Full tuition. Monthly living support. A Master’s degree at one of Asia’s leading universities.
The Chinese University of Hong Kong has opened applications for the CUHK-MAICS Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship for the 2027/2028 academic year. The financial package is substantial enough to make postgraduate study in Hong Kong genuinely accessible for students who would otherwise struggle to fund it.
The scholarship covers full tuition fees valued at HK$190000 per year alongside a monthly cost of living stipend of HK$9000, providing up to HK$90000 in total living support. Both run from the first semester of the program. The application process has two stages and the first one needs to happen before the second can even begin.
Published on: September 10, 2026. Application deadline confirmed as 15 January 2027. Selection results expected by March 2027. Contact: maics@cuhk.edu.hk
At a Glance
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Scholarship | CUHK-MAICS Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship |
| University | Chinese University of Hong Kong CUHK |
| Program | Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies MAICS |
| Tuition coverage | HK$190000 per year full tuition |
| Monthly stipend | HK$9000 per month |
| Total living support | Up to HK$90000 |
| Scholarship deadline | 15 January 2027 |
| Priority applicants | Belt and Road Initiative country citizens |
What This Scholarship Is Actually For
The MAICS Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship was created with a specific purpose. To bring more underrepresented voices into postgraduate Cultural Studies education in Hong Kong.
CUHK’s Department of Cultural and Religious Studies runs the Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies program. The scholarship supports students whose race, ethnicity, gender, religion or nationality is not fully represented in the existing student community. People who bring perspectives that the program genuinely does not yet have.
That framing matters. This is not a general academic merit award. It is designed for people whose presence in the room changes the conversation.
Priority goes to citizens of eligible Belt and Road Initiative countries across Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa, particularly those who can demonstrate financial need alongside their academic and professional credentials.
The Program Behind the Scholarship
The Master of Arts in Intercultural Studies is an interdisciplinary postgraduate program exploring culture, identity, globalization and intercultural exchange.
It suits students working in cultural fields professionally those with academic interests in how communities interact across differences, and researchers planning to continue into doctoral study in Cultural Studies or related disciplines.
For aspiring PhD students, the program can serve as a structured pathway into research, and the scholarship committee explicitly values applicants who are planning that trajectory.
Who Has the Strongest Chance
The selection committee looks at several factors together not academic grades alone.
Strong applicants typically bring:
- Citizenship from an eligible Belt and Road Initiative country
- Demonstrated financial need
- Academic qualifications in Cultural Studies or a related field
- A portfolio showing cultural, professional or creative achievement
- Leadership or impact in cultural work, community organizing, journalism the arts or similar fields
- A clear sense of how their background and work connect to the program’s research community
- Plans or aspirations for doctoral-level research
The Portfolio (Part Most Applicants Underestimate)
A portfolio of work is a core requirement of this application. It is not supplementary documentation.
Depending on your background, your portfolio might include:
- Academic essays or scholarly writing
- Published articles, newspaper pieces or press releases
- Creative work across any medium
- Documentation of cultural projects or community initiatives
- Professional work demonstrating intercultural engagement
The portfolio is where the selection committee sees what you have actually done not just what you studied. Applicants with strong grades but thin portfolios tend to be less competitive than those whose work demonstrates real cultural engagement and original thinking.
Start building or organizing your portfolio materials before you begin the application. Assembling it at the last minute rarely produces a strong submission.
Applying the Two-Step Process
This is where unprepared applicants run into problems.
You cannot apply for the scholarship first. The program application comes before everything else and you need the application number it generates before the scholarship portal will accept your materials.
Step 1 Apply to the MAICS program
Submit your postgraduate application through the CUHK Graduate School online application system. Pay the required application fee. Wait for your application number.
Step 2 Apply for the scholarship
Once you have your application number, complete the scholarship application form and upload all supporting documents through the Graduate School’s online system.
Supporting documents include your portfolio, evidence of financial need, academic qualifications and any other materials demonstrating your cultural leadership or professional achievements.
Apply Now for CUHK-MAICS Diversity and Inclusion Scholarship
Step 3 Panel interview
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to a panel interview as part of the selection process. Prepare to speak specifically about your portfolio, your reasons for choosing this program, your cultural background and how it connects to the scholarship’s goals and your plans beyond the Master’s degree.
The deadline for all materials is 15 January 2027.
Given the two-stage process starting in October or November 2026 is strongly advisable. Leaving the program application until January creates unnecessary risk.
Living in Hong Kong on This Scholarship
HK$9000 per month is a meaningful stipend for a postgraduate student in Hong Kong. It will not cover a private apartment in the central districts but combined with on-campus or subsidized university accommodation, where available, it supports a workable student lifestyle.
The tuition coverage is the more significant financial relief. HK$190000 per year in fees is a substantial barrier for most international students. Removing it changes the calculation entirely.
Applicants should factor in initial relocation costs, visa fees, health insurance and the first month’s expenses before the stipend begins.