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CUHK debuts university-wide Fenghuang Scholarship for public examination top scorers
Empowering medical students to go beyond classroom and become next-gen physicians
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) announced today (7 July) the launch of the “CUHK Fenghuang Scholarship”, designed to recognise students who have achieved outstanding results in public examinations and support their participation in local and overseas exchange programmes, fostering diversity and holistic development. CUHK’s Faculty of Medicine (CU Medicine) also announced that it has admitted a total of 35 top scorers from this year’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) and that its admission rate for this year’s School Nominations Direct Admission Scheme (SNDAS) has reached an impressive 85%.
A HK$1.6 million catalyst for global exchange and holistic development
CUHK establishes the CUHK Fenghuang Scholarship for top-scoring students in local or overseas public examinations. Each scholarship recipient will receive a full tuition waiver for at least four consecutive years, together with study allowances or overseas exchange scholarships worth more than HK$1.6 million in total. Recipients will be formally honoured with the title of “CUHK Fenghuang Scholars” in recognition of their exceptional achievements.
Medical students who become CUHK Fenghuang Scholars will be sponsored to step beyond the classroom. The scholarship will support their active participation in local and international exchanges, service-learning projects, and other experiential learning activities. Designed to broaden their horizons and foster holistic development, this initiative aims to lay a solid foundation for these elite talents to become innovative, compassionate, and empathetic 21st-century physicians.
Outstanding performance of its pioneering four-year GET medical programme
CU Medicine launched its four-year Graduate Entry Track (GET) medical programme in the 2025/26 academic year, tailored for high-calibre graduates from science- and health-related disciplines. While strictly upholding the highest standards of medical education, the accelerated curriculum shortens the training pathway and leverages students’ prior research training and academic backgrounds. By facilitating the translation of research outcomes into clinical practice, it aims to cultivate a new generation of doctors equipped with both innovative research capabilities and strong clinical competence.
The inaugural cohort of GET students achieved a 100% passing rate in their first professional medical examinations this academic year, performing on par with their peers. Among them, one student received the Innovation and Technology Scholarship awarded by the Innovation and Technology Commission of the Hong Kong SAR Government for developing an innovative targeted drug design based on interdisciplinary expertise.
The incoming second GET cohort for the 2026/27 academic year continues to showcase exceptional academic calibre. Over half of these students are graduates from top-tier global universities, including the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, University College London, the University of California, Los Angeles, the University of Toronto, the University of British Columbia, Monash University and the National University of Singapore.
SNDAS admission rate hits 85%, underscoring strong confidence from the education sector and CUHK’s commitment to diverse, non-traditional talent pathways
To comprehensively evaluate local students with exceptional talents, CU Medicine continued its participation in SNDAS this year, recording an impressive admission rate of 85%. Among the successful applicants is a student from the Minxin Hong Kong School (Nansha, Guangzhou), which enrolls children of Hong Kong residents. This also highlights CU Medicine’s commitment to drawing top-tier talents from across the entire Greater Bay Area. All students admitted through SNDAS possess both academic excellence and diverse talents, with many being ambassadors for local non-governmental charitable organisations, participants of innovation and technology internship programmes with a strong STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics) background, and scholarship recipients who have undertaken a year-long exchange programme in South America. The exceptional intake underscores the strong support and confidence among secondary school principals in CU Medicine’s whole-person education philosophy, as well as CUHK’s commitment to diverse, non-traditional talent pathways.
From the success of GPS to CU Medicine Plus: redefining medical education excellence
CU Medicine established Asia’s first Global Physician-Leadership Stream (GPS) in the 2013/14 academic year. The programme aims to nurture future leaders in healthcare service, medical research, public health and health policy upon graduation. To date, more than 300 students have graduated from the programme. Since its launch in 2013/14, GPS has been the top programme, with the highest median admission score, among all the universities in the territory and for the 12th consecutive year, GPS continues to be the top programme with the highest median admission score among all the universities in the territory.
To extend the success and education philosophy of GPS to all medical students, CU Medicine has undertaken a comprehensive review and integration of its medical curriculum. Drawing from years of experience in nurturing medical leaders, the Faculty will implement the “CU Medicine Plus” curriculum model for all medical students from the 2026/27 academic year onwards. The endeavour aims to further enhance the learning outcomes and empower all CUHK’s medical students to go “Beyond a Doctor”, becoming the next generation of physicians who embody the roles of Scholars, Innovators, Leaders and Humanitarians.
Professor Winnie Chu Chiu-wing, Assistant Dean (Admissions), noted: “CU Medicine Plus aims to offer a systematic three-tier curriculum framework that not only enables students to acquire the professional knowledge and clinical skills required of a doctor over a six-year course of study, but also fosters an innovative mindset, leadership capabilities and a sense of humanistic care. The framework will better prepare our students to meet the challenges of future healthcare systems and become a new generation of competent and compassionate doctors.”
Professor Philip Chiu Wai-yan, Dean of CU Medicine, remarked: “Students admitted by CU Medicine have distinguished themselves not only through academic excellence, but also through their strengths of character. This profound trust and support from the academic community and society drives us to continuously innovate. The CU Medicine Plus programme is designed to transcend the traditional boundaries of medical education. Together with the establishment of the CUHK Fenghuang Scholarship, we are confident that we can nurture these top-notch young individuals to go ‘Beyond a Doctor’ and help reshape the future for healthcare systems in Hong Kong and around the world.”
CU Medicine reaffirms its commitment to embedding professionalism and bioethics education throughout its six-year curriculum. Leveraging CUHK’s distinctive collegiate system to promote whole-person education, the Faculty remains dedicated to nurturing future healthcare leaders with integrity and competence, a global outlook and a strong sense of social responsibility.
CU Medicine has admitted 35 top scorers from this year’s International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). To further recognise excellence in public examinations, the University has launched the “CUHK Fenghuang Scholarship”—worth over HK$1.6 million in total—which supports these outstanding students in participating in local and overseas exchange programmes, thereby fostering diversity and holistic development.
GPS Med 6 student Chris initially aspired to specialise in neurology. After numerous overseas exchange experiences and research opportunities, he discovered a deep passion for orthopaedics. To build a stronger foundation for his future specialist career, he undertook short-term clinical internships in California and Mexico.
After completing her fifth year of study, Med 6 student Jasmine took a gap year to pursue a Master's degree in Medical Education at Harvard Medical School—making her the youngest student ever admitted to the programme since its inception in 2014.
Professor Philip Chiu, Dean of CU Medicine, emphasises that innovation, compassion, and empathy are essential qualities for 21st-century physicians. To that end, CU Medicine remains steadfast in its commitment to excellence in medical education and training, ensuring the highest level of support for every student.
Professor Winnie Chu Chiu-wing, Assistant Dean (Admissions), announces that the Faculty will roll out the "CU Medicine Plus" curriculum model for all medical students starting from the 2026/27 academic year. The endeavour aims to further enhance the learning outcomes and empower all CUHK’s medical students to go “Beyond a Doctor”, becoming the next generation of physicians who embody the roles of Scholars, Innovators, Leaders and Humanitarians.
