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At a Glance

  • Application Period: October 8, 2026 – February 4, 2027 (23:59)
  • Information Session: October 30, 2026 (4-5pm).
  • Poster Session: November 4, 2026 (12:30pm-2:00pm).

Laidlaw Scholars Programme at HKU

Become a global leader through immersive research and real-world impact. With support from the Laidlaw Foundation, this prestigious two-year scholarship empowers high-achieving undergraduates to drive independent research, develop ethical leadership skills, and create positive change in communities worldwide.

What You Gain

  • Research Funding: Stipend of HK$2,000/week (local) or HK$5,000/week (abroad) for up to 6 weeks.
  • Leadership-in-Action Project Funding: Up to HK$15,000 to fund your travel and stipend of HK$2,000/week (local) or HK$5,000/week (abroad) for up to 6 weeks.
  • Oxford Character Leadership Programme: Exclusive enrollment in the online Ethical Leadership Masterclass delivered by the Oxford Character Leadership Project.
  • Annual Student Conference: Fully funded to participate in the Annual Laidlaw Student Conference either in Europe or the North America to present your research/leadership-in-action experience.
  • Exclusive Global Network: Direct connection to an international network of scholars at leading Laidlaw Network Universities including Oxford, UCL, Harvard, MIT, Toronto, among others.

Your Two-Year Journey (2026-27 and 2027-28)

  • 1st Year Summer Research (6 Weeks, June–August): Lead a self-initiated or existing research project at HKU or approved partner university under expert faculty supervision.
  • 2nd Year Leadership-in-Action (6 Weeks, June–August): Apply your leadership skills in the field—participating in Laidlaw Foundation projects, working with disadvantaged communities, or translating your research into real-world impact.
  • Year-Round Workshops: Engage in 6 structured days of leadership development held across the academic year.

Research Project Options

In your first year, you will define, execute, and present an original research project under the mentorship of an academic supervisor. The programme offers full flexibility in choosing your research pathway:
  • Self-Initiated Research: Propose your own research topic and partner with an HKU faculty member who agrees to supervise your work.
  • Existing HKU Projects: Join an ongoing research project led by an HKU academic supervisor. The project list will be available in November 2026.
  • Global Partner Projects: Apply for selected research projects offered at leading overseas partner institutions, including University College London (UCL) and the University of Leeds. The project list will be available in November 2026.

Eligibility

  • Status: Full-time 1st or 2nd-year undergraduates (graduating in/after 2028–29). Visiting students are not eligible.
  • Academic Requirement: Normally a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above.
  • Profile: Self-motivated, committed to independent inquiry, and passionate about community impact.

Selection Criteria

  • Academic Assessment (50%)
    • Research proposal
    • Why the project is important
    • Outputs and outcomes
    • Impact i.e. benefits beyond the immediate academic community
    • Interdisciplinary aspects of the initiative and International dimension
  • Leadership Potential and Ambition (50%)
    • Motivations for applying
    • Career aspirations beyond their studies
    • Evidence of leadership/potential
    • Suitability as a scholar

How to Apply

  1. Identify a Home Supervisor: Contact an HKU academic (who are at the rank of assistant professor or above) to support your proposal and obtain a signed Letter of Support (Appendix 2). (Note: For UCL or University of Leeds projects, do NOT contact host supervisors directly; HKU Horizons Office handles host confirmations upon selection).
  2. Complete the Application Form: Fill out the general application (and the UCL-specific form if applying for a UCL project).
  3. Submit Before Deadline: Submit all required materials by February 4, 2027 (23:59).
Learn more about scholar experiences across the Laidlaw Scholars Network. For questions, contact laidlaw@hku.hk.

Programme highlights

Support for the Scholars is made possible by the generous donation of Lord Irvine Laidlaw of Rothiemay.  The award will cover:

  • Weekly stipend: HK$2,000 (local research) / HK$5,000 (overseas research) per week for up to 6 weeks to support summer research
  • Travel: Up to $15,000 will be provided to support the leadership-in-action programme in/outside of Hong Kong
  • An ethical leadership masterclass by the Oxford Character Leadership Project (online course)

Full-time undergraduate students in their first or second year of study (as well as students who will graduate in/after 2027-28) are eligible to apply. The programme is not open to visiting students. The scholarship shall be awarded on the basis of academic merit (normally with a Cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above) and demonstrated commitment to conducting a research attachment independently and the viability of the proposed research project. The selection criteria are as follows:

Academic Assessment (50%)

  • Research proposal
  • Why the project is important
  • Outputs and outcomes
  • Impact i.e. benefits beyond the immediate academic community
  • Interdisciplinary aspects of the initiative and International dimension

Leadership Potential and Ambition (50%)

  • Motivations for applying
  • Career aspirations beyond their studies
  • Evidence of leadership/potential
  • Suitability as a scholar

Key Programme elements:

  1. Six days of leadership training: April, September and November
  2. Summer research for six weeks in your first summer (June to August): You will undertake a research work at HKU or at one of the university partners based on an existing project or self-initiated one at your own choice.
  1. An immersive leadership-in-action experience for six weeks (June to August) in your second summer:
  • Participate in a leadership programme recommended by the Laidlaw Foundation (https://laidlawscholars.network/posts/2021-central-projects)
  • Leadership placement in an organisation where the Scholars can build on their research project; create, plan and implement a strategy; and lead others
  • Research – infield application of the Scholars’ first-year research project putting into action with the aim of creating positive change in society

Research Project

All scholars will undertake a research project, typically in their first year of the programme, where they develop, pursue and report on a research question with a research supervisor. For examples, please click on the links below:

  • Awarded projects from HKU Laidlaw Scholars (coming soon)
  • Awarded projects from Laidlaw Scholars from other universities (coming soon)

Application

IMPORTANT: Students shall contact an academic at HKU to serve as his/her home supervisor and prepare a letter of support (Appendix 2), which shall be submitted by all applicants regardless the choice of project. For those applying to a project at UCL, Universities of Leeds, please do not contact the host supervisor at this stage. Once your application is selected by HKU, the Horizons Office will confirm acceptance of your proposal with the host supervisor.

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