1. Quick summary
The HKU Business School Dean’s Master Fellowship is a high-profile merit-based award launched for the HKU Business School masters intake (launched in the 2025 academic year). It is awarded to outstanding newly admitted full-time students across the School’s taught postgraduate programmes. Award amounts range from HK$250,000 up to full tuition-fee coverage, and winners receive additional non-monetary benefits such as internships, mentorship, networking and international learning opportunities. Eligible applicants are automatically considered when they apply for admission (with one programme exception).
2. Who the Fellowship is for
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New full-time students admitted to any of HKU Business School’s taught postgraduate programmes (e.g., Master of Finance, MSc in Business Analytics, Master of Accounting, Master of Global Management, MSc in Marketing, etc.).
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The award targets high-achieving candidates with strong academic records and, where relevant, meaningful work experience and interview performance.
3. Value & what the Fellowship covers
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Monetary value: the Fellowship value ranges from HK$250,000 to the full prevailing composition (tuition) fee — i.e., some awards are partial big scholarships, others cover full tuition.
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Non-financial benefits commonly highlighted by HKU and partner descriptions:
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Pre-programme internships or priority access to internship opportunities.
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Personalised mentorship from faculty and industry leaders.
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Networking events with awardees, faculty, and business leaders.
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Complimentary international learning experiences (study trips or short international modules).
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4. Selection criteria — what the School looks for
HKU’s stated selection criteria for this Fellowship are straightforward:
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Academic performance (transcripts, prior degree quality).
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Relevance of work experience, if applicable (quality of experience and fit with the chosen programme).
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Interview performance, if the programme uses interviews as part of selection.
Important note: Outstanding applicants may receive either an Entrance Scholarship or the Dean’s Master Fellowship, but not both — the School will award only one of these to the same candidate.
5. Eligibility & automatic consideration
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Automatic consideration: All eligible applicants who meet the admissions criteria are automatically considered for the Fellowship; no separate application is generally required.
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Exception: The Master of Family Wealth Management (MFWM) applicants should submit a short statement if they wish to be considered for scholarships (this programme is an exception).
6. How to apply (practical steps)
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Choose your programme: review the HKU Business School masters list and pick the programme that best fits your goals.
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Prepare a strong application: emphasise academic transcripts, clear motivations, relevant professional experience, and a clean CV. If the programme requires essays or a statement of purpose, use those to highlight leadership, impact, and fit with HKU.
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Interviews: if your programme uses interviews, prepare for competency and case-style questions and practice clear stories of impact (use STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result). Interview performance is a selection factor.
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MFWM applicants: submit the extra scholarship rationale statement as instructed if you want explicit consideration.
7. Deadlines and timing
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HKU’s masters site lists a general admissions deadline (example shown on the masters page: 23 February 2026, 12:00 noon (GMT+8) for the relevant intake) — note that programme deadlines and rounds can vary, so check the specific programme page and admissions portal for the intake you are applying to.
8. How many awards are given / competitiveness
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The official masters pages emphasize the Fellowship is a major, selective award. External aggregated sources and scholarship listings reference a limited number of awards each intake and describe it as competitive (aggregators report different counts; check the official page or program office for the precise number for a given intake). Because the award is generous (partial to full tuition), expect strong competition from top applicants globally.
9. Beyond the cheque — career & experiential value
Recipients are positioned to benefit from:
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Career acceleration via internships & recruitment exposure to Hong Kong’s finance and business ecosystem.
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Mentorship that can open doors to faculty research projects or industry placements.
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Global exposure from sponsored learning experiences — valuable for profiles aiming for cross-border roles.
10. Practical tips to improve your chances
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Academic excellence: aim for top marks or strong evidence of quantitative and analytical strength (especially for finance, analytics, accounting programmes).
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Relevant work samples: include measurable outcomes from work projects (e.g., “improved X by Y%”, “led a team of N”, client names if allowed).
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Tailor your CV and SOP: draw a clear line between your experience and the programme’s learning outcomes — signal why HKU is the right next step.
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Interview prep: rehearse succinct, impact-focused stories; practice with mock interviews and sample case questions if relevant.
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Letters & references: choose referees who can speak to academic potential and professional impact.
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Show leadership and initiative: evidence of entrepreneurship, clubs, or community impact is helpful.
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Apply early (if the programme offers rounds): early strong applications sometimes get earlier scholarship consideration.
11. Common FAQs
Q: Do I need to submit a separate scholarship application?
A: No, in most cases applicants are automatically considered. MFWM applicants are an exception.
Q: Can international students win the Fellowship?
A: Yes — the Fellowship is intended for newly admitted full-time students generally (including international students across the School’s masters programmes). Confirm specific residency or enrolment conditions on programme pages.
Q: Is the fellowship renewable?
A: Details on continuation conditions aren’t the headline feature — many awards cover the programme duration (1 year for most HKU masters). Check the official award letter for any performance requirements.
12. Where to confirm the latest details
Always verify specifics (deadlines, exact award counts, any programme exceptions) on the HKU Business School Masters Scholarships & Financial Aid page and your chosen programme page before applying. Use the official HKU Business School masters website as the primary source.
13. Short sample application timeline (example)
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6–9 months before intake: research programmes, gather transcripts & references.
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3–6 months before intake: write SOP, polish CV, submit application (early where possible).
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1–3 months before intake: interview invitations and decisions; monitor your email for scholarship notifications.
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Post-offer: review scholarship terms, accept offer, and complete enrolment tasks.
14. Final thoughts
The Dean’s Master Fellowship is among HKU Business School’s flagship awards for masters students: generous in money, valuable in experiential support (internships, mentorship, trips), and competitive. If you’re a strong academic performer with concrete achievements and clear career direction, the Fellowship can both reduce cost and accelerate your career pathway in Asia and beyond. Start early, present evidence of impact, prepare for interviews, and use the programme-level contacts at HKU to clarify any programme-specific scholarship details.