Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme Now Open for 2026/27 Applications from Outstanding Students

Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme opens for applications

The Education Bureau (EDB) today (October 21) announced that the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme (HKSES) will, from today until December 31, be open for applications from eligible Hong Kong students who intend to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies at world-renowned universities outside Hong Kong starting from the 2026/27 academic year.

A spokesman for the EDB said, "As a merit-based scheme targeting the most outstanding Hong Kong students, the HKSES seeks to cultivate a cadre of brilliant young achievers with a sense of social responsibility and national identity, an affection for Hong Kong and an international perspective, who will return home after receiving a world-class education supported by the scholarship to enrich Hong Kong's talent pool and competitiveness in the long run. Selection will be based on candidates' academic achievements and other attributes such as leadership qualities and potential as well as their contributions and commitment to society. Awardees are required to complete their specific study programmes and undertake to return to Hong Kong upon graduation to work for at least two years or a period equivalent to the duration of the scholarship received, whichever is longer."

Awardees will receive a non-means-tested scholarship to cover their tuition fees, subject to a ceiling of $300,000 per annum. In addition, the HKSES will provide additional support to financially needy awardees during their studies. Awardees who have passed the means test will receive a bursary of up to $200,000 per student per annum to cover their living and study-related expenses. The value of the award will be correspondingly reduced if an awardee also receives other awards, both locally and abroad, or assistance to finance his or her same studies overseas.

Apart from the monetary scholarship, the value of the HKSES also lies in its prestige and recognition as well as other non-monetary benefits. Awardees will receive a series of support and mentorship services to be rendered by the Government and other sectors of the community.

More details on the HKSES are available on the HKSES website (hkses.edb.gov.hk). Eligible students who intend to pursue their first year of undergraduate or postgraduate studies at world-renowned universities outside Hong Kong in the 2026/27 academic year (i.e. during the period from August 2026 to July 2027) may submit their applications for the scholarship online via the application system on the HKSES website on or before December 31, 2025, by 6pm. Late applications will not be accepted.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited by the EDB to attend interviews for the scholarship from April 2026 onwards after receiving unconditional offers from their chosen programmes. They will be notified of the results in due course after the interviews.

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Responses from University Grants Committee on 2026-27 Budget

The following is issued on behalf of the University Grants Committee:

The 2026-27 Budget outlines financial measures related to higher education, including earmarking $10 billion for providing loans to University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities and universities of applied sciences for campus development in the Northern Metropolis University Town, as well as supporting on a matching basis, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology in developing the third medical school.

The chairman of the UGC, Mr Tim Lui, said yesterday (February 25), "The UGC supported relevant measures. The Northern Metropolis University Town and the third medical school would not only provide development room for the whole post-secondary education sector to expand capacity and enhance quality, but would also serve as a key engine to advance the deeply integrated development of Hong Kong's academic excellence and industry. The UGC Secretariat will continue to support relevant work."

At the same time, with the advent of artificial intelligence, innovative and breakthrough technology in the new era, the UGC-funded universities are utilising resources effectively during the 2025-28 triennium, and introduced 27 undergraduate programmes relevant to STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics). The new programmes would foster innovation and technology (I&T), nurture more high calibre talent to support Hong Kong's development into an international I&T hub, and inject impetus into future development.

He added, "The UGC also appreciates the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government's strong support to promote internationalisation of higher education, including the establishment of the Task Force on Study in Hong Kong and the organisation of 'Study in Hong Kong' Week. The Asia-Pacific Association for International Education 2026 Conference and Exhibition, currently underway, has received a very encouraging and overwhelming audience, attracting over 3 200 global education experts from more than 70 countries and regions. As a hub for attracting global talent and facilitating academic exchange, Hong Kong's international reputation and appeal would be further enhanced. The UGC will continue to work closely with each university to deepen international partnership, and will further enrich Hong Kong's diverse and vibrant higher education environment."

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