Hong Kong Shue Yan University (HKSYU) has secured a notable share of the new government-funded “Hong Kong Future Talents Scholarship Scheme for Advanced Studies”, with 61 places awarded across six postgraduate programmes.
Launched in the 2025/26 academic year, the scheme allocates 200 scholarships to local students at self-financing institutions, aiming to attract more graduates to pursue advanced studies in priority areas aligned with Hong Kong’s long-term development.
Professor Catherine TANG So-kum, HKSYU Vice President (Graduate School), said the outcome reflects recognition of the quality of Shue Yan’s postgraduate programme, and of the broader need for expertise in these fields.
Several programmes selected for the scheme are unique to HKSYU, including the MSc in Game Development and Management and the MSSc in Adversity and Trauma Psychology. Professor TANG highlighted that postgraduate education should not be driven by quantity, but by foresight and market relevance. “It’s not about offering what everyone else offers,” she said.
Looking ahead, Professor TANG said HKSYU is preparing to gradually launch new postgraduate programmes in areas such as cultural heritage, history, tourism, and technology management, in alignment with the university’s philosophy and emerging technological developments.
According to Professor TANG, the number of local students pursuing postgraduate study remains relatively low, while government-funded institutions have expanded
their intakes, creating a competitive environment for self-financing institutions. She believes an increase in scholarship opportunities could help broaden local students’ academic pathways, attracting them to pursue further studies at Shue Yan.
The government’s broader ambition to promote the “Study in Hong Kong” brand also points to attracting more international students to postgraduate education.
Professor TANG said the graduate school must pursue internationalization through curriculum development, faculty engagement, and research focus.
She noted, for instance, HKSYU’s research in Chinese culture could be enriched by comparative perspectives linking it to global cultural studies. It is also essential to expand the scope of teaching content to include knowledge beyond Hong Kong. She agreed Hong Kong has the potential to develop as an international hub for higher education, but that requires sustained international exchange – both outbound and inbound – such as inviting international scholars to Hong Kong.
The Hong Kong Future Talents Scholarship Scheme for Advanced Studies aims to nurture local high-calibre talents, while further promoting the city’s development into an international hub for higher education. In its inaugural round, the scheme will offer scholarships of up to HK$100,000 to as many as 200 local students enrolled in postgraduate programmes at self-financing universities.
Source: July 2025 Issue