Scholarship for Prospective English Teachers (2022/23) Information Sheet
for Secondary School Graduates and
Undergraduates / Graduates of Universities of Non-local Student Status
Background
1. The Scholarship for Prospective English Teachers (“the Scholarship”) is set up by the Education Bureau (EDB), the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) as one of a series of measures to enhance the professionalism of English teachers in Hong Kong.
2. The aim of the Scholarship is to attract persons proficient in English to pursue relevant local bachelor degree programmes and/or teacher training programmes, which will qualify them to become English teachers on graduation.
Applicants’ Identity
3. Both Hong Kong students and students from places outside Hong Kong may apply for the Scholarship for Prospective English Teachers (2022/23). Awardees will receive a scholarship for five years or one year, as determined by the study programme(s) pursued. Information about the Scholarship is detailed in Part A (for 5-year Scholarship), Part B (for 1-year Scholarship) and Part C below for non- local students. Local students should refer to the “Information Sheet for Secondary School Graduates of Local Student Status” and the
“Information Sheet for Undergraduates / Graduates of Universities of Local Student Status” posted on the EDB website (http://www.edb.gov.hk/scholarship).
4. Non-local students are persons, regardless of their nationalities, who require a student visa / entry permit issued by the Director of Immigration for the purpose of receiving education in Hong Kong. Applicants should check their student status with reference to the information from the Immigration Department of Hong Kong accordingly. For more information about applying for a visa
/ entry permit, please visit the webpage of the Immigration Department of Hong Kong (http://www.immd.gov.hk > Our Services
> Visas > Study > Students).
Part A: For Secondary School Graduates Interested in Applying for a 5-year Scholarship
Eligibility for Application
5. Application is open to secondary school graduates who
(a) have attained, either Grade B or above in AS Level English of the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Examinations, or Grade 5 or above in Higher Level English Language (A1 or A2) in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, or equivalent1; and
(b) will start pursuing year one study in relevant degree programmes in the universities in Hong Kong in the 2022/23 school year. A list of such programmes can be found on the EDB website (http://www.edb.gov.hk/scholarship).
6. Broadly speaking, applicants should pursue one of the following programmes provided by the universities in Hong Kong:
(a) a full-time Bachelor of Education (BEd) degree programme majoring in English; or
(b) a full-time Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Education (BA & BEd) double degree programme majoring in English; or
(c) a full-time Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree programme majoring in English or a relevant subject (such as Linguistics, with English as the main language studied) followed immediately by a full-time/part-time Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE) programme also majoring in English.
Scholarship Amounts
7. The Scholarship is tenable for the normal duration of the study programme(s).
The scholarship amounts are detailed in the following table:
1 The following results are accepted for the purpose of applying for the Scholarship:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – An overall score of Band 7 or above in the Academic Module
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – A minimum score of 600 (Paper-based) or 250 (Computer-based) or 100 (Internet-based)
National Joint College Entrance Examination (NJCEE) (全國普通高等學校統一考試, also known as Gaokao 高考) – A score of 130 or above in English
Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) – Grade B or above in Use of English (UE)
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination – Level 5 or above in English
Study programme Scholarship amounts for each awardee of non-local student status
BEd degree HK$80,000 per year
BA & BEd double degree HK$80,000 per year BA degree followed by
full-time/part-time PGDE
HK$80,000 per year (for BA degree programme);
and HK$80,000 (for the whole PGDE programme)
8. To have the Scholarship renewed every year, awardees are obliged to put forward good conduct and academic performance while complying with the terms and conditions of the Undertaking signed by them upon acceptance of the award of the Scholarship.
Part B: For Undergraduates / Graduates of Universities Interested in Applying for a 1-year Scholarship
Eligibility for Application
9. Application is open to undergraduates / graduates of universities2 who
(a) have attained either Grade B or above in AS Level English of the General Certificate of Education (GCE) Examinations, or Grade 5 or above in Higher Level English Language (A1 or A2) in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme, or equivalent3;
(b) hold a recognised first degree majoring in English or a relevant subject with honours not lower than Second Class Upper Division, or equivalent; and (c) will start pursuing a full-time Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDE)
programme majoring in English in the universities in Hong Kong in the 2022/23 school year. For information about such programmes and the list of
2 Persons who have graduated from degree programmes majoring in English and are employed in professions other than teaching, as well as those who are final year students graduating from relevant degree programmes in 2022 are included.
3 The following results are accepted for the purpose of applying for the Scholarship:
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – An overall score of Band 7 or above in the Academic Module
Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) – A minimum score of 600 (Paper-based) or 250 (Computer-based) or 100 (Internet-based)
National Joint College Entrance Examination (NJCEE) (全國普通高等學校統一考試, also known as Gaokao 高考) – A score of 130 or above in English
Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (HKALE) – Grade B or above in Use of English (UE)
Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination – Level 5 or above in English Language
institutions offering them, please visit the EDB website (http://www.edb.gov.hk/scholarship).
Scholarship Amounts
10. Each awardee will receive HK$80,000 for the pursuit of a full-time PGDE programme.
Part C: For Applicants of Parts A and B
Application and Selection
11. Applications for the Scholarship will be open from 10 to 19 August 2022.
12. Applicants will be shortlisted for an interview on the basis of public examination results attained. The interviews are scheduled for early September 2022.
Attendance is mandatory. Interviewees are expected to attend the interviews at their own expenses.
13. The Scholarship will be awarded to applicants whose performance is the best in all aspects. When all factors being considered are equal, priority will be given to applicants who intend to teach in primary schools, as indicated by the choice of their study programmes. Applicants will be informed of the selection results by the end of November 2022.
Teaching Obligation
14. Awardees should undertake to fulfil a teaching obligation by teaching English full- time in primary or secondary schools in Hong Kong (day schools offering a formal curriculum) immediately after graduation. The duration of the teaching obligation is three consecutive school years for awardees of the 5-year Scholarship and one school year for awardees of the 1-year Scholarship.
15. In the case of a BA degree programme awardee of the 5-year Scholarship who has chosen to pursue a recognised 2-year part-time PGDE programme upon completion of the BA degree programme, his/her full-time engagement as an English teacher in a school mentioned above while studying shall be counted towards the fulfilment of the teaching obligation, on condition that he/she completes the PGDE programme as required.
Undertaking and Deed of Indemnity
16. Awardees are required to sign an Undertaking which delineates the terms and conditions that they should comply with. These include, but are not limited to, the requirements for awardees to:
(a) attain good conduct and academic standards required by the university concerned to complete the relevant study programme(s);
(b) (for BA degree programme awardees) pursue a PGDE programme majoring in English immediately upon graduation from the degree programme; and (c) fulfil the teaching obligation of one year or three years in Hong Kong after
graduation, and adhere to the standards of professional conduct of teachers and have no records of professional misconduct.
17. At any point of time, when a breach of the Undertaking occurs,
(a) the scholarship will cease to be paid for the remainder of a study programme;
and
(b) awardees will be required to repay to the HKSAR Government the scholarship amounts received on an interest-free and, if applicable, pro rata basis.
However, these circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis and flexibility will be exercised for reasons of breaching the Undertaking not within the awardees’ control such as accidents, ill health, deaths, etc.
18. Each awardee has to nominate a person as his/her indemnifier. An indemnifier should be a person at or over 21 years of age who is gainfully employed, financially sound and able to provide a business/office address. Details of the qualifications of an indemnifier can be found in the Undertaking and the Deed of Indemnity. By signing the Deed of Indemnity, the indemnifier agrees to repay to the HKSAR Government the scholarship amounts received by an awardee if the awardee fails to comply with the terms and conditions included in the Undertaking and is unable to repay the scholarship amounts received.
Enquiries
19. For details about the relevant study programmes offered, please visit the websites of the universities in Hong Kong. Information about the
universities can be found on the EDB website (http://www.edb.gov.hk > Education System and Policy > Post- secondary Education > Local Higher Education > Institutions).
20. Enquiries about the Scholarship can be sent to ltq@edb.gov.hk or directed to Ms Constance CHOW (Tel. 852-2892 5786) of the Professional Development and Training Division, EDB.
Education Bureau
The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region June 2022
