From CityUHK to Cambridge: Scholarships empower outstanding students to shape a wider world
This autumn, a new cohort of graduates from City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) embarked on a new academic year at the University of Cambridge. From finance to urban studies, from corporate careers back to academia, and from digital humanities to aerospace policy and scientific research, these individuals come from diverse backgrounds. Yet, they all share a spirit of inquiry, innovative thinking, and global vision nurtured at CityUHK as they open new chapters at this historic institution.
Supported by various scholarship schemes established through collaboration between CityUHK and the University of Cambridge, more than 20 CityUHK graduates successfully set off on their educational journey to Cambridge this year to pursue their aspirations on a broader stage.
From finance to urban studies: Courage to break out of boundaries
For Wang Keyue, who is currently studying for an MPhil in Planning, Growth and Regeneration at Cambridge, receiving the scholarship is not only an accolade but also an opportunity to break out of traditional academic boundaries and re-explore his interests and aspirations.
Majoring in Accountancy and Finance during undergraduate studies, Keyue chose to pivot towards land economy and urban studies after graduation, hoping to understand urban development and social issues from a fresh perspective.
Reflecting on the academic journey, Keyue used a unique metaphor to describe CityUHK: “CityUHK is the biggest shareholder in my life.”
From coming to Hong Kong for undergraduate studies to pursuing advanced studies at Cambridge today, Keyue believes that CityUHK has provided steadfast support at every crucial life stage, empowering his courage to cross disciplinary boundaries and continuously explore new possibilities.
Returning to the classroom after years in the workplace: keeping the pace of curiosity
For Natalie Wong Hong-yiu, the journey to Cambridge marks a fresh start at another stage of life.
As a CityUHK graduate in Marketing, Natalie worked in banking and wealth management for several years before deciding to return to campus to pursue the Master of Finance programme.
Natalie believes that a marketing background combined with financial work experience allows for a multi-faceted understanding of the business world. The learning experience at CityUHK taught her that an academic major never limits one’s future; maintaining curiosity and an open mind is the true key to continuous growth.
Through the studies at Cambridge, Natalie hopes to further deepen financial expertise, exchange ideas with peers from around the world, and broaden global horizons.
From the classroom to industry, and onto the international stage
Wu Sangyu, currently pursuing the Master of Finance programme at the Cambridge Judge Business School, believes that the biggest advantage stems from a combination of academic and practical experience.
After completing a Bachelor’s degree in Finance at CityUHK, Sangyu gained experience working in the financial sector, bridging classroom theories with real-world business decisions.
Sangyu noted that CityUHK’s international campus environment fostered collaboration with people from diverse cultural backgrounds and cultivated an open mindset. One of the most important takeaways during university was learning to proactively seek opportunities rather than wait for them. Whether through exchanges, internships, or meeting people from different fields, much personal growth comes from the willingness to step out of one’s comfort zone.
For Sangyu, the scholarship is not just financial support, but also an affirmation and encouragement to bravely step into the next stage of life.
A bottle that travelled to Cambridge
Accompanying He Fangzhou to the UK are not only books and luggage, but also a CityUHK bottle printed with a personal name.
This bottle comes from the “Future Global Leaders Programme,” co-organised by CityUHK and Lucy Cavendish College, Cambridge. Bringing it along holds special significance, it carries cherished memories of studying at CityUHK, alongside valuable experiences of collaborating and exchanging ideas with peers from diverse cultural backgrounds during the programme.
Currently pursuing an MPhil in Digital Humanities, Fangzhou shared that majoring in Creative Media at CityUHK helped realise that digital technology is more than just a tool, it profoundly impacts culture and society. Fangzhou hopes to bring the interdisciplinary mindset cultivated at CityUHK to Cambridge, further exploring how technology transforms the ways people create, interpret, and participate in culture.
From communication studies to digital humanities
Also pursuing an MPhil in Digital Humanities, Japhy Chen Siqi majored in Integrated Marketing Communication as an undergraduate. A strong passion for digital humanities, combined with a research direction that closely aligned with the Cambridge programme, prompted this step into an interdisciplinary academic path.
During university studies at CityUHK, Japhy developed the habit of open discussion with peers and professors, mastering academic research logic and data analysis tools through communication and new media research methods courses, which laid a solid foundation for diving into digital humanities research today.
Siqi hopes to enhance computational research skills at Cambridge and make lifelong friends from diverse backgrounds around the world. To fellow students pursuing their dreams, Siqi shares this advice: “Sometimes, if you just hold on a little bit longer, the result might be truly different.”
Exploring international aviation policy through aerospace engineering
As a graduate of CityUHK’s inaugural Bachelor of Engineering in Aerospace Engineering programme, Li Ruibo aims to gain a deeper understanding of international aviation law and policy through studies at Cambridge.
Ruibo shared that participating in CityUHK’s outbound student exchange programme provided exposure to peers from various cultural backgrounds, building greater confidence to step onto the international stage.
Beyond academic pursuits, Ruibo is eager to experience the UK’s renowned football culture first-hand, embracing a unique campus life.
Nurturing global perspectives in an international campus
Aleksandar Gadanski from Serbia is currently studying Scientific Computing. He shared that his accumulated learning and competition experience in mathematics, physics and programming provided great support for his academic development and exploration at Cambridge.
For Aleksandar, one of the most valuable takeaways from CityUHK is the multicultural exchange fostered by an international campus. Studying and living alongside people from diverse backgrounds has taught Aleksandar to understand the world with greater openness and inclusivity.
In the future, Aleksandar hopes to connect with more like-minded peers and scholars, broadening horizons through the collision of different cultural and academic viewpoints.
Discovering More Possibilities Through Internships
Mandy Ding Man, who is studying for an MPhil in Finance and Economics, expressed that the internships and experiential learning opportunities provided by CityUHK helped bridge classroom theories with real-world work environments, fostering a more comprehensive perspective.
Mandy encourages junior students to proactively seize opportunities provided by the University and seek advice from seniors and mentors to find their own direction through different stories.
She believes that the international environment of Hong Kong and CityUHK enables individuals to explore wider developmental pathways, and she also looks forward to continuing to break new personal and academic ground through the educational journey at Cambridge.
Creating her own future
Having completed a Bachelor of Science in Physics, Yui Yeung Yeuk-yee is advancing her studies at Cambridge via the CityUHK-Newnham College Research Master Scholarship. Yui looks forward to learning from world-class scholars, further developing her research capabilities and gaining experience and confidence in presenting and enhancing the ability to present research findings at international academic conferences.
Sustaining this journey is a famous quote by management guru Peter Drucker: “The best way to predict the future is to create it.”
Yui hopes to bring the CityUHK spirit of diligence, progress and bold exploration onto a broader academic stage.
Continuing the CityUHK story at Cambridge
To support outstanding students in pursuing advanced studies at Cambridge, CityUHK has actively deepened its collaboration with the University of Cambridge in recent years, expanding comprehensive scholarship schemes. Among these, the CityUHK-Lucy Cavendish College Scholarship programme provides full scholarship support for up to 20 students annually to pursue a one-year full-time master’s degree at Cambridge, starting from the 2025/26 academic year.
In addition, CityUHK collaborated with Newnham College, Cambridge to launch a Research Master’s Degree Scholarship Scheme, which funds two outstanding female research master’s students each year to study at Cambridge, after which they return to CityUHK to pursue PhD studies under joint supervision by scholars from both universities.
CityUHK will continue to build bridges to world-leading academic institutions for more talented students through diverse international collaboration programmes, accompanying them as they continue to write their growth stories on the global stage.
