Frequently Asked Questions
Targeted Taught Postgraduate Programmes Fellowships Scheme (TPgFS)
Q1 How can I apply for the TPgFS?
A1 Each university will invite suitable candidates admitted to the eligible programmes in each cohort to apply for the fellowships and may adopt diverse application procedure for the fellowships. For details, please refer to the universities' websites or contact the admission offices of the universities direct.
Q2 Are part-time students eligible for the TPgFS?
A2 Both full-time and part-time local students of eligible programmes are eligible for the fellowships.
Q3 I do not have a Hong Kong permanent identity card but hold a Quality Migrant Admission Scheme visa (QMAS)/one-way permit (OWPs)/the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG) visa. Am I qualified as a local student?
A3 Only local students of eligible programmes can apply for the fellowships under TPgFS. Applicants would be considered a non-local student if he/she is a holder of the following documents issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR:
- Student visa/entry permit; or
- Visa/entry permit under the Immigration Arrangement for Non-local Graduates; or
- Dependant visa/entry permit who were 18 years old or above when he/she was issued with such visa/entry permit by the Director of Immigration.
As the universities would have the personal particulars of the students, the Admission Offices would assist in assessing whether a student would be eligible for applying for the fellowships. Students should therefore discuss with the universities direct on their eligibility.
Q4 I was awarded a fellowship and commenced studies in an eligible programme when I am holding a working visa to work in Hong Kong. I am moving to an overseas office; can I continue my studies online as a fellowship awardee?
A4 The aim of TPgFS is to attract meritorious local students to pursue further studies in priority areas conducive to the development of Hong Kong and contribute to the priority areas of Hong Kong after completing the programme. If a fellowship awardee changes his/her status from a local student to non-local student during the study period, the eligibility of fellowship should be revoked. The awardee would be required to refund the full amount of fellowship to the university that has already been disbursed.
Q5 I am a current student in one of the eligible programmes but I have not been awarded the fellowship. As I still have a year to complete the programme, can I apply for the TPgFS in the next academic year?
A5 The fellowships are awarded to students during the time of admission, i.e. only students who are newly admitted to the eligible taught postgraduate programmes in respective academic years would be eligible for the corresponding cohort of the TPgFS.
Q6 Can I be awarded the fellowship for more than one eligible programmes under the TPgFS concurrently?
A6 Each student can only be awarded with the fellowship once within the study period of that taught postgraduate programme. The UGC shall revoke the fellowship from the student if it is found that a student is being awarded more than one fellowship under the TPgFS at the same period. That said, the UGC does not restrain the universities to award the fellowships to those who have been awarded a fellowship under the TPgFS in the past for another programme.
Q7 I am a fellowship awardee. What happen if I quit the programme/ cannot achieve satisfactory academic performance/ apply for deferral of study?
A7 Universities are responsible for monitoring the ongoing performance and study progress of the fellowship awardees. While normally deferral of study will not affect students' eligibility for the fellowships that are already awarded, if a fellowship student eventually fails to complete the programme or achieve the academic requirements set by the universities, he/she shall be required to refund the full amount of the fellowship award received to the university. Universities will consider the situation on a case-by-case basis and take necessary actions as appropriate in which the UGC would not intervene under the principle of institutional autonomy.
Q8 How much do I need to pay for the tuition fee if I am awarded the fellowship?
A8 The fellowship students are required to pay a minimum tuition fee of HK$42,100, which is the prevailing rate of the UGC-funded programmes, and the differences will be subsidised by the fellowships subject to a cap of HK$120,000 (for the whole taught postgraduate programme, regardless of the actual study period). The fellowships are provided for the purpose of offsetting the tuition fee. For details, please refer to the universities' websites or contact the admission offices of the universities.
Noting that some students may opt to take more credits than required, the TPgFS will only cover the tuition fees for the list of courses in relation to the prescribed graduation requirements of the eligible programmes. The remaining balance arising from additional academic credits out of the prescribed graduation requirements and/ or for elective courses which are not on the programme course list would be borne by the students. You may contact the universities direct for details.
Q9 Will the TPgFS include other ineligible programmes in the future? What are the selection criteria for the programmes?
A9 The universities have nominated suitable programmes under the seven priority areas for the UGC's consideration in accordance with the following set of criteria:
- relevance to the specific priority area;
- the manpower requirements and market demand presented by the universities prove that the programme can attract meritorious students;
- the capability of the programme in nurturing talent and supporting the high value-added and diversified development of Hong Kong, as well as its social impact;
- the university's previous experience in offering relevant programmes;
- the long-term sustainability of the programme; and
- the multi-disciplinary collaboration.
The UGC will review the scheme with the universities regularly on various issues, including priority areas, eligible progammes, and number of fellowships, etc.
Q10 Can I apply for other scholarships or student financial assistance on top of the TPgFS?
A10 To avoid "double benefit", students received financial support from other public sources for the purpose of meeting tuition fee expenses would not be eligible for the TPgFS. Students received such financial support from other sources (e.g. education subsidies from a private company or foundation) should declare and provide relevant details to the universities. If the sum of such financial support and the fellowship award would exceed the tuition fee level, the amount of fellowship awards should be reduced to ensure that the awardee would not receive financial support in excess of the tuition fee to safeguard the effective use of public money.
Q11 What are the roles of UGC and universities respectively in administering the TPgFS?
A11 The UGC is responsible for deciding the implementation arrangements of the TPgFS and considering the proposals from universities. The UGC will review the scheme with the universities regularly on various issues, including priority areas, eligible progammes, and number of fellowships, etc. Under the principle of institutional autonomy, universities are responsible for administering the Scheme at programme level independently. Each university may devise its own admission procedures and additional requirement for assessing the fellowships and will assess the applications independently with its own admission procedure in which the UGC would not intervene.