Judith Neilson Institute – The University of Hong Kong Opportunity Fellowship

On the Donor

In 2022, the Judith Neilson Institute pledged a donation to establish a fellowship scheme for students from Asia-Pacific countries, including but not limited to Myanmar and Afghanistan, to study the Master of Journalism (MJ)programme at The University of Hong Kong.

Purpose and Scope

Two fellowships shall be awarded each year to newly-admitted MJ students on the basis of academic merit and the following criteria:

• commitment to working in the field of journalism in their home communities if circumstances permit or working abroad on geopolitical reasons, and be willing to share the knowledge that they gain with the wider community of  development professionals; and
• intellectual ability, a commitment to staying in journalism profession after graduation.

Each fellowship shall cover:

• the full MJ programme tuition fee (for which the donor shall fund a maximum of 80% with the remaining tuition fee to be funded by the Journalism and Media Studies Centre);
• caution money;
• MJ application fee and other programme related fees;
• student visa application fee;
• a monthly living subsidy of HK$15,000 (US$1,919) from September 1 to May 31 of the academic year during the awardee’s MJ studies;
• a one-off subsidy for equipment kit (HK$24,960, US$3,200) including a laptop computer, mobile phone, and/or software licenses necessary for studying. The awardee(s) can keep the property upon their graduation; and
• any costs associated with the awardee’s travel from their home country to the Journalism and Media Studies Centre and the cost of mandatory quarantine hotel accommodation.

The Scholarship and other awards held concurrently shall cover the tuition fee equivalent to 60 credits, a minimum requirement for completion of the MJ Programme. In the scenario that the award recipient fails course(s), he or she shall bear the additional tuition costs of re-taking the failed course(s) and other costs associated with extending the study period (if applicable).