Hong Kong University Scholarships for Mainland Students

Studying in Hong Kong is expensive. Non-local tuition at the eight UGC-funded universities ranges from HK$145,000 to HK$220,000 per year in 2026, with total cost (tuition + accommodation + living) typically between HK$250,000 and HK$320,000 per year. Over four years, that adds up to HK$1 million to 1.3 million.

For mainland students, scholarships can cover anywhere from 10% to 100% of this cost. This guide walks through every major scholarship category, eligibility, application strategy, and what mainland students realistically get — not marketing brochures.

1. The scholarship landscape — three tiers

Mainland student scholarships in Hong Kong fall into three distinct tiers:

Tier 1 — Government-sponsored

• HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund (external to institutions)
• Chinese Government Scholarship (sponsoring students from Mainland to HK)

Tier 2 — University entrance scholarships

• Each university has its own set of entrance, merit, and need-based scholarships
• These are the main source of funding for mainland entrants

Tier 3 — External and donor scholarships

• Corporate, foundation, alumni-donor scholarships
• Typically require separate application after admission

2. Tier 1: HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund

The HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund, launched in 2008, is the flagship government scheme for non-local students in Hong Kong. Key facts for mainland applicants:

The HKSAR Government Scholarship for Non-local Students:

• Value: HK$40,000 per year (partial tuition offset)
• Number of places: Approximately 150 per year across all 8 UGC-funded universities and HKU SPACE
• Duration: One year, renewable annually based on academic performance (CGPA ≥ 3.0)
• Eligibility: Full-time non-local undergraduates at UGC-funded institutions
• Application: Nominated by the university — students do not apply directly. Universities select based on academic merit (especially first-year CGPA).

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (for postgraduate students):

• Monthly stipend of HK$27,600 + conference/research allowance HK$13,800/year
• Open to all nationalities including mainland
• Very competitive — approximately 400 places per year across all disciplines
• Separate application portal (www.rgc.edu.hk)

Strategy for mainland applicants:

• Focus on Year 1 performance. The HKSAR scholarship is typically allocated based on first semester CGPA.
• Universities tend to prioritise students who have already demonstrated strong performance in their first semester over first-year entrants.
• Aim for CGPA ≥ 3.6 (A-/A range) in Year 1 to be competitive.

3. Tier 2: University-specific entrance scholarships

This is where most mainland students get their main funding. Every UGC university has an entrance scholarship scheme for high-achieving mainland Gaokao and DSE candidates.

University of Hong Kong (HKU)

HKU Foundation Entrance Scholarship:

• Value: Full tuition waiver + HK$50,000/year living stipend
• Number: 10–15 per year for top mainland Gaokao entrants (top 0.1% provincial ranking)
• Criteria: Top 1–3 candidates from each mainland province in Gaokao; interview required
• Duration: 4 years, subject to annual CGPA ≥ 3.5

HKU Belt and Road Scholarship (for selected regions):

• Available to selected Belt and Road countries — mainland mostly excluded

Faculty-level entrance scholarships:

• Faculty of Business (HKUBS), Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Arts all have their own HK$30,000–80,000/year merit awards
• Typically allocated during admission interview process

Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)

Sir Edward Youde Memorial Scholarship (for non-local students):

• Value: HK$60,000/year
• Number: 6–10 per year
• Criteria: Top mainland Gaokao entrants + interview

CUHK Foundation Entrance Scholarship:

• Value: Full tuition + living allowance
• Number: Approximately 15 per year for top 0.1% Gaokao entrants
• Criteria: Provincial top ranks, interview, essay

College-based entrance awards:

• CUHK’s college system (New Asia, United, Chung Chi, Shaw, Morningside, SH Ho, CW Chu, Wu Yee Sun, Lee Woo Sing) — each college has its own entrance awards ranging from HK$20,000 to HK$100,000
• Automatically considered based on admission scores

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

HKUST Entrance Scholarships:

• Full tuition scholarship: for students with Gaokao scores in top 0.1% of their province
• Half tuition scholarship: for top 0.5%
• Merit scholarships: HK$20,000–60,000/year for top 1–3%

HKUST Redbird Academic Excellence Awards:

• HK$150,000 for first-year students ranked top 10 nationally in their admission cohort

Dean’s List scholarships:

• Awarded in subsequent years based on CGPA

Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)

PolyU Entrance Scholarship Scheme:

• Full entrance scholarship: Full tuition + HK$30,000/year living allowance (~15 places for top mainland Gaokao entrants)
• Half entrance scholarship: Half tuition (~30 places)
• Merit awards: HK$30,000–60,000/year one-off payments

Faculty-specific scholarships:

• Faculty of Business and Faculty of Engineering tend to have higher-value awards given their competitive admissions

City University of Hong Kong (CityU)

CityU Entrance Scholarships:

• Full tuition + living: approximately 10–15 places
• Full tuition only: approximately 30–50 places
• Half tuition: approximately 100+ places
• Awards allocated during admission based on Gaokao ranking and interview

Jockey Club Lifelong Learning Fund (renewable based on GPA)

Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)

HKBU Entrance Scholarships:

• Full tuition for top-ranked mainland entrants
• Partial tuition awards more widely distributed
• Often tied to specific faculties (Media, Communication, Business)

Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK)

EdUHK Non-local Student Entrance Scholarship:

• Full tuition waiver + stipend for top mainland entrants
• Places: approximately 20–30 per year
• Strong for students interested in education careers

Lingnan University (LingU)

Lingnan Non-local Student Entrance Awards:

• Typically HK$60,000–120,000/year
• Smaller numbers (5–10) but higher proportion of applicants receive awards due to smaller mainland intake

4. Tier 3: External and donor scholarships

Beyond entrance scholarships, mainland students can apply for various external scholarships. Key examples:

HSBC Scholarships

• Awarded annually across HK universities
• HK$30,000–50,000 per year
• Requires separate application and interview
• Often tied to internship opportunities with HSBC

Jockey Club Scholarships

• Charities-funded merit and need-based awards
• HK$30,000–60,000 per year
• Application through the university’s scholarship office

Li Ka Shing Foundation Scholarships

• For students from specific provinces (Guangdong, Fujian priority)
• HK$40,000–80,000 per year

Sir Run Run Shaw Scholarships

• Available at CUHK and other institutions
• HK$30,000+ per year

Pok Oi Hospital Scholarships (for students in Chinese Medicine, pharmacy, nursing)

Corporate-sponsored scholarships

• Deloitte, PwC, KPMG, Ernst & Young — accounting/finance students
• Jardine Foundation — multidisciplinary
• Swire Scholars — management/shipping

Research-based awards (for postgraduate)

• Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) — HK$331,200/year stipend for PhD students
• University scholarships for Masters (typically 50% tuition at most institutions)

5. Application strategy by Gaokao/DSE score tier

Top 0.05% (provincial top 3, national top 100 or DSE 5** × 5)

• Aim: Full tuition + living at HKU, CUHK, HKUST
• Strategy: Apply to all three with strong personal statement; attend multiple interview rounds
• Realistic outcome: Full scholarship almost guaranteed at at least one

Top 0.1% (provincial top 20, DSE 5** × 4)

• Aim: Full tuition at HKU, CUHK, HKUST, or full + living at PolyU/CityU
• Strategy: Emphasize leadership, extracurricular, English proficiency in application
• Realistic outcome: Full tuition at one or two institutions

Top 0.5% (provincial top 100, DSE 5*/5** × 4)

• Aim: Half to full tuition at CityU, HKBU, PolyU; partial at HKU/CUHK/HKUST
• Strategy: Target mid-tier programmes at top institutions or top programmes at mid-tier institutions
• Realistic outcome: 30–70% tuition offset

Top 1% (provincial top 500, DSE 5 × 5)

• Aim: Merit awards HK$30,000–60,000 from most UGC institutions
• Strategy: Strong personal statement + interview performance
• Realistic outcome: HK$30,000–80,000/year partial coverage

Below top 1%

• Aim: Apply to all entrance awards but expect partial coverage only
• Strategy: Need-based support, loans, part-time work (with restrictions)
• Realistic outcome: HK$10,000–40,000/year support; most cost self-paid

6. Application timeline (典型 mainland Gaokao candidate)

7. Interview preparation for scholarship candidates

Most full-tuition scholarships require an interview. Key tips:

What they assess

1. English proficiency — conversation fluency, not just test scores
2. Leadership potential — examples of impact, not just titles
3. Academic passion — ability to discuss your intended field intelligently
4. Cultural adaptability — comfort with English-medium, multicultural setting
5. Personal story — compelling narrative of motivation

Common questions

• Why Hong Kong (not mainland universities, UK, US, or Singapore)?
• Why this specific programme?
• What are your career plans?
• Tell us about a challenging experience and how you overcame it.
• What would you contribute to our campus community?
• Discuss a current event in your field.
• What books are you reading now? What have you learned from them?

Preparation

• Mock interviews with English-speaking teachers or tutors
• Read widely: Financial Times, The Economist, SCMP for context
• Watch past scholarship interviews on YouTube (search “HKU interview questions”)
• Prepare 5 stories that can be adapted to different questions (leadership, failure, learning, innovation, teamwork)

8. Common mistakes mainland applicants make

1. Focusing only on Gaokao/DSE score, ignoring personal statement. Interview panels care as much about how you present yourself as how you scored.

2. Generic personal statements. “I love learning” is not a personal statement. Specific experiences, names of books, specific moments of insight.

3. Not applying to enough institutions. Apply to at least 4–5 universities with scholarships. Don’t rely on HKU/CUHK only.

4. Ignoring need-based aid. Many institutions have need-based components even for non-locals. Families with genuine financial need should submit evidence.

5. Waiting for merit awards only. Combine multiple funding sources: university scholarship + external scholarship + student loan + part-time work (where permitted).

6. Missing deadlines. Scholarship deadlines are often 1–2 months earlier than regular admission deadlines.

7. Weak references. Academic references from English-speaking teachers or international-track programmes carry more weight than Chinese-only references.

8. Not negotiating. Some offers are negotiable — if you have a competing offer from another top university, inform the admissions office. They may increase the award.

9. Renewable conditions and maintaining the scholarship

Most entrance scholarships are subject to annual review. Typical conditions:

• CGPA ≥ 3.0 (Grade Point Average minimum) — HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU
• CGPA ≥ 3.3 for higher-value awards
• Full-time enrolment (minimum 15 credits per semester)
• No academic misconduct or disciplinary issues
• Community participation (some awards require volunteer hours or campus leadership)

Failure to maintain can result in scholarship termination. Universities typically review at the end of each academic year.

Strategy: Prioritise Year 1 GPA. This is when most mainland students struggle with the transition to English-medium education, yet it’s the most important year for scholarship retention.

10. Beyond scholarships: other funding sources

Even with scholarships, many mainland students need additional funding. Options:

Student loans (limited availability for mainland students)

• Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme: Generally restricted to local students
• Commercial bank loans: Available but require guarantor in Hong Kong
• Mainland CSC (China Scholarship Council) loans: For students going to HK from mainland institutions

Part-time work (with strict rules)

• Non-local students can only work on-campus during term time (up to 20 hours/week)
• Off-campus work prohibited except during summer
• Common on-campus jobs: Research assistant, teaching assistant, library assistant (HK$80–120/hour)
• Summer internships: Allowed off-campus, usually HK$10,000–25,000 per month

Parents’ financial commitment

• Most mainland families bear 60–80% of total cost through family savings
• Plan conservatively: assume HK$1 million total for a 4-year undergraduate degree

11. A note on Gaokao vs DSE for mainland students

Some mainland families consider having their child sit DSE instead of Gaokao to access JUPAS. Key facts:

• DSE candidates compete in JUPAS, the main entry for local students (HK$42,100/year tuition, subsidised)
• Gaokao candidates apply as non-locals (HK$145,000–220,000/year tuition)
• The cost difference is HK$400,000–700,000 over 4 years
• To sit DSE, the student must typically attend an HK secondary school for at least the last 2 years (Forms 5–6)
• This is a significant logistical and financial undertaking, with most families relocating or using guardian arrangements

For families considering this path, see our separate DSE vs Gaokao comparison guide.

12. Key resources

• HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund: www.edb.gov.hk/en/edu-system/postsecondary/local-higher-edu/scholarship/hksargsf/
• University scholarship offices: Each UGC university has a dedicated non-local admissions office
• Hong Kong Research Grants Council: www.rgc.edu.hk
• Study in Hong Kong portal: www.studyinhongkong.edu.hk
• University admission portals for mainland students (Gaokao track):
  • HKU: admissions.hku.hk
  • CUHK: admission.cuhk.edu.hk
  • HKUST: join.hkust.edu.hk
  • PolyU: www.polyu.edu.hk/study/
  • CityU: www.cityu.edu.hk/pg

Final thoughts

The scholarship landscape for mainland students in Hong Kong is more generous than many families realise — but also more complex. Top students from top provinces routinely receive full tuition and living allowances; mid-tier students typically receive HK$30,000–80,000/year in partial support; others pay mostly out of pocket.

The single most important insight: scholarships are allocated primarily on merit (Gaokao ranking, interview performance, English proficiency, leadership record), not on family need. Families without connections or financial advocates can still succeed — but the student must excel academically and interpersonally.

Start early (Year 11 at the latest), apply broadly (5+ institutions), prepare thoroughly for interviews, and don’t be discouraged by initial rejections. Many students who do not receive entrance scholarships go on to win merit awards in Year 2 based on their university GPA.

Hong Kong remains one of the highest-value international higher education destinations for mainland students. With the right strategy, the cost can be managed — and the opportunities are significant.