HKUST is one of the few Asian universities chosen by the Bai Xian Asia Institute (BXAI) as a Partner University to offer the Asian Future Leaders Scholarship Program (AFLSP). Through providing scholarships and enrichment programs to selected, high-caliber students who share the mission of BXAI, AFLSP facilitates cross-cultural understanding between people of Asia and East Asian academic institutions, as well as a deeper appreciation of issues and challenges faced by Asians today. Through the years, we are pleased to see lasting relationships being cultivated among Bai Xian (BX) Scholars and bridges being built across cultures under this partnership.

A. Eligibility

To be considered for the Scholarship Program, the applicant must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• To be admitted to a full-time master’s program on Hong Kong campus
  • Any MPhil program, or
  • A specific MA, MPM, MPP and MSc program (see list)
  AND
• A non-local student from East, Southeast, or South Asia
  • Past Scholars include Chinese, Japanese, Indian, Indonesian, Korean, Malaysian, Filipino

 B. Selection Criteria

Eligible applicants are assessed based on the following criteria:

• Academic performance
• Command of English and presentation skills
• Appreciation of BXAI’s mission and vision
• Desire to positively invest in Asia
• Leadership potential
• Compassion and service experience

C. Scholarship Package

We expect to recruit 10 BX Scholars from East Asia each year to join our Master’s degree program. The Scholarship consists of a monetary award and an enrichment element, with details shown in C1 and C2 below:

C1. Scholarship Amount

With funding support from BXAI and top-up funding from HKUST, the Scholarship covers tuition, lodging and daily subsistence costs for the students' study in Hong Kong. The following are the scholarship amounts for 2023/24 intake:

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

• Scholarship of HK$252,000 (US$32,411) per year
• Tenable for 2 years, subject to renewable conditions

Master of Arts (MA)/ Master of Public Management (MPM)/ Master of Science (MSc)

• Full tuition and HK$97,188 (US$12,500) per year
• Tenable for 2 years*, subject to renewable conditions

*The scholarship period will be adjusted according to the normative study period of respective programs

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

• Full tuition and HK$97,188 (US$12,500) per year
• Tenable for 2 years, subject to renewable conditions

C2. Specially Designed Enrichment Programs

The BXAI generous support enables enrichment programs to be provided to the BX Scholars. Students selected to be BX Scholars have the responsibilities to fulfill specified requirements during their studies at HKUST. The general framework, subject to refinements, is as follows:

• Enrolment in and completion of at least one East Asian language course other than the mother tongue language
• Taking at least one of the following:
  • A recognized credit-bearing course on international relations (Asian-focused) or comparative studies of cross-cultural issues in East Asia (Japan, China and Korea)
  • A special seminar series based on topics relevant to East Asia, specially designed and provided for BX Scholars
  • A credit-bearing research project (East Asia-focused) undertaken by a small group of BX Scholars
• Completion of at least one of the following:
  • A non-credit individual research paper on East Asia or international relations
  • Recognized leadership training activities
  • Recognized study trips/camps
• Full participation in the BXAI Summer Program, which spans up to three weeks, at the end of the first year of study
• Other mandatory AFLSP programs/activities as stipulated by BXAI and/or HKUST

D. Application

Interested candidates can apply for the Scholarship 2023/24 via the Online Admission System:

• Login the Online Admission System where you apply for admission to HKUST Postgraduate Programs
• Tick the check box for AFLSP after you select one of the AFLSP participating programs under “Program Choice”
• Download the AFLSP application form, and upload the completed form via “Step 2: Upload Documents” by the application deadline
• The AFLSP application form is extensive, and requests information on your personal particulars, education history, extracurricular activities, community engagement and work experience, and completion of five essay questions.  Please allow ample time to complete the form
• You are required to submit a short video (up to 3 minutes), covering an introduction of yourself, reasons for applying to the AFLSP, your aspirations and personal traits etc, together with this scholarship application
• You are also required to invite additional referee(s) who can comment on your performance/ experiences/ qualities which are particularly relevant to the AFLSP selection.  Please append additional reference letter(s) to your application. The letter(s) should be in English and issued with the official letterhead of relevant institution
• You will be invited to a face-to-face or video interview by an HKUST panel. There will be another interview conducted by a BXAI panel
• The application deadline for AFLSP is 31 January 2023.  You will be considered for AFLSP only if you submit your application for admission to HKUST Postgraduate Program and upload the required materials by 31 January 2023