A tapestry of dreams
Meet our 2025 cohort of non-local students
19 September 2025
CUHK has admitted about 880 non-local undergraduate students from around the world this year. Coming from diverse backgrounds, all of them have joined CUHK with outstanding results in public examinations such as IB, SAT, GCE A-Level, Taiwan GSAT and Mainland Gaokao.
Among the new students, some were recruited from mainland China, Macau and Taiwan, while many others come from 27 countries including Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Canada, Egypt, Ethiopia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Japan, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Portugal, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, the United States, Uzbekistan and Vietnam. Seventeen of them are awarded the Belt and Road Scholarship by the Hong Kong government.
Through the National Unified Universities and Colleges Entrance Examination System (or Gaokao), 405 undergraduate students were admitted from 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions of the mainland, with some coming from more remote places such as Heilongjiang and Inner Mongolia. Thirty of them are of ethnic minorities. They are multi-talented, having won awards in national-level and provincial-level competitions in areas including robotics, artificial intelligence, geography, sci-fi writing, and innovations.
The wealth of talents admitted from around the nation and the globe is testament to CUHK’s academic excellence and will help us build a multicultural learning environment.
Non-local students
Omar Elfazary (Computer Science and Engineering)
Omar, from Egypt, received the Belt and Road Scholarship by the Hong Kong government to study in CUHK. He has a passion for technology, programming, and problem-solving since childhood, and he took a gap year after graduating from high school to complete multiple programming projects. He believes that CUHK not only is one of Asia’s top universities but also boasts a diverse and inclusive community, making it an ideal environment for his education. Omar appreciates the generous scholarship provided by CUHK. He looks forward to actively participating in student clubs such as table tennis and swimming. He hopes to work in software development or artificial intelligence-related fields after graduation.
Sharmin (Science)
Coming from Bangladesh, Sharmin completed her high school education in Oman and graduated with the highest academic honours in her school. What attracts her most about CUHK is its long-standing science programmes, advanced educational facilities, strong alumni network, and rich internship opportunities. She appreciates the down-to-earth learning style at CUHK and finds the courses of high-quality and comprehensive. She looks forward to learning independence through dormitory life and forming connections with like-minded peers.
Dawitsamuel Habtamu Workineh (Economics (CUHK- Tsinghua University Dual Undergraduate Degree Programme))
Dawit, from Ehthiopia, chose to pursue his higher education in Hong Kong because of the multicultural environment it offered, believing it will help him expand his global perspective. He hopes to draw inspiration from Hong Kong’s role as a international city and further deepen his exploration of cross-cultural communication through the dual-degree programme. He eagerly looks forward to immersing himself in reading on the beautiful campus and hiking and jogging in the mountains. Dawit hopes to pursue master and doctoral degrees after graduation, dedicating himself to the cause of building a more equitable and inclusive global community.
Siilen Tsendjav (Global Business Studies)
Siilen has a passion for exploring interpersonal relationships, multiculturalism, and the vast universe. The student from Mongolia loves arts and sports such as football and volleyball. She chose CUHK because of its environment that combines academic excellence with whole-person education, particularly its unique collegiate system, which emphasises teacher-student interaction and personal growth. Siilen plans to actively participate in student organisations and campus sports activities, while looking forward to exchanging ideas and skills with classmates from around the world.
Mainland students
Zhong Yifei (Biotechnology, Entrepreneurship and Healthcare Management)
Zhong Yifei, from Xizang Autonomous Region, was admitted to CUHK with a full scholarship on the strength of her exceptional Gaokao results. From a young age, she has been curious about life sciences, winning numerous awards at school. CUHK’s multicultural academic environment, flexible cross-disciplinary training, and globally-connected research resources were what attracted her to pursue further studies in Hong Kong. She plans to actively participate in the university’s international research projects, expand her global perspective through the unique collegiate system, and gain exposure to cutting-edge advancements in life sciences worldwide through the global exchange programme to build a solid foundation for her further studies in the field.
Yang Wanchen (Electronic Engineering)
Yang Wanchen, from Guangxi Province, has had a strong interest in electronic technology since childhood, which earned him different kinds of awards in technological innovation and patents. In his view, CUHK not only boasts exceptional teaching faculty and a well-designed curriculum but also provides him with a platform to immerse himself deeply into the field of electronic engineering. The open academic atmosphere in the laboratories can inspire him to explore research directions that interest him. After graduation, he hopes to pursue advanced studies at a world-class university and contribute to the country’s development in electronics.
Wu Xiaohan (Social Science)
Coming from Shangdong Province, Wu Xiaohan has won first prize in a national high school essay competition on environmental protection and a national cultural heritage knowledge contest for youths, earning her the CUHK Multi-faceted Excellence Scholarship. She has also mastered piano and Chinese dance, achieving Level 10 certifications in both. Xiaohan believes that CUHK’s bilingual teaching approach not only can strengthen her English proficiency but also preserves the depths of Chinese culture, making it particularly suitable for mainland students. In the future, Xiaohan hopes to build a solid academic foundation, actively participate in various activities, and contribute to fostering a harmonious CUHK community.
Bi Wenqi (Integrated BBA)
Bi Wenqi, from Heilongjiang Province, received the Admission Scholarship from CUHK for his outstanding Gaokao academic performance. He is attracted by the University’s highly practical business courses, taught by professors with both academic and industry experience. He believes the school’s robust career support system, including professional guidance, regular investment banking recruitment events and internship opportunities, can prepare him for a career in investment banking. He looks forward to broadening his horizons, making friends from diverse cultures, equipping himself for the future, and pursuing his dream of becoming a finance professional.
Information and photos provided by the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid
Edited by Eva Choy
(Data as of 8 September 2025)
