Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme 2027/28
Hong Kong government support for eligible local students pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies at world-renowned institutions outside Hong Kong in the 2027/28 academic year.
Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme 2027/28
The Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme (HKSES) supports eligible Hong Kong students starting undergraduate or postgraduate study at a world-renowned institution outside Hong Kong in the 2027/28 academic year. It provides a tuition scholarship to all awardees and a separate means-tested bursary for eligible applicants.
Applications are open for programmes beginning from August 2027 through July 2028. They close at 6 PM on December 31, 2026; late applications are not accepted. The Education Bureau’s application page provides the online form and supporting-document instructions.
At a glance
| Item | 2027/28 scheme information |
|---|---|
| Applicant group | Eligible local students pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate study outside Hong Kong |
| Programme start | August 2027 through July 2028 |
| Tuition scholarship | Up to HK$300,000 per year for all awardees |
| Possible bursary | Up to HK$200,000 per student per year, subject to means test |
| Programme choices | Up to ten institution and programme choices |
| Deadline | 6 PM, December 31, 2026; late applications are not accepted |
| Selection stages | Screening January–February 2027; shortlisting February–March; interviews from April onward |
The Notes for Applicants explain the award and selection process. The bursary is conditional, so the maximum combined figures are not guaranteed funding.
What the award covers
All awardees receive a non-means-tested tuition scholarship of up to HK$300,000 per year. Applicants who pass the means test may also receive a bursary of up to HK$200,000 per student per year for living and other study-related costs. The bursary amount varies according to family income and assets. The official benefit notes provide the scheme’s terms; the supplied information does not include a calculation table or individual bursary estimates.
The scheme plans to award up to 100 scholarships yearly. This is a planned ceiling, not a confirmed recipient count for 2027/28. Duration depends on study level: undergraduate awards cover the programme’s normal duration, doctoral awards cover the minimum required years, and other postgraduate awards may last up to two years. Applicants should consult the current notes for how duration applies to their programme.
The institution and programme must both be deemed world-renowned. A university’s reputation alone does not establish that every programme there qualifies. The brief does not confirm the final award count, any individual bursary amount, or a guaranteed award outcome.
Who should consider applying
The scheme is for local students who meet the Hong Kong status and residence rules and intend to begin eligible overseas study in the stated academic-year window. It covers undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, with different education-history conditions: undergraduates must have received formal school education in Hong Kong; postgraduates may have earned their undergraduate qualification in Hong Kong or elsewhere if they meet the residence requirements.
Start by checking your immigration status, continuous residence immediately before the programme begins, and the exact programme start date. A start outside August 2027–July 2028 is outside this cycle’s stated window. Applicants already pursuing a programme listed in their application will not be considered. These conditions are set out in the Notes for Applicants.
Applicants may list up to ten institution and programme choices. Listing a choice does not establish that it qualifies or that you have been admitted. The application asks for written confirmation that universities received applications, so check the instructions for evidence relating to each choice.
Eligibility conditions to check
Applicants must have the right of abode or right to land in Hong Kong, or have entered Hong Kong on a One-way Permit. They must also have lived continuously in Hong Kong for the three complete years immediately before the overseas programme begins. Student and dependant visa holders are excluded. Because the residence test is tied to the programme start, check the start date of each intended programme rather than calculating eligibility from the application date. See the official eligibility notes.
Education history depends on study level. Undergraduate applicants must have received formal school education in Hong Kong. Postgraduate applicants may have earned their undergraduate qualification locally or overseas, provided they meet the status and residence conditions. The supplied brief does not state a grade threshold or subject restriction; do not assume requirements from another scholarship apply here.
The programme must commence from August 2027 through July 2028 at an institution and programme deemed world-renowned. Applicants already pursuing a programme they list will not be considered. If a programme offers multiple start dates, confirm the date that applies to your enrolment and compare it with the window.
Selection considers academic and non-academic achievements, leadership, contribution to Hong Kong, and whether the institution and programme are world-renowned. The brief does not provide a scoring formula or minimum result. Present relevant evidence clearly, but no single achievement is stated to guarantee selection.
How to apply
Apply online through the Education Bureau’s HKSES application page. Complete the form and upload supporting documents by 6 PM on December 31, 2026. Late applications are not accepted. You may list up to ten institution and programme choices.
The instructions identify these supporting items: written confirmation that universities received applications, a referee letter, an undergraduate school-principal assessment where applicable, and a research proposal for research postgraduate applicants. Check the application page for the current instructions relevant to your level and circumstances. This list does not mean that every item applies to every applicant, nor that it is necessarily exhaustive.
Certain third-party documents, such as school assessments and referee letters, may be emailed to the Secretariat by the deadline with your application number. This route applies to those documents; it is not a general extension for missing items. If you cannot provide a document on time, explain the situation in Part X, as the instructions require. Confirm delivery details on the official page.
A practical sequence is to confirm eligibility and programme start dates, choose the programmes to list, request applicable referee or school materials, then complete the online form and upload applicant-provided documents. Keep your application number available for third-party submissions. Before submitting, check that each choice has the requested university-application confirmation and that documents follow the current instructions. These are preparation suggestions based on the published process.
Timeline and deadline
Applications close at 6 PM on December 31, 2026, and late applications are not accepted. The supplied information does not state a time zone for the deadline. Check the official application page for current submission details and allow time to complete the form before the cutoff.
The planned selection stages are preliminary screening in January–February 2027, shortlisting in February–March, and interviews from April onward. Shortlisted applicants are normally notified by the end of May 2027. These are planned stages, not individual interview appointments or a guaranteed notification date. The brief does not give an exact interview calendar or final award announcement date; check official communications after applying.
Preparation and common mistakes
Preparation advice, not extra eligibility rules: Keep a checklist for each choice with the institution and programme name, expected start date, university application confirmation, and any applicable scheme materials. This can help identify a date mismatch or missing confirmation while there is time to resolve it. Retain copies of what you submit and note which third-party documents will arrive separately.
Ask a referee or school for applicable materials early and give them the deadline and instruction to include your application number when emailing the Secretariat. If a document cannot be provided on time, explain why in Part X. Do not assume that a pending request removes the stated deadline or that an incomplete application will be accepted.
Check the three-year continuous residence period against the intended programme start. Confirm your Hong Kong status and whether the undergraduate formal-schooling rule applies to you. Avoid treating the maximum tuition scholarship or bursary as guaranteed cash, assuming the bursary is automatic, or assuming every programme at a well-known university qualifies. Do not list a programme you are already pursuing.
For an uncertain programme’s status, an unusual residence history, or an applicant-specific document question, consult the current official instructions or use the contact route published there. The supplied brief does not include contact details, so verify them on the Education Bureau pages rather than relying on an old directory.
Frequently asked questions
Is the bursary automatic?
No. All awardees receive a tuition scholarship of up to HK$300,000 per year. The additional bursary, up to HK$200,000 per student per year, is means-tested and varies with family income and assets. Consult the scheme guidance for means-test details; the brief does not provide a calculation table.
Can I apply if my undergraduate degree is from outside Hong Kong?
The notes allow postgraduate applicants to have earned their undergraduate qualification in or outside Hong Kong, as long as they meet the status and residence requirements. Undergraduates must have received formal school education in Hong Kong. See the eligibility notes.
Can I list several programmes?
Yes. Applicants may list up to ten institution and programme choices. Each must fit the start window and the scheme’s world-renowned standard. The application asks for written confirmation that universities received applications; follow the instructions for the choices you include.
What if a referee letter or school assessment is delayed?
Certain third-party documents may be emailed to the Secretariat by the deadline with your application number. If you cannot provide a document on time, explain why in Part X. The deadline still applies, and late applications are not accepted. Check the application instructions for the applicable document and delivery details.
How many awards will be made, and what bursary will I receive?
The scheme plans up to 100 scholarships yearly, but the final 2027/28 count is not specified. The bursary maximum is HK$200,000 per student per year; the actual means-tested amount varies with family income and assets. Neither figure confirms an individual result.
Official sources and unconfirmed details
Use the Education Bureau’s Application for Scholarship page for the online form, deadline, and document instructions. The official Notes for Applicants cover eligibility, benefits and duration, selection factors, and the planned timeline. Review the current pages before applying for any clarifications.
The supplied information does not confirm the final number of 2027/28 awardees, any applicant’s bursary amount or selection outcome, the deadline’s time zone, or an exact interview calendar. Verify those details through current official guidance or the contact route published by the Education Bureau; do not treat a maximum, plan, or estimate as a confirmed individual outcome.