15 UK university students study in Hong Kong to experience its vibrant East-West lifestyle
The Scholarships for Excellence has been administered by the British Council Hong Kong since 2006, aiming to provide an opportunity for outstanding students studying at higher-education institutions in England to experience the vibrant East-West lifestyle of Hong Kong. Over the past years, the popular scholarship has benefited more than 100 students. This year, 15 scholars coming from 10 UK universities were each awarded £3,000 to spend a year studying at a Hong Kong university. The award presentation ceremony was held at the British Council on 27 September with Mr Wallace Lau, Principal Assistant Secretary for Education (Higher Education), Education Bureau, as the officiating guest.
Leon Man, who is studying MSCI International Relations and Global Issues at the University of Nottingham and will attend the University of Hong Kong, said, “The Scholarships for Excellence scheme helps to ease my financial burden of studying abroad. With the scholarship, I am able to pursue activities which enrich my experience abroad, like studying Mandarin and travelling around Asia, without having to worry so much about the cost. The scheme also gives me the opportunity to meet other scholars and to get involved with events organised by the British Council.”
Another scholar, Fauzia Amao, a Civil and Structural Engineering student from the University of Leeds, will be studying at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She commented, “I am honoured to receive this generous award. Apart from easing the financial pressures, the award has enabled me to focus on making the most of my student experience in Hong Kong, with exciting opportunities like course and hall activities, volunteering, outdoor adventures, travelling, etc. the list goes on!”
The other 13 scholars come from Imperial College London, Lancaster University, The University of Sheffield, The University of Warwick, University of Bristol, University of Southampton, University of Leeds, and University of London, Royal Holloway. The subject areas they are studying include Economics and Asia-Pacific Studies, Philosophy and Sociology, History, Law and Engineering, etc.
Sophia Chan-Combrink, Head of Education and Society at British Council, said, “The vibrant international city of Hong Kong is a great place to study on exchange, and it can be made more affordable with the Scholarships for Excellence. Hong Kong, the former British territory and now a Special Administrative Region of China, offers fantastic opportunities for UK students to experience an education and culture where East meets West, and to learn about a region of vital economic and cultural importance to the UK. On the other hand, the scheme also enhances cultural exchange between Hong Kong and UK students.”
Established in 2006, the Scholarships for Excellence are funded by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills (BIS) and supported by A Better Tomorrow, Hong Kong.It provides UK students who have demonstrated leadership skills, academic excellence and the potential to offer a substantial contribution towards the well-being of the international community the opportunity to spend either a semester or a full year at a Hong Kong university as part of their degrees.