Studying abroad with a scholarship is not as difficult as you think? With exclusive tips!

High achieving students or their parents see the G5 in the UK or the Ivy League in the US as a goal. However, the cost of studying abroad can be a burden. Take Cambridge University as an example, the average annual tuition fee including college fees has reached £34,000, and Cornell University in the United States is more than $60,000, making it prohibitive for many families. In fact, the Hong Kong Government launched the Hong Kong Scholarship Excellence Scheme (HKSES) as early as 2014 and has so far awarded 639 students, successfully helping them to fulfill their dreams of pursuing overseas studies.

HKSES awardees will receive up to $300,000 per year until completion of their degree, regardless of family income level. Awardees who pass the asset test will also receive an additional $200,000 per year! The average competition ratio is 9-10 people per year for one place. However, it is not as difficult as you might think if you get the hang of it.

The first two rounds of selection for the HKSES will take into account the applicant's "choice of university" and "academic performance". Although the government states that the scholarship will cover the top 100 universities in the world, the list of past winners is still focused on the G5 universities in the UK (Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, UCL, LSE) and the top 20 universities in the US. Note that the government does not need to know whether an applicant has been accepted by a university in the first two rounds of selection, so regardless of whether or not they are eventually accepted by a university, they can try to apply for the scholarship if they are included in their "university choices". As for grades, many recipients have a grade 5 or above in each subject in the DSE, but the government does not specify grade requirements. The requirements are not too stringent for subjects that are given priority by the government (including majors not offered by Hong Kong universities, subjects that will enhance Hong Kong's long-term competitiveness, and courses related to innovation and technology). As for the subjects that "enhance Hong Kong's long-term competitiveness", it depends on whether the student can clearly explain them in his or her personal statement. Finally, other backgrounds, such as previous competitions, extracurricular activities, volunteer service, etc., will also be considered.

If you pass the two rounds of screening, an interview will be arranged upon confirmation of unconditional acceptance (i.e., your results meet the university's requirements). It is important for readers to note that HKSES places great emphasis on career planning and contribution to Hong Kong. What position the applicant intends to take up in the society after graduation, and what concrete and important contribution or change the applicant will bring to Hong Kong in this position are also the key points that the applicant should bring out during the interview, rather than staying at the level of "vague visions". In addition, students should clearly understand their reasons for studying abroad rather than in Hong Kong to convince the interviewer.

Therefore, students who wish to study abroad can be worry-free of tuition fees.