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The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions Office · Application cycle 2027/2028

HKUST Future Leaders Award for Non-local Undergraduates with Financial Need, 2027/28 Entry

Applications open Varies by track?

About this scholarship

A need-based award at HKUST in Hong Kong for non-local students who start a bachelor's degree straight from high school in 2027/28. Depending on your need, it can pay up to the full tuition fee plus a living allowance, and it can be renewed. You apply for admission by 25 November 2026 and for the award by 2 December 2026.

Funding type

Covers: an amount set by your level of financial need, which can reach the full tuition fee plus a living allowance. It is renewable for students with exceptional financial need. Tuition for non-local students is HKD 260,000 (about USD 33,000) a year in 2027/28. HKUST estimates personal expenses at about HKD 65,000 a year. Non-local students get university housing in their first year, which cost about HKD 21,000 to 51,000 per residential year for students admitted in fall 2026. You may hold other scholarships as well, but the total cannot exceed the full tuition fee plus HKD 65,000 a year. All applicants are also considered automatically for HKUST's academic admissions scholarships. The largest is the full tuition fee plus HKD 65,000 a year, renewable for the normal length of study with satisfactory results. Applicants from underrepresented nationalities are considered automatically for the Global Learners Scholarship, a full tuition waiver renewable for the normal length of study with satisfactory results. The page does not say which nationalities count. The pages do not give the number of awards and do not mention travel or insurance.

Tuition fees
Partially covered
Living costs
Partially covered
Travel
Not specified
Insurance
Not specified

Eligibility requirements

Nationalities
All nationalities
Residence condition
Residence not mentioned

Non-local applicants. HKUST counts as non-local mainly those who hold a Hong Kong student visa or entry permit. The page does not name Palestine or any other country, and no nationality is excluded You enter HKUST directly from high school. Applicants with post-secondary study are not eligible You show exceptional financial need and give proof of it You have shown resilience in overcoming challenges on your way to university, and you can make a positive contribution to the HKUST community You meet HKUST's admission requirements and are recommended for admission in the Priority Round For the Egyptian Thanaweya Amma, HKUST gives an overall average of 85 percent or above as its reference level. Its admissions table does not list Jordan or Palestine, and qualifications not on the table are reviewed case by case Science choices need mathematics and engineering choices need senior-level mathematics, each with one senior-level subject such as physics, chemistry, biology or computer science, depending on the choice

Minimum grade
Not stated
Work experience asked for
Not stated
Return condition
Return condition not stated
How to apply
Straight to the provider

Language requirements and exemptions

Language test required IELTS 6 TOEFL iBT Duolingo English Test 125 PTE Academic 64 Cambridge English Other test Waiver not mentioned

Applicants must show English proficiency. HKUST's minimum levels include IELTS Academic 6.0 overall, TOEFL iBT 80 for tests before 21 January 2026 or 4.5 for later tests, in one sitting, Duolingo 125, PTE Academic 64 with no part below 60, and Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE) at grade C. Some school qualifications and tests, such as the SAT, ACT, IB and GCE A-level, can also count. HKUST's requirements table gives the level for each. The award page sets no separate English level.

University admission details

Required later?

Apply online at join.hkust.edu.hk under International Qualifications. The system opened on 2 October 2026 and the Priority Round deadline is 25 November 2026. Later applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until 30 June 2027, but the award is for applicants recommended in the Priority Round. You may choose up to two application options. The application fee is HKD 600, paid online by Visa or Mastercard. The online application guide also lists Alipay and WeChat Pay. Send the Future Leaders Award application by 2 December 2026, Hong Kong time, with the two award essays, the statement of circumstance, the declaration on family finances and HKUST's recommendation form from a referee. The pages give no time of day. Award results come from late December 2026 to early January 2027. The page's timeline sets the end of January 2027 as the deadline to accept the admission offer and the award, while its text says to confirm the admission offer by early January 2027. To be safe, accept by early January 2027. Admission offers are released from late December 2026. An interview is compulsory only for some programmes. Non-local students pay a deposit of HKD 20,000 to accept an offer.

Required documents

Copy of your passport or other identity document Personal statement School reports from grade 10 onwards Proof of English proficiency Public examination certificates, if any Proof of significant prizes or awards, if any Contact details of one academic referee, and of your IB coordinator or career counsellor if you take the IB, GCE A-level, Cambridge Pre-U or Indian exams For the award: two personal statement essays, statement of circumstance with proof of any hardship, declaration on family finances, and HKUST's recommendation form completed by a referee

Application steps

Check HKUST's admission requirements for your school certificate and English test on the International Qualifications page. Apply online at join.hkust.edu.hk/apply by 25 November 2026 and pay the HKD 600 fee. Write the statement of circumstance: your family's financial situation, why you want to join and contribute to HKUST, and what the award would change for you. Write the two award essays of up to 500 words each, fill in the declaration on family finances, and ask a referee to complete HKUST's recommendation form. Submit the award application through the link on the Future Leaders Award page by 2 December 2026. Send questions to [email protected].

Requirement checklist

Admission application in the Priority Round Required

Online at join.hkust.edu.hk by 25 November 2026, with the HKD 600 fee. The award is for applicants recommended for admission in this round.

Future Leaders Award application Required

Through the link on the award page by 2 December 2026, Hong Kong time. Submit it only once. The form cannot save a draft, so prepare everything first.

Award personal statement Required

Two answers of up to 500 words each on the award form: the challenges you have overcome and how they shaped you, and why HKUST suits you and how you would contribute to its community.

Statement of circumstance Required

Describes your family's financial situation, why you want to join and contribute to HKUST, and the difference the award would make. On the award form, the part on family finances is up to 500 words. You also tick any hardships that apply, such as being a refugee or coming from a single-parent family, and upload proof in one PDF.

Declaration on family finances Required

You must show and prove exceptional financial need.

Reference or recommendation letter Required

HKUST's recommendation form, completed by a referee, preferably a high school teacher or principal. You upload it as a PDF with the award application.

Admissions interview Conditional?

Compulsory only for some programmes. HKUST contacts you by email if you are invited.

Scholarship contacts

HKUST Undergraduate Recruitment and Admissions Office: [email protected] · Contact form

Universities and contacts

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)

Hong Kong SAR China

No official contact email published

University website

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