Administered by Student Affairs Office

We are calling for students’ submissions on new eligible competitions/events worthy for the award of Talent Development Scholarship (TDS) 2024/25 for the Education Bureau (EDB)’s prior approval. Please refer to Appendix A on details of this “Call for New TDS Activities” exercise and information on the Scholarship.

If you have participated in and won an award in a competition/event that is NOT on the EDB approved activity list (Appendix B), you should submit the information on that certain competition/event to SAO for vetting and transmission to EDB for consideration and approval. Unless the name and organiser(s) of the competition(s)/event(s) at which you have received an award are exactly the same as those listed on the approved list, submission of information on the competition(s)/event(s) is required.  In case the year of the competition you participated is different from the year shown (if any) on the approved list for more than 5 years, submission of information on the competition is also required. Only the approved competitions/events will be considered for the Scholarship.

This exercise is conducted solely for seeking prior approval from EDB on the eligibility of competitions/events for the Scholarship. The Scholarship will be open for application in February 2025. Students MUST submit a formal application when the scholarship is open for application. Scholarship application details will be announced nearer the time.  EDB’s approval on the eligibility of competitions/events does not guarantee a successful scholarship application.

Eligibility:

• To current full-time local and non-local students pursuing government-funded degree or above level programmes leading to PolyU awards;
• Applicants should possess demonstrated achievements within the recent three years (1 Jan 2021 – present) and ‘track record’ of continuously striving for improvement and excellence in any of the following areas: (1) Sports and games, (2) Music and performing arts, (3) Culture, arts and design, or (4) Innovation, science and technology;
• Applicants should have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.5 by end of Semester 1 of 2024/25;
• Applicants should also at least: a) receive an award* in international, national or regional competitions/performance; or b) represent institution or relevant association in international, national or regional competitions/performances and have good recommendation/ assessment by the institution or relevant organization on the capacity or talent; or c) receive an award* in local/ inter-school/ inter-institution competitions.

(* Hierarchical Prizes/Awards only. Consolation/Commendable Awards will not be considered worthy for TDS award.)

Students should submit their “Submission Form for Potential TDS Activities (Appendix C)” with all supporting document(s) to SAO via our Online Submission Platform on or before 11.59 pm on 8 December 2024 (Sunday).

Links for Downloads and Online Submission System:

Information Sheet (Appendix A)

EDB approved activity list (Appendix B)

Submission Form for Potential TDS Activities (Appendix C)

TDS New Activities Online Submission Platform

Value of the scholarships for 2024/25 academic year:

1) Full Tuition Fee

2) Academic Allowance: HK$18,300

3) Living Allowance: HK$58,900

4) Overseas Learning Subsidies: A lump sum of HK$80,000 for the normative year of study

Eligibility:

Applicants must:

• be full-time local undergraduate students who are admitted to a UGC-funded 4 or 5-year degree programme in the 2024/25 academic year, pursuing their first undergraduate degree (i.e. local student with student ID number starting with "24". Senior-year intake students are NOT eligible.);
• have the right of abode or the right to land, or have entered Hong Kong on One-way Permits;
• have completed their senior secondary education in Hong Kong;
• have a high standard of academic performance:

1. must demonstrate academic excellence in HKDSE in 2024 or another recognised entry qualifications in 2024;
2. must attain a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or above at the end of the first semester of 2024/25 or ranked among top 10% in class;

• have outstanding achievements or exceptional leadership qualities; and
• have proficiency in English and spoken Chinese (Cantonese or Putonghua).

Completed application form and all required supporting documents must be submitted via the Scholarship Application System on or before 11.59 pm on 12 January 2025 (Sunday). To ensure smooth submission process and avoid missing the application deadline due to any unexpected technical issues, applicants are strongly recommended to submit their application well in advance. Late applications will NOT be accepted.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to attend the PolyU internal selection interview in person during 20 - 24 January 2025 for further shortlisting 6 candidates for the Donor's consideration. The PolyU candidates may then be invited to attend a final interview with the Donor tentatively in February 2025, and the decision of which will be final.

Download: 
Scholarship Information Sheet

Scholarship Application Form

25 Scholarships, each with a maximum value of HK$150,000, offer LOCAL students opportunities to strengthen their global outlook (via Overseas/Mainland Attachment Programme), learn from professionals and renowned experts (via Mentorship Programme) and gain exposure in relevant industries (via optional Local Internship Programme).

Applicants must:

• be full-time non-final year government-funded undergraduate students in 2024/25
• be Hong Kong Permanent Residents with the right of abode in Hong Kong

• have passion and intention to pursue career in innovation and technology fields; and with innovative ideas that are align with any of the Scholarship's "InnoTech Areas" below:
  - Advanced Manufacturing
  - Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
  - Business and Financial Technology
  - Life and Health Technology
  - Sustainability and Green Technology
  - Multi-disciplinary Technology and Others
• have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above
• have satisfactory English test result (HKDSE/IB/IGCSE/TOEFL/IELTS)
• be well-rounded with participation in extra-curricular and/or community service activities

The Scholarship is not open for application. Students who wish to be considered for nomination of the InnoTech Scholarship by PolyU should approach the Scholarship Liaison Officer of respective Academic Department by the date specified by the School/Department concerned or Thursday, 9 January 2025 (whichever is earlier).

Download:

Scholarship leaflet
Scholarship Information Sheet
List for suggestions on choosing the InnoTech Area
List of Scholarship Liaison Officers