When and How to Apply?
You are required to complete the Summer Exchange Online Application Form by 23:59 (Hong Kong Time), 20 January 2025. A 150-words personal statement is required, so please prepare in advance. Late/incomplete applications will not be processed.
You can select up to five preferred choices of exchange institutions/programmes and it is your responsibility to ensure that the chosen host institutions have the appropriate programmes and subjects to fulfil your degree requirements at PolyU. Please check with your academic department on credit transfer.
Applications will be reviewed by our selection committee based on the specified criteria. Please note that interviews may be conducted for selected students if deemed necessary. We will contact you directly if an interview is required; however, conducting an interview is not mandatory.
GEO will announce application results to students via email from late January 2025. Students should confirm their offer by the offer acceptance deadline. Upon students’ confirmation, GEO will send out a confirmation email and nominate you to the host institution. Once you have received your confirmation of nomination, you can start preparing for the application to your host institution. You must submit your application to the host institution by the application deadline. If the host institution requires you to submit your application via the home institution, you should consult GEO and send the full set of documents in required format at least two weeks (excluding public holidays) prior to the application deadline. Late submission will jeopardise your submission.
Financial Support
Students participating in student exchange programme are supported by a range of financial assistance. Eligibility and exact amounts vary across destinations and durations. Details will be provided to successful participants during the Pre-departure Briefing and in a follow-up email from GEO. Online application for GEO funding by the specified deadlines is required. No late applications will be entertained.
Your Faculty/School/Department may offer additional sponsorships and/or scholarships aim at covering expenses such as flights, accommodation or living costs. Check with your Faculty/School/Department and/or Student Affairs Office for further details.
The Scholarship/Funding provides financial assistance to students participating in student exchange programme at PolyU’s Student Exchange partner institutions with tuition fee waivers and earn credit(s) upon completion of the exchange. The exchange period is at least 4 weeks for Summer Exchange.
You are eligible for the Scholarship/Funding:
- This is the first GEO outbound exchange activity involves physical travel during your entire undergraduate study;
- If you are a full-time UGC-funded degree-seeking undergraduate student (local and non-local) participating in student exchange programme; and
- If you have attended all briefing sessions as required by GEO before departure.
- In cases where candidates have equal merits on other selection criteria, preference would be given to students with financial needs.
- When a student withdraws from the exchange programme after accepting the offer from Faculty/School/Department/GEO, the student may no longer be eligible for the GEO Scholarship/Funding for Student Exchange for any future student exchange activities.
- GEO Scholarship for Student Exchange:
- Full-time UGC-funded degree-seeking undergraduate students have attained a minimum cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 3.0 at the below mentioned time frame.
- The disciplinary record(s) of the student with PolyU will be taken into consideration.
- GEO Funding for Student Exchange:
- Full-time UGC-funded degree-seeking undergraduate students have attained below a cumulative GPA (CGPA) of 3.0 at the below mentioned time frame.
Exchange Period | CGPA by Semester |
Summer Term | Semester 1 of the current Academic Year |
Note: application details will be announced in the Pre-departure Briefing.
Education Bureau of the HKSAR Government offers Means-tested and Non-means-tested Schemes in support of exchange activities. Read below for eligibility:
Means-tested Schemes
- You are a local student with a Hong Kong Identity Card and enrolled in a full-time undergraduate programme.
- You are a recipient of grant under the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme – Publicly-funded Programmes by Student Finance Office (SFO); OR your family member is a recipient of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA).
i. Scheme for Subsidy on Exchange (SSE)
- You participate in an exchange activity for at least 14 days (excluding travelling time).
- You are eligible for SSE once only throughout your undergraduate studies.
ii. Scheme for Means-tested Subsidy on Exchange to "Belt and Road" Regions (Means-tested SSEBR)
- You participate in an exchange activity in any "Belt and Road" regions (except Mainland China, Taiwan and Macao) at least 5 days (excluding travelling time).
- You are eligible for Means-tested SSEBR twice at most at two different "Belt and Road" regions, subject to maximum amount of subsidy to be received, i.e. HKD60,000, discounted by your level of student finance approved by SFO.
Non-means-tested Schemes
i. Scheme for Non-means-tested Subsidy on Exchange to "Belt and "Road" Regions (Non-means-tested SSEBR)
- You are a local student with a Hong Kong Identity Card and enrolled in a full-time undergraduate programme.
- You participate in an exchange activity in any "Belt and Road" regions (except Mainland China, Taiwan and Macao) for at least 5 days (excluding travelling time).
- You are eligible for Non-means-tested SSEBR once only throughout your undergraduate studies.
ii. Non-means-tested Mainland Experience Scheme (Non-means-tested MES)
- You are a local or non-local student and enrolled in a full-time undergraduate programme.
- You participate in an exchange activity in Mainland China.
- You are eligible for Non-means-tested MES once only throughout your undergraduate studies.
GEO Scholarship for Student Exchange / GEO Funding for Student Exchange for Summer semester (4 weeks or above AND less than 1 semester*)
Destinations | GEO Subsidy for Global Exchange (GSSE) (Attained a minimum CGPA of 3.0) |
GEO Funding for Student Exchange (GFSE) (Attained a CGPA of 3.0 or below) |
Africa, Americas, Australia, Europe, Middle East | HKD11,000 | HKD7,700 |
Japan, Korea, Singapore | HKD10,000 | HKD7,000 |
Chinese Mainland |
HKD4,100 | HKD2,900 |
Chinese Mainland (Outside Guangdong Province) |
HKD5,800 | HKD4,100 |
Taiwan | HKD6,000 | HKD4,200 |
Other parts of Asia |
HKD8,000 |
HKD5,600 |
*Semester refers to the study period in the host institution.
HKSAR Government Subsidy
Means-tested Schemes
i. Scheme for Subsidy on Exchange (SSE)
ii. Scheme for Means-tested Subsidy on Exchange to "Belt and Road" Regions (Means-tested SSEBR)
The amount of Government Subsidy is calculated by applying the approved level of student finance to the maximum level of subsidy based on the latest available application result from Student Finance Office (SFO).
** Formula: (Destination + Duration) x %
Destination (HKD) |
+ |
Duration (HKD) |
x |
**Proportion of Grant (%) approved as advised by The Student Finance Office (SFO) |
Asia (Inc Middle East) 3,000 Africa 7,000 Oceania & Europe 8,000 North America 9,000 Central & South America & Caribbean 15,000 |
14-28 days 6,000 29-90 days 10,000 91-180 days 25,000 |
** The amount of financial level will be adjusted upward to 50% if the level of student finance approved by SFO is lower than 50%.
Non-means-tested Schemes
** Formula: (Destination + Duration)
Destination (HKD) |
+ |
Duration (HKD) |
Asia (Inc Middle East) 900 Africa 2,100 Oceania & Europe 2,400 Central & South America & Caribbean 4,500 |
14-28 days 1,800 29-90 days 3,000 91-180 days 7,500 |
You must declare to GEO if you receive sponsorship(s) and/or scholarship(s) from other source(s). You are required to provide relevant document(s) of such funding you receive.
PolyU reserves the right to withhold the payment of GEO Scholarship/Funding for Student Exchang/Government Subsidy if you do not declare other funding received (whether it is received before or after the approval of your application).
As a PolyU Global Exchange student, you are obliged to:
- Be a PolyU ambassador and help to promote exchange opportunities at PolyU to fellow students at your host institution;
- Submit post-exchange report within one month of the completion of your exchange period; and
- Be a peer advisor at least twice after your return from the exchange study to provide advice and share your experience to future outbound students at PolyU
If a student does not fulfill the above obligations, PolyU reserves the right to claw back paid any exchange funding provided.
Financial Support from Faculty/School/Department
In addition to the funding support managed by GEO, your Faculty/School/Department may also provide additional funding to support your exchange journey. The information below is subject to change without notice and is not exhaustive. Please contact your Faculty/School/Department directly for funding availability.