
(b) received an award (except commendable award in recognition of participation) in local/ inter-school/ inter-institution competitions.

TDS is not awarded to students who only participate in the activities. These activities which make a candidate ineligible of the scholarship in Hong Kong include:

• Being a team member/committee member of a school team/ club/ society

• Intra-school/ intra-institution activities

• Work-related activities (e.g. internship/ helpers or workers of an event etc. )

• Examinations on musical instruments

• Language proficiency tests (e.g. IELTS, TOEFL etc.)

6. Undergraduate Admission Scholarships

CUHK offers scholarships in Hong Kong to undergraduate students (local and international) based on outstanding academic and extracurricular performance. The applicants are not required to specifically apply for the scholarship. All new students are evaluated for this scholarship and shortlisted.

The scholarship value of each Admission Scholarship ranges from HKD 5,000to a full−tuition coverage. A few Admission Scholarships also includes an allowance of upto HKD 45,000 per year. Most Admission Scholarships can be renewed for the duration of the study programme subject to meeting the required academic progress.
Students who have attained the qualifications as stipulated below will be eligible for Admission Scholarships.

Targeted Scholarship

The Targeted Scholarship in Hong Kong was initiated in the academic year 2012/13, the HKSAR Government offers approximately ten scholarships to international full-time students from ASEAN countries, India and Korea to pursue publicly-funded degree courses in Chinese University of Hong Kong.

Targeted Scholarship covers complete tuition fee of the scholarship awardees.

7. University Admission Scholarship Scheme for IB Diploma Holders

HKUST offers a number of scholarships to both local and international aspirants to Study in Hong Kong. Aspirants who are IB Diploma candidates/holders and have completed the IB Diploma requirements before September 2023 will be considered for the Scholarship in Hong Kong. The scholarship is awarded to students with IB Total Points (including Bonus Points) of 36 or above. The details of the amount are:

Aspirants to this scholarship are not required to apply. All undergraduate applicants who are IB Diploma holders are considered based on their IB Total Points. The selected candidates are individually informed.

8. Scholarship Scheme for International/Asian Olympiad Gold Medalists

HKUST has set up the Scholarship Scheme to honour outstanding International/Asian Olympiad Gold Medalists. Details are as follows:

The aspirants of this scholarship in Hong Kong need not apply separately. Candidates will be selected based on Schools' or Program Office's nominations and inform.

Also Read:

• How to Get a Scholarship to Study Abroad
• How to Study Abroad for Free in 2025?