While applying to universities in Hong Kong, you can receive monetary support in two ways: scholarships and financial aid. A scholarship is a monetary award for a student to support their education based on their skills and capabilities. Financial aid is a scheme given out by the university to help students by providing them relief to continue their education. Here’s a quick overview of what they are! 

Scholarships

In Hong Kong, there are two types of scholarships awarded by the university:

Need-Based Scholarships: This type of award is assessed on two criteria, which includes your academic qualifications and your current financial situation. The university will require you to fill out a scholarship form after you have received your admission letter. In the form, you need to mention your reason for applying for the scholarship, your achievements and attach documents such as your family’s current bank statements, savings, assets, liabilities etc. After evaluating these documents a decision is reached, and funds are provided.

Merit-Based Scholarships: These scholarships are given out only based on your academic qualifications which include your grades in your high school final examinations.  Every non-local student who applies for admission is automatically eligible for the scholarship. In general, the University will select qualified students and grant conditional scholarship awards together with admission offers. A conditional scholarship requires you to achieve a certain pre-decided score in your final exams to receive the funds. If you do not receive a conditional scholarship with your admission letter, you may apply on the scholarship website of the university. This is available for international students as well, however, you will have to search for the scholarships you are eligible for. 

There are also a variety of external merit-based scholarships available for international students, which are funded by the government, companies, corporations etc. You will have to search and look at the ones you are eligible for.

Financial Aid

Universities set aside funds for helping both domestic and international students out to cover their expenses in case of financial hardships. The application to apply for financial aid is open throughout the year on the website for current students. For incoming students, the application is open from mid- August to late September in the year of joining. Every application for financial aid is assessed on your family’s assets, liabilities, monthly expenses and income. After a case by case review of the situation, the university decides to give you either a bursary, an interest-free loan or a combination of the two. 

Bursary: Bursary is an amount the university pays a student to help them study at the university. It does not have to be paid back and is deducted from your tuition fees amount.

Interest-Free Loan: Universities may assess your financial situation and issue you an interest-free loan which can be paid within a stipulated time.

Sign up at UniRely for free and get connected to mentors and counselors, who are studying with 100% scholarships in top universities abroad, to improve your chances of getting financial aid. For more information, please visit our website unirely.com to learn more about the process of applying to universities in HK for an undergraduate degree.