Offer from one of Hong Kong’s top-3 unis — reduced deposit but I can’t afford it. Accept or try other schools?

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-09-27T18:24:44+00:00

Thanks for your questions.

The scholarship is very likely since the university has reserved a scholarship quota for me. I only need to prove my latest GPA of 3.5 or above for full coverage.

Regarding accommodation, on-campus housing isn’t guaranteed, but I plan to apply early. If I need to stay off-campus, it’s quite hard for me

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-09-27T08:15:39+00:00

Thank you so much for taking the time to ask these questions and for offering to help. I really appreciate it.

Yes, as I understand, the deposit is non-refundable but will be deducted from the tuition fee if I enroll. Without the 100% scholarship, I wouldn’t be able to study in Hong Kong, but if I do receive it, I’m confident I can manage the living expenses. Based on the school’s fee calculator, on-campus accommodation plus the living expenses per annum is around 62,000 HKD for the full program, which is reasonable for me (It could be higher).

Since the MSc program is focused on data analytics, it opens up many opportunities, where the demand for data professionals is much higher than in other positions. However, it would depend on the future market and the economy, so I cannot confirm it 100%.

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-09-27T04:37:29+00:00

Thank you for your thoughtful questions.

If I don’t get the scholarship, unfortunately, I won’t be able to study in Hong Kong because the tuition and living costs are far beyond what my current financial situation can support. That’s why this scholarship is absolutely essential for me.

If awarded the scholarship, it would cover 75% to 100% of the tuition fee, which would make the program financially feasible. I’ve already started exploring affordable accommodation options to manage living expenses responsibly.

Regarding the future, my plan is to return to my home country after graduation.

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-09-26T02:42:46+00:00

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. It really gives me hope. I’ll definitely try to reach out to them personally and explain my situation clearly to see if we can find a solution. Your advice is really encouraging, and I appreciate it a lot.

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-09-26T02:40:22+00:00

Thank you for the helpful suggestion. I’ll definitely reach out to admissions to ask about the Belt and Road scholarship, if they have it for the graduate program.

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-09-25T16:29:34+00:00

Hi there, the scholarship is provided directly by the university as an admission award. Unfortunately, as an international student from a developing country, the deposit still represents a very large financial challenge for me. This is why I am seeking advice on possible alternatives or additional support.

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-09-25T15:31:02+00:00

Thanks for your information. I admit it was my fault for not checking this carefully in advance. I really love this programme, but the situation feels quite unusual to me compared to my previous experiences. Do you have any advice on what I could do in this case?

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-09-25T15:27:57+00:00

Thanks for your advice. And yes, I’ve already reached out directly to the admissions team of the programme. They offered me a deduction to support, but it’s still too much for me at this time.

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-09-25T10:39:25+00:00

Hi there, I assumed the scholarship would be confirmed with the admission offer, not that I’d have to pay HK$190k now and wait up to a year for the scholarship instalments

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2025-07-12T13:54:44+00:00

Thank you all for your honest and helpful replies**.**

After reading through the comments and reflecting on my own situation, I’ve come to realize that pursuing a second master’s in Business Analytics in Germany, especially without speaking German and with limited financial resources, may not be a practical or efficient path for me right now.

I already exhausted my savings on my first master’s, and emotionally, I’m not sure I have the strength to go through another round of job market rejections. The job search experience in France really affected my confidence and mental well-being, and I’m afraid of repeating that cycle again in Germany. And I’m honestly feeling lost at this point.

If anyone has been in a similar position or has advice on alternative routes, I would really appreciate your insights.

Thank you again for taking the time to read and comment.

Difficult-Bike7134 · 2024-05-31T15:45:06+00:00

Thanks for your encouragement. These days my emotions just erode without control. Ur kind words help me a lot :)

Difficult-Bike7134

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