Over 6,600 Students Awarded Government Scholarships in 2025/26 Academic Year

Over 6 600 outstanding students awarded government scholarships in 2025/26 academic year

The Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, today (April 23) presented certificates to awardees under the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund (GSF) and the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund (SPEF) for the 2025/26 academic year at the GSF and SPEF Joint Scholarship Presentation Ceremony 2026.

Over 6 600 meritorious post-secondary students received scholarships and awards, amounting to about $210 million in total. Both the GSF and the SPEF also give recognition to meritorious post-secondary students with special educational needs (SEN) through the Endeavour Merit Award and the Endeavour Scholarship. This year, a total of around 690 SEN students were given awards/scholarships.

Speaking at the ceremony, Dr Sze said Hong Kong's post-secondary education system enjoys an international reputation, with local universities ranking among the top in global rankings for the most international universities. This not only demonstrates the strength of Hong Kong's post-secondary education sector, but also attests to the effectiveness of the Government's long-term commitment to investing in education and enhancing educational competitiveness. The Education Bureau (EDB) has been consistently adhering to the principle of integrity and innovation, integrating itself into the overall national development. It has been seizing the opportunities brought about by the country's Belt and Road initiatives and the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area to deepen Hong Kong's role as an international post-secondary education hub and a cluster of talent, while striving to promote the "Study in Hong Kong" brand globally.

Dr Sze encouraged the awardees to continuously equip themselves, and strive to realise their personal aspirations, thereby commencing the pursuit of dreams from Hong Kong while giving back to society and contributing to the country.

The GSF was established in 2008 to attract outstanding local students to advance their studies at home, and meritorious non-local students to pursue higher education opportunities in Hong Kong. There are five types of scholarships and awards under the GSF, namely Scholarships for Outstanding Performance, Belt and Road (B&R) Scholarship, Talent Development Scholarship, Reaching Out Award and Endeavour Merit Award. Scholarships and awards are offered to students studying full-time publicly funded sub-degree, undergraduate-level and above programmes in Hong Kong. Up to mid-April this year, about 2 100 students received scholarships/awards in the 2025/26 academic year, including about 1 200 local students and about 900 non-local students. In terms of levels of study, about 1 500 students were at an undergraduate level and above, while about 600 students were at the sub-degree level. In addition, the B&R Scholarship was introduced to encourage students from B&R countries/regions to pursue studies in Hong Kong. In the 2025/26 academic year, 150 students from 33 B&R countries/regions were awarded this scholarship for the first time.

The Self-financing Post-secondary Scholarship Scheme (SPSS) was established under the SPEF in 2011 to promote the quality and sustainable development of the self-financing post-secondary sector. There are five types of scholarships and awards under the scheme, namely Outstanding Performance Scholarship, Best Progress Award, Talent Development Scholarship, Reaching Out Award and Endeavour Scholarship. These scholarships and awards are offered to students pursuing full-time locally accredited self-financing sub-degree or undergraduate programmes. In the 2025/26 academic year, the SPEF offered scholarships and awards to about 4 000 local students and about 500 non-local students. In terms of levels of study, about 2 500 of them pursued undergraduate studies, while about 2 000 students were at the sub-degree level.

A list of participating institutions is in Annex I. A broad distribution of the scholarship recipients is set out in Annex II. Details of the scholarships and awards under the GSF are available on the EDB's website (www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/postsecondary/local-higher-edu/publicly-funded-programmes/scholarship.html). Those under the SPSS as well as the SPEF are available on the Committee on Self-financing Post-secondary Education's website (www.cspe.edu.hk/en/index.html).

The Education Bureau held the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund and Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund Joint Scholarship Presentation Ceremony today (April 23). Photo shows the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai (front row, nineth right), and a guest with students who are awarded scholarships under the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Education Bureau held the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund and Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund Joint Scholarship Presentation Ceremony today (April 23). Photo shows the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai (front row, centre), and other guests with students who are awarded scholarships under the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Education Bureau held the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund and Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund Joint Scholarship Presentation Ceremony today (April 23). Photo shows the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai (11th right), with students awarded the Belt and Road Scholarship under the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Education Bureau held the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund and Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund Joint Scholarship Presentation Ceremony today (April 23). Photo shows the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai (centre), presenting a certificate to students who are awarded scholarships under the Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Education Bureau held the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund and Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund Joint Scholarship Presentation Ceremony today (April 23). Photo shows the Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai (second right), presenting a certificate to students who are awarded scholarships under the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund. Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

The Acting Secretary for Education, Dr Sze Chun-fai, speaks at the HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund and Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund Joint Scholarship Presentation Ceremony today (April 23). Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Hong Kong Geopark retains global geopark status

The 224th session of the Executive Board of UNESCO concluded on April 23, 2026. During the session, it was officially confirmed that Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark (Hong Kong Geopark) has passed the revalidation and was awarded a certificate, allowing it to retain its global status for a further four-year period.

Hong Kong Geopark was designated as a National Geopark of China in 2009 and joined the Global Geoparks Network (GGN) in 2011. Following the formalisation of the Geopark Programme by UNESCO in 2015, it was renamed Hong Kong UNESCO Global Geopark. According to the guidelines, all UNESCO Global Geoparks must undergo a revalidation process every four years to assess their progress across various dimensions and ensure compliance with the high standards of UNESCO Global Geoparks.

In May 2025, Hong Kong Geopark underwent an on-site assessment by evaluators appointed by the UNESCO Global Geoparks Secretariat. The evaluators reviewed the achievements of Hong Kong Geopark over the past four years and held detailed discussions with various stakeholders and partner organisations of Hong Kong Geopark.

At the 11th International Conference on UNESCO Global Geoparks in Chile in September 2025, the UNESCO Global Geoparks Council recommended that Hong Kong Geopark pass the revalidation with a "green card" while the GGN presented the Best Practice Award to Hong Kong Geopark in recognition of its contributions to preserving and promoting the cultural heritage of the Geopark's communities.

A spokesman for the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) welcomed the result, stating that conservation, education, green tourism and sustainable development are the primary objectives of Hong Kong Geopark. The AFCD will continue to promote science popularisation, green tourism and the sustainable development of the communities within the Geopark, while protecting Hong Kong's natural and cultural heritage.

Hong Kong Geopark is located in the eastern and northeastern parts of Hong Kong, comprising the Sai Kung Volcanic Rock Region and the Northeast New Territories Sedimentary Rock Region. Visitors can explore 13 designated attractions and two boat tour routes within the Geopark. Through various tourist facilities, including information panels, the Volcano Discovery Centre, the Geopark Visitor Centre, story rooms and heritage trails, visitors can explore the natural and cultural heritage of Hong Kong Geopark, and learn about the relevant conservation efforts on its behalf.

Source: AI-found images