Enhancing Student Employability with HKUArts Financial Support

Explore funding options to support students’ academic and professional pursuits.

• Faculty Global Exploration Fund (FGEF)
Financial assistance for to eligible Arts undergraduate students from the 2026-27 academic year undertaking local unpaid internships.

• HKUArts Local Unpaid Internship Allowance
Financial assistance for a variety of non-local academic and career development activities.

• Judy Lee So Scholarship for Arts Students – Enrichment Scholarship
Financial assistance for a variety of non-local academic and career development activities.

• Gallant Ho Experiential Learning Fund
Support for undergraduate students striving for excellence and leadership in the arts.

Faculty Global Exploration Fund (FGEF)

Objective and Overview

To encourage student mobility and align with the University’s targets listed in the University’s Academic Development Proposal 2016-19, the Faculty of Arts (HKUArts) is pleased to offer subsidies to Arts undergraduate students, who plan to participate in and have demonstrated commitment to the proposed mainland China or international learning experience (hereinafter the “activity”) starting from the 2017-18 academic year. The subsidy was renamed from the “Faculty Student Mobility Fund” to the “Faculty Global Exploration Fund” (hereinafter the “Fund”) in the 2018-19 academic year.

The Fund cannot be held concurrently with any other funding sources, including but not limited to funding provided by HKU, government bodies, or overseas/offshore universities, for the same activity. If an applicant receives or is awarded other funding support for the same activity after applying to the Fund, the applicant must immediately notify the Faculty in writing and withdraw the application. Where applicable, the applicant will be required to return any funding already disbursed by the Faculty. Exceptions may only be considered with prior special approval from the Dean or the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning).

Students are advised to carefully review the terms and conditions of all available funding schemes offered by the University, the government, and other relevant organisations before applying for the Fund. Students should refer to the HKU Horizons Office for information on University-level funding opportunities.
(https://tl.hku.hk/horizons/overview/). Students are expected to first explore other funding options that support overseas learning experiences before applying to the Fund.

Eligibility Criteria

The Fund is applicable to BA, BA&BEd(LangEd), BA&LLB, BASc, BA(HDT) and BA&BEng(AI&DataSc) students.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to, the categories listed below. The activity must be organised by an HKU office or endorsed by an HKU teacher or the Career Development Team:

Category	Definition	Example(s)
Student Exchange	· Academic studies · Normally credit-bearing · For at least one semester · Applications of the activity are submitted to an HKU office	Student exchange programmes organized by the Faculty, School of Modern Languages and Cultures, or International Affairs Office
Visiting	· Academic studies · Normally credit-bearing · For at least one semester · Applications of the activity are submitted to other organizations	Fee-paying study abroad programme
Short-term Study Abroad Programme	· Academic studies · May be credit-bearing · For a short period of at least one week, of which at least two-thirds of the period taking place outside Hong Kong; or the trip is tied to a credit-bearing course.	Language immersion programme; Summer/Winter academic programme
Field Trip	· Structured series of learning and/or study activities, normally discipline-related · For a period of at least five days, of which at least two-thirds of the period taking place outside Hong Kong; or the trip is tied to a credit-bearing course.	Field trips organized by the Faculty, School(s) or Department(s) with HKUArts
Career Activity	· Experiential activities aiming to increase students’ career exposure, workplace skillsets and employability · May be credit-bearing · For a period of at least two weeks, of which at least two third of the period must be outside Hong Kong; or the trip is tied to a credit-bearing course.	Internship arranged by the Faculty, School(s) or Department(s) within HKUArts Company visits, job shadowing, internship endorsed by CEDARS

Potential relevant opportunities can be found at https://arts.hku.hk/current-students/student-global-experience

Reimbursement Amount

From the 2026-27 academic year onwards, each eligible student can seek reimbursement up to HK$24,000 during their degree studies. The maximum reimbursement amount* for each approved activity is as follows:

Destination	Maximum Reimbursement Amount*
Africa, the Americas, Europe and Oceania Including, but not limited to: Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, Uruguay, U.K., U.S.A., Australia and New Zealand	HK$12,000
Asia – West Asia / Middle East / South Caucasus Including, but not limited to: Turkey and other destinations in the Middle East or South Caucasus, unless otherwise specified below	HK$12,000
Asia – Central Asia and selected destinations Including, but not limited to: Israel, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia	HK$10,000
Asia – Japan, Singapore and South Korea	HK$8,000
Asia – East Asia and Southeast Asia Including, but not limited to: Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam, other Southeast Asian destinations, and Chinese Mainland outside Guangdong Province, unless otherwise specified below	HK$5,000^
Chinese Mainland – Guangdong Province and Macau	HK$4,000^

*Maximum reimbursement amount only covers the total major cost (i.e. transportation cost^#, accommodation cost^# and course/programme fee), and the actual reimbursement amount may vary among programmes and may be benchmarked against other funding schemes supporting similar programmes. For example,

For exchange studies, the maximum reimbursement amount will be benchmarked against theHKUWW Scholarship Scale, with the LOWER amount being applicable;
For short-term study abroad programmes, the maximum reimbursement amount will be benchmarked against the IAO Scholarship for Short-term Study Abroad Programmes (HK$14,000), with the LOWER amount being applicable.

Application Timeline and Procedures

Application

(i) Eligible students who intend to apply for FGEF MUST complete an online registration at least 28 days BEFORE the activity date or departure date, whichever is earlier.

(ii) Each applicant must register for his/her activity individually. Applicants participating in credit-bearing courses offered by HKUArts should also submit an online application individually, but NOT via the School/Centre Office concerned.

(iii) Applications for funding support for a second activity may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Students who have previously received reimbursement from the Fund and wish to check their remaining available amount should contact the Career Development Team before registering for another activity. A new registration must be completed for each subsequent activity.

(iv) Applications which do not fully meet the terms and conditions as laid out in Section B.2 above may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who are ineligible for the FGEF or unable to complete the registration process should email the Career Development Team at artssge@hku.hk for special approval. Results of special approval application will normally be given two weeks before the activity date. Late applications will not be considered.

Late Application and Maximum Subsidy Level

Time of Application Submission	Maximum Subsidy Level (Please refer to Section C)
28 days or more before departure	100%
14 to 27 days before departure	80%
Fewer than 7 days before departure	70%
After departure, while the trip is ongoing	50%
After completion of the trip	NOT considered

(v) Special cases – virtual participation due to medical reasons: Students who are unable to participate in person due to medical reasons may be considered for reimbursement of up to 50% of the maximum subsidy amount, subject to the submission of valid medical documentation and proof of paid programme and transportation cost^#.

(vi) Other special cases - All other special cases will be reviewed and handled on a case-by-case basis.

Reimbursement Procedures

(i) After the trip, registered applicants or those who have obtained special approval, by quoting their case number, should submit the Online FGEF Reimbursement Application Form and upload the required supporting documents (see (iii) below). After filling in the online form, they should then print the completed reimbursement form and submit in hard copy of the duly signed form with all supporting documents (including original boarding passes, original travel/ programme receipts, confirmation from travel agency, bank statement, post-trip report, etc.) to the Career Development Team in person. The online and hardcopy form, together with the supporting documents, must be submitted within six weeks after completion of the activity.

(ii) The following supporting documents will be required:

a completed Online FGEF Reimbursement Application Form accompanied by relevant supporting documents, e.g. original receipt, confirmation note, transportation ticket, bank transaction, original boarding passes;
a post-trip report not exceeding 1,000 words, with 10 photos taken during the activity attended;
an official document certifying completion of the activity (e.g. academic transcript, evaluation report, certifying letter) issued by the host institution(s)/organizer(s); and
for self-initiated activities that are not organized by HKU, applicants should submit a supporting letter endorsed by an HKU teacher/ the Career Development Team

(iii) Incomplete applications or submission six weeks after the completion of the activity will NOT be considered.

(iv) Applicants will be notified of the application result via their HKU email.

Notes:

# Transportation cost is confined to (a) the cheapest return economy class of transport at the most direct route to the place of the activity from Hong Kong. If applicants choose to extend their stay beyond the designated activity period voluntarily, or travel beyond the designated country/countries (i.e. not departing from or returning back to Hong Kong), they must provide a quotation showing the transportation price of the cheapest return economy class of transport on the exact start and end dates of the designated activity period, failing which the Faculty will not be able to process the reimbursement. Reimbursement will be considered based on the actual cost, or the quotation of the assumed flight in point (a), whichever is less. Expenses for meals and domestic/local transportation will NOT be reimbursed.

# Accommodation costs only cover standard room cost during the designated activity period. Applicants who share a room with others must indicate so in the reimbursement form.

HKUArts Local Unpaid Internship Allowance

Objective and Overview

To enhance student employability, the Faculty of Arts (HKUArts) is pleased to offer the HKUArts Local Unpaid Internship Allowance to eligible Arts undergraduate students from the 2026-27 academic year undertaking local unpaid internships (hereinafter the “internship”) that provide meaningful career exposure, professional learning, and skills development. It is intended to help offset basic expenses incurred during approved internships, such as meals and local transportation. The allowance is NOT a salary, wage, remuneration, or employment benefit.

The allowance cannot be held concurrently with any other funding source for the same internship, including but not limited to allowances or funding provided by HKU, government bodies or the host organisation. Exceptions may be considered only with prior special approval from the Dean or the Associate Dean (Teaching and Learning). Students shall review carefully the terms and conditions of all available allowance and funding schemes offered by the University, the government, and other relevant organisations before applying for the allowance.

Eligibility Criteria

The allowance is applicable to BA, BA(HDT) and BA&BEng(AI&DataSc) students.
Only internships endorsed by the Career Development Team (even after the arrangement from the central level) are eligible. The internship must receive pre-endorsement from the Career Development Team before the internship start date (see Section D for timing and the effect on the allowance level).
The internship must be attached to an HKUArts credit-bearing internship course.
Student interns shall complete the full internship period agreed with the host organization. If the internship is interrupted or terminated due to circumstances beyond the student’s control and not due to the student’s misconduct, non-performance, or withdrawal, the student may remain eligible, subject to submission of appropriate supporting documentation for the Faculty’s review.
Student interns shall avoid any conflict of interest and shall not undertake internships in organizations owned, managed, or directly supervised by their immediate family members, relatives, or close personal associates. Any actual, potential, or perceived conflict of interest must be declared in advance and will be subject to the Faculty’s review.

Allowance Amount

From the 2026-27 academic year onwards, each eligible student intern may apply for the allowance in each academic year of their degree studies (an academic year runs from 1 September to 31 August of the following year). The reimbursement parameters for each approved internship are as follows:

Item	Details
Location	Hong Kong only
Daily allowance	HK$120 per qualifying working day
Minimum hours per qualifying working day	4 work hours
Minimum accumulated work hours per internship	At least 120 work hours
Maximum number of claimable working days	35 working days
Maximum allowance per student intern per academic year	HK$4,200

A working day qualifies for the allowance only if the intern works at least 4 hours on that day. Each qualifying working day is reimbursed at the flat rate of HK$120, regardless of the number of hours worked beyond the 4-hour minimum.
Public holidays, rest days, leave days, sick leave, and other non-working days are NOT
Each student intern may claim up to HK$4,200 in each academic year, regardless of the number of unpaid internships undertaken during that year. This annual cap resets at the start of each academic year.

The allowance is calculated on the basis of the qualifying working days recorded on the internship timesheet, which must be validated as set out in Section E, Submission Method, point 2(v).

Application Timeline and Procedures

The internship must provide at least 120 work hours and be located in Hong Kong. Face-to-face, hybrid, virtual, part-time, and full-time internships are all accepted.
The minimum internship duration is 21 calendar days (three consecutive weeks) and the maximum duration is 150 calendar days (five consecutive months). Note that both the 21-day minimum duration and the 120-hour minimum must be satisfied; part-time interns should plan for a longer calendar span accordingly.
Each applicant must register for the internship and submit the online application individually—NOT via the School or Centre Office concerned—even where the internship forms part of a credit-bearing course offered by HKUArts.
An applicant may apply in respect of more than one internship in the same academic year, provided the total claimed does not exceed the annual cap of HK$4,200 and each internship is separately endorsed. A new registration must be completed for each internship. Students wishing to check their remaining available balance should contact the Career Development Team before submitting a further application.
Concurrent internships or concurrent allowance claims are NOT Students shall declare any other internships and funding sources, as failure to do so could lead to repayment obligations or disciplinary measures.
Retrospective internships and applications will NOT be accepted.

Online Application

Eligible student interns who intend to apply MUST complete the Unpaid Internship Allowance Online Application before the internship start date. To receive the full allowance, the application must be submitted at least 14 days BEFORE the start date. Applications submitted closer to the start date are accepted only at a reduced allowance level, set out below.

Application Timing and Maximum Allowance Level

Time of application submission	Maximum allowance level (see Section C)
14 days or more before the internship starts	100%
7 to 13 days before the internship starts	75%
Fewer than 7 days before the internship starts	50%
On or after the internship start date	NOT considered; no allowance can be claimed retroactively

Special Approval

Applications that do not fully meet the terms and conditions in Sections B and D may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Applicants who are ineligible for the allowance, or who are unable to complete the standard registration process, should email the Career Development Team at artssge@hku.hk to request special approval before the internship starts. The outcome will normally be communicated at least one week before the internship start date. Requests received on or after the internship start date will NOT be considered. All special cases are reviewed at the Faculty’s discretion.

Reimbursement Procedures

Submission Method

After the internship concludes, registered applicants (or applicants who have obtained special approval) should quote their case number and complete the Unpaid Internship Allowance Online Reimbursement (Payment Proceeding) and upload all the required supporting documents listed below in the system within four weeks after completion of the internship.
The following supporting documents must all be submitted in the online system (allowance payment proceeding) with required digital copies:

Endorsement email from the Career Development Team for the internship;
Copy of the internship offer letter or notification email issued by the host organisation*;
Signed Statutory Minimum Wage Exemption for “Student Interns” Waiver Form;
Proof of HKUArts credit-bearing internship course add/drop record;
Internship timesheet duly signed by the Internship Coordinator and the Employer/ Human Resources Representative/ Direct Supervisor*, confirming the exact dates and work hours completed during the internship;
Official document (e.g. a service certificate or a certification letter) certifying the successful completion of the internship issued by the host organisation;
Employer evaluation report submitted by the host organization*, the Faculty reserves the right to assess overall eligibility based on all submitted documents and feedback, including the quality of the evaluation;
Post-internship self-reflection report of no less than 1,000 words*, including five photos taken during the internship (subject to the employer’s approval for publicity use);
Post-internship acknowledgement post of no less than 150 words published on LinkedIn^*;
Proof of completion of four LinkedIn Learning courses^*, with the corresponding digital certificates or badges displayed on the student intern’s LinkedIn profile.
^A separate note on LinkedIn social media post and LinkedIn Learning will be provided via respective Internship Coordinators.
*The documents are required for HKUArts credit bearing internship course.

Incomplete applications, and submissions made more than four weeks after completion of the internship, will NOT be processed or considered.
Applicants will be notified of the application result and updates via the online application system and their HKU email.

Allowance and Financial Arrangements

The allowance will be disbursed to student interns directly by HKU, by autopay/bank transfer to the student’s registered bank account.
The processing period commences only once a complete application has been received; incomplete submissions will not start the disbursement clock. Where an application requires clarification, additional documents, or special review, disbursement may take longer.
No claim will be considered if any required documents are not provided by the designated deadline. The Career Development Team reserves final discretion over the allowance application and payment.
The scheme is subject to review and adjust by the Faculty after the first academic year (2026–27).

Student Action Flow and Key Timeline

Contact Information

Career Development Team, HKUArts
Arts Faculty Office, Room 4.05, 4/F, Run Run Shaw Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

(852) 3917 7161 | artssge@hku.hk

Read Full Guidelines

HERE

Judy Lee So Scholarship for Arts Students – Enrichment Scholarship

On the Donor

Professor Douglas So, BBS, JP, is a corporate lawyer by profession who was formerly the Vice-President at The University of Hong Kong, his alma mater, in charge of institutional advancement. In 2023, he joined the HKU Faculty of Arts as a Professor of Practice with his wealth of experience in art, heritage conservation and museum management. He is the Founder and Owner of the F11 Foto Museum and f22 foto space, and is also devoted to serving the community including being the current Chairman of the Museum Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong SAR Government. In recognition of his excellent public service and contributions, Professor So was appointed a Justice of the Peace and awarded the Bronze Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong SAR Government, as well as the honour of Chevalier dans l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Government.

In 2024, Professor So, set up a Scholarship in honour of his mother Madame Judy Lee So to support undergraduate students in the Faculty of Arts with the goal to foster and encourage a deeper understanding and appreciation of France and the French culture. With the meaningful cultural exchanges and learning experiences, the Scholarship can serve as a platform to nurture cultural ambassadors who will further promote cross-cultural dialogues and strengthen the ties between Hong Kong and France.

Purpose and Scope

The Scholarship will be granted to qualified full-time Bachelor of Arts students (in the second year or above) in the Faculty of Arts, based on academic merit (cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above), and have secured a structured experiential learning experience in France.

The experience may include internships, fieldtrips, summer/ winter programmes, study visits, etc., and can be credit-bearing or non-credit-bearing. In addition to the academic merit and secured experiential learning experience in France, the quality and relevance of the travel plan to the student’s studies will be considered.

Support Amount

HK$10,000 will be awarded to up to TWO selected students each academic year. The Scholarship shall be used to cover the costs of air and local travel, accommodation, and other relevant expenses incurred during the trip. Applicants are required to submit their travel plan and budget with their application.

Important Notes

The Scholarship cannot be held concurrently with other merit-based enrichment scholarships administered by the University for the same activity. The Scholarship may be held concurrently with non-merit based financial aids.
A student can only be granted the Judy Lee So Scholarship for Arts Students ONCE during his/ her studies

Application

Students must have secured a structured experiential learning experience in France before applying for the scholarship

Activity Period	Application Deadline / Period	Report Submission to Donor
May – August 2026	April 17, 2026	August 31, 2026
September – December 2026	July 3, 2026	December 31, 2026
January – April 2027	November 27, 2026	April 30, 2027

Complete the registration from HERE by the above application deadline / period, with the following items included:

Confirmation Letter of your secured experiential learning activity in France

e.g. Internship Offer Email / Letter, Acceptance Letter to the summer / winter programme

Your latest academic transcript
Travel and budget plan and how the activity is relevant to your studies
Roundtrip flight quotation of the planned activity period

Successful students will be informed via email.

Successful students are required to submit the below items within 4 weeks upon completion of the activity:

Thank-you Letter to the Donor
Report of around 1,000 words, and 5 photos with captions
Receipt of all transportation (e.g. flight, train, intercity buses), accommodation, and programme fee
Physical copy of all transportation tickets (e.g. boarding pass, bus / train tickets)
Bank statement showing the transaction records of the airfare and any other transportations, accommodation payment, and programme fee (if applicable)

Enquiries

Email: Arts.global@hku.hk