Complete Scholarship Guide for Non-Local Students in Hong Kong 2026
Hong Kong is an expensive city, but it is also a city with genuine, well-funded scholarship programmes for non-local students. The Hong Kong government and individual universities collectively offer millions of HKD annually in scholarship support — the challenge is knowing which programmes exist, what they require, and when to apply. This guide covers every major scholarship category available to non-local undergraduates.
Part 1: Government Scholarships
Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme (HKSES)
This is the flagship government scholarship programme and the most prestigious award available to non-local students entering Hong Kong universities.
Key facts for 2026:
- Number of places: 300 per year (across all participating universities)
- Award value: HKD 40,000 per year in cash grant + full tuition subsidy, totalling approximately HKD 193,000–200,000 per academic year
- Duration: 4 years (for standard 4-year degree programmes)
- Eligible universities: All UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong (HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU, CityU, HKBU, LU, EdUHK)
- Eligible students: Non-local students from outside Hong Kong (includes Mainland China, Macau, Taiwan, and all overseas countries)
Selection criteria:
- Outstanding academic performance (typically top 5% of applicants to the university)
- Demonstrated leadership potential (school leadership roles, community service, awards)
- Language proficiency (both English and Chinese considered)
- Final selection involves an interview conducted by a government-appointed panel
Application process:
- Students do NOT apply for HKSES directly — they are nominated by the university they have applied to or been admitted by
- To be considered, you must first receive (or expect to receive) an admission offer from an eligible HK university
- Once admitted, high-achieving applicants may be contacted for HKSES nomination
- Alternatively, when submitting your university application, clearly flag your interest in scholarship consideration in your personal statement
Timeline:
- Nominations by universities: typically February–April
- Government interviews: May–June
- Award notification: June–July (before enrollment in September)
The HKSES is genuinely competitive and prestigious. Being awarded it signals academic excellence and is noted on transcripts and by graduate recruiters.
Quality Education Fund / Other Government Grants
Various smaller government-affiliated funds exist for specific disciplines (STEM, creative arts, social work) or specific origin countries (under bilateral education agreements). These are worth researching through the Education Bureau’s scholarship portal at: edb.gov.hk/scholarship
Part 2: University-Specific Scholarships
Each major university offers its own merit and needs-based scholarships independently of the government scheme. Below is a table of the key awards at Hong Kong’s top four universities.
HKU (University of Hong Kong)
| Scholarship | Amount (HKD/yr) | No. of Places | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| HKU Foundation Scholarship for Non-local Students | 30,000–80,000 | ~50 | Academic merit |
| Li Ka Shing Non-Local Undergraduate Scholarship | Full tuition (145,000+) | ~20 | Outstanding merit |
| School/Faculty Scholarships | 10,000–40,000 | Variable | Merit + field-specific |
| HKU Mainland Scholarship | 30,000 | ~30 | Gaokao high achievers |
Application: Most HKU scholarships are automatically considered when you apply for admission. Separate applications may be required for faculty-specific awards. Check scholarship.hku.hk.
CUHK (Chinese University of Hong Kong)
| Scholarship | Amount (HKD/yr) | No. of Places | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| CUHK Non-local Student Scholarship | 30,000–80,000 | ~60 | Merit |
| Chen Shui Bian Memorial Scholarship | 50,000 | ~10 | Mainland China students |
| CUHK Mainland Scholarship | 30,000 | ~40 | High gaokao achievers |
| Faculty / College Awards | 5,000–30,000 | Variable | Various criteria |
Application: Scholarship consideration is part of the CUHK admission process for Non-JUPAS applicants. Strong candidates are automatically reviewed. Check admission.cuhk.edu.hk/scholarship.
HKUST (Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)
| Scholarship | Amount (HKD/yr) | No. of Places | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| HKUST Scholarship for Non-local Students | 40,000–100,000 | ~50 | Academic merit |
| HKUST Reaching Out Award | 20,000–30,000 | Variable | Exchange/overseas activities |
| HKUST Foundation Scholarship | 80,000–Full tuition | ~15 | Exceptional merit |
| Engineering/Business Faculty Awards | 20,000–50,000 | Variable | Program-specific |
Application: HKUST scholarship consideration is automatic for top-ranked Non-JUPAS applicants. Exceptionally qualified candidates receive scholarship offers concurrently with admission offers. Check scholarships.hkust.hk.
PolyU (Hong Kong Polytechnic University)
| Scholarship | Amount (HKD/yr) | No. of Places | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| PolyU Non-local Student Scholarship | 20,000–60,000 | ~40 | Merit |
| PolyU Mainland Scholarship | 20,000–40,000 | ~30 | Mainland students |
| Stanley Ho Scholarship | 30,000 | ~10 | Outstanding merit |
| Faculty/Department Awards | 5,000–30,000 | Variable | Various |
Application: Apply at the same time as admission. PolyU’s scholarship portal is at polyu.edu.hk/sao/scholarship. Given PolyU’s lower base tuition (HKD 98,600), even a partial scholarship meaningfully reduces costs.
Part 3: External Scholarship Sources
Rotary Foundation Global Grants
Rotary Foundation offers graduate-level scholarships for study abroad that can be applied to Hong Kong. Undergraduate students in their penultimate year who are members of Rotary’s youth programs (Rotaract, RYLA) may also be eligible.
Belt and Road Scholarship (for students from BRI countries)
The Hong Kong SAR Government operates a Belt and Road Scholarship providing full tuition support for students from designated Belt and Road countries (primarily Southeast Asia, Central Asia, Middle East). Check edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/postsecondary/belt-road-scholarship for current eligible countries.
Home Country Government Scholarships
Many countries fund study abroad scholarships that can be used at Hong Kong universities. Examples include:
- Malaysia: JPA Scholarship (Public Service Department)
- Indonesia: LPDP Scholarship
- India: Government of India scholarships for overseas study
- Mainland China: China Scholarship Council (CSC) has a Hong Kong study track
Check your home government’s overseas education scholarship programs alongside Hong Kong university applications.
Part 4: Application Strategy
Apply early. Almost all scholarship consideration is tied to early admission application. Universities identify scholarship candidates from their admission pool — late applicants may miss scholarship rounds even if they receive admission offers.
Be specific in your personal statement. Universities want to fund students who will represent them well. Name specific programs, professors, or research groups that attracted you. Generic statements reduce scholarship competitiveness.
Prepare for interviews. Government scholarships (HKSES) and some university flagship awards require in-person or video interviews. Practice articulating why you chose Hong Kong, your academic and leadership experiences, and your post-graduation plans.
Stack where possible. Government HKSES is compatible with university scholarships in some configurations — confirm with the awarding university’s scholarship office.
Summary: What to Expect Realistically
- Top 5–10% of non-local admits: May receive partial-to-full scholarship offers from university funds (HKD 30,000–full tuition per year)
- Top 1–2% nationally: Strong HKSES candidates; potential for near-full cost coverage
- Everyone else: Standard non-local tuition applies; university financial aid (interest-free student loans from Student Finance Office) may be available
- Needs-based aid: Limited for non-local students compared to local students; primarily merit-based for internationals
Total scholarship packages at the top end can cover HKD 150,000–200,000+ per year, making study at a top-40 global university competitive with — or cheaper than — strong programs in the US or UK where scholarships are similarly competitive.