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). Since its inception in 2014, BXAI has been supporting up to 10 BX scholars at HKUST each year, providing scholarships and enrichment programs for high-caliber Asian students to study abroad, and creates intercultural opportunities for young aspiring leaders to learn from and engage with one another.

 

BXAI is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. As the Bai Xian community continues to grow, we look forward to forging ahead in our joint efforts to build bridges across cultures, strengthen relationships and mutual understanding between
the people of Asia, and develop a new generation of leaders through intercultural exchange and learning.

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 at HKUST
    • Any MPhil program, or
    • A specific MA, MPM, MPP and MSc program (see list)
    AND
  • A non-local student from Asia
    • Past Scholars include Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Indian, Indonesian, Korean, Malaysian, Singaporean

 

 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
  • Propensity for international and intercultural understanding
  • Desire to positively invest in Asia
  • Leadership potential
  • Compassion and service experience

 

C. Scholarship Package

We expect to recruit 10 BX Scholars from 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 2025/26 intake:

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

Scholarship of HK$264,000 (~US$33,760) per year

Tenable for 2 years*

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

Full tuition and HK$97,188 (~US$12,430) per year

Tenable for 2 years*^

Master of Public Policy (MPP)

Full tuition and HK$97,188 (~US$12,430) 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

 

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 2025/26 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, other concurrent scholarships, extracurricular activities and etc., and completion of four essay questions.  Please allow ample time to complete the form
  • You have to declare other concurrent scholarships, in any, in the AFLSP application form, and attach relevant document(s) with 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 criteria.  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 may be another interview conducted by a BXAI panel
  • The application deadline for AFLSP is 24 January 2025.  You will be considered for AFLSP only if you submit your application for admission to HKUST Postgraduate Program and upload the required materials by 24 January 2025
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