Seventy Three Elite Student-Athletes Start University Life at PolyU

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) has enrolled 73 elite athletes through its Outstanding Sportsmen Recommendation Scheme (OSRS) this academic year. They are current and former members of Hong Kong Team or Junior Team in 20 sports[1]. It is the first time that an archery athlete has been recruited to PolyU under the Scheme.

Among the newly enrolled athletes, six represented Hong Kong in the 2018 Asian Games[2], while two won awards at the two most recent Youth Olympic Games[3]. In addition, one freshmen is the world record holder for rope skipping. To recognize the outstanding sports achievements of the new students, 45 have been awarded entry scholarships.

Addressing the Entry Scholarships (Non-Academic) presentation ceremony held on 30 October, Professor Ben YOUNG, Vice President (Student Affairs), stated, "With our over 20 years of experience in nurturing student-athletes, PolyU is very confident that our athletes will be able to excel in both sports and academic achievements. Many of them have helped not only PolyU but Hong Kong to shine in major games, both locally and internationally. They also act as role models in promoting sports culture and all-round development on campus."

As a leading institution devoted to nurturing Hong Kong athletes, PolyU launched the OSRS in 1998, and has to-date admitted more than 1,000 elite athletes to various full-time programmes through the Scheme. Enroling about 60 to 70 elite athletes each year, with about 50 entry scholarships amounting to more than HK$1 million offered to outstanding athletes, PolyU has in recent years led amongst local institutions in the student intake and number of sports scholarships offered.

The 45 elite athletes newly admitted this year were presented with entry scholarships, ranging from HK$10,000 to full annual tuition fee waivers of HK$42,100. Together with other kinds of scholarships, PolyU offers more than 200 scholarships to student-athletes every year to recognise their distinguished sports achievements and to support their studies.

Other than awarding scholarships, PolyU also offers different types of support for elite student-athletes to enable them to strike a balance between sports life and studying, and to pursue excellence in both aspects. The measures include providing student-athletes with individual mentorship in their academic work and with regard to general adjustment to university life, offering them flexibility in study assessment schedules to cope with their intensive training routines and worldwide competitions, or extending their study period.

PolyU OSRS accepts student applications through the JUPAS and Non-JUPAS admission schemes for any undergraduate and higher diploma programmes. As well as meeting the general and programme-specific entrance requirements of their chosen programmes, the applicants should be members of Hong Kong sports teams or have participated in international competitions within the previous five years.

OSRS is now calling for applications from local student-athletes for the 2020/21 academic year, with an interview date for consideration of Scheme admission set for 23 November 2019. Interviews for eligible applicants for entry scholarship under the Scheme will be held on 20 and 21 January 2020.

For details, please visit:- http://www.polyu.edu.hk/stars/sports/sports-teams-3/outstanding-sportsmen-recommendation-scheme-(osrs).html

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[1] Archery, Artistic Cycling, Artistic Gymnastics, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Fencing, Handball, Karatedo, Rope, Rugby, Soccer, Squash, Swimming, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Volleyball, Water Polo, Wushu

[2] in Badminton, Handball, Swimming, Volleyball and  Water Polo

[3] 2018 Youth Olympic Games (YOG) - bronze medal in 110m Hurdles event; 2014 YOG - bronze medal in Table Tennis Mixed Team event