Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) is offering fully funded undergraduate scholarships to Qatari high school students to study at top Hong Kong universities, with guaranteed employment upon graduation. Here’s who qualifies and how to apply.

What Is the QIA Scholarship?

The Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) Scholarship Program funds exceptional Qatari high school graduates to pursue undergraduate degrees at world-class universities in Hong Kong, with a comprehensive financial package and a remarkable guarantee: confirmed employment at QIA upon graduation.

This isn’t just a scholarship. It’s a structured talent pipeline, with QIA identifying and investing in Qatar’s future financial, technological, and economic professionals from the point they enter university, and bringing them back as part of Qatar’s National Vision 2030 workforce.

Focus disciplines: Accounting and Finance, Economics, Computer Science, and Data Science.

Target universities: The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) — both ranked among the top universities in Asia and globally.

Who Can Apply?

All criteria must be met:

• Qatari national
• Currently in the final year of secondary school at the time of application
• IELTS overall band score of 6.5 or above, with no component below 5.0 — taken within the last 24 months
• Minimum overall secondary school score of 90% (IB and A-Level scores must be converted to percentage equivalent)
• Unconditional offer for a full-time Bachelor’s degree in a QIA-approved university and major
• National Service clearance from the Qatar National Service Academy (male applicants only)
• Salary or retirement certificate from parent or guardian

What the Scholarship Covers

The guaranteed employment component is what sets this scholarship apart. QIA is not just funding a degree — it is recruiting its future analysts, economists, and technology professionals while they are still in secondary school.

The Four-Phase Selection Process

Phase 1 — Application Submission
Complete the scholarship application through QIA’s designated platform.

Phase 2 — Interviews
Shortlisted candidates attend a 30-minute one-on-one interview.

Phase 3 — In-Person Group Assessment
A full-day assessment evaluating leadership, agility, teamwork, and critical thinking. This is where QIA assesses not just academic ability but the professional potential the scholarship is designed to develop.

Phase 4 — Final Notifications
Final secondary school results are collected. Successful candidates receive official acceptance notifications.

Why Hong Kong?

HKU and HKUST are Asia’s premier research universities — consistently ranked among the world’s top 50 institutions in multiple disciplines. Hong Kong itself is one of the world’s leading global financial centres, with deep connections to mainland China’s economy and significant presence across finance, technology, and professional services.

For Qatari students pursuing Accounting, Finance, Economics, Computer Science, or Data Science, Hong Kong provides an academic and professional environment that is directly relevant to Qatar’s economic ambitions — international finance, sovereign wealth management, and digital economy development.

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