Alumni Stories – Build Your Future with France with our French Government Excellence Scholarships

Since 2000, the French Consulate has supported more than 100 students from Hong Kong and Macau in pursuing a Master’s degree in France.

The Alexandre Yersin Excellence Scholarship goes hand in hand with promoting the excellence, diversity and quality of French higher education, and encourages deeper cooperation between France, Hong Kong and Macau. Through this scholarship, France is committed to building a diverse cohort of remarkable leaders who can further developments and international understanding in their respective fields.

Being a laureate not only provides you access to quality and accessible education; it also opens doors to new cultural perspectives, as well as 800+ French companies in Hong Kong, driven by an entrepreneurial French community of more than 20,000 people.

For those of you who are thinking of starting a Master’s degree in France, hear from some of our current French Government Excellence Scholars about their experiences:

Gamzar Lee

Scholarship Awarded : 2019-2020
Institution : Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts Appliqués et des Métiers d’Art
Degree : Diplôme Supérieur des Arts Appliqués

"I have luckily received the Alexandre Yersin Scholarship in 2019, for the pursuit of my master study in Paris. It was product design that I studied in the National Superior school of Crafts and Applied Arts and I had to be in the school everyday and spent every full day there to prepare for my presentation and discuss over my design work. As a great support to both my study and my life in France, the monthly allowance of scholarship from Campus France has ensured my opportunity to focus on my design research and to have some spare time to visit museums and discover the country. Hereby I sincerely appreciate this funding that has made my dream come true.“

Crystal Pang

Scholarship Awarded: 2019-2021
Institution: Université Sorbonne Nouvelle
Degree: Master in Legal and Financial Translation and Terminology (English-Chinese)

“Studying in France is of not doubt one of the most precious and memorable experience in my life.

My passion for France began when I first visited the country back in 8 years ago. I was impressed by all its well-preserving historical sites and its artistic atmosphere. By then, I started to learn French at Alliance Française in Hong Kong. After I have finished my bachelor’s degree in Hong Kong, I have decided to start my adventure in France.

In my first year-stay in Paris, I have studied a French language and civilisation diploma to obtain DALF C1 level in order to have access to French higher education. Throughout this programme, I could immerse myself in its languages, its history and its culture. Today, I will soon finish my master’s degree in translation and will be looking for an internship in France.

Paris is a very multicultural city. In these years, I have made friends from all over the world. This experience has definitely widened my horizon. Both the French people and international students I met are very open-minded for any discussion and cultural exchange. All one has to do to thrive in France is to be proactive! Apart from the study, I can also enjoy the cultural richness offered by Paris, its museums, exhibitions, national libraries, etc.

Make your dream comes true if you are planning to enrol a master’s degree in France! Alexandre Yersin Scholarship offers its grantees an opportunity to experience the maximum throughout their stay in France!”

Sally Tsoi

Scholarship Awarded: 2021
Institution: Les Gobelins – Ecole de l’Image
Degree: Master of Arts – Character Animation and Animated Filmmaking

“Thanks to Alexandre Yersin Scholarship, I have the chance to continue my master's degree at Ecole de l'image GOBELINS in Paris. France has a lot of art museums, film festivals, and artist meetups that attracted me to study here. I can be inspired by the culture and the people around me every day. Despite the pandemic this year, I am grateful for having chances to talk to different studios and work with my classmates on the new film remotely.”

Benny Wong

Scholarship Awarded: 2019-2021
Institution: Ecole Nationale d’Aviation Civile
Degree: Master in international Air Transport Operations Management

“Being the largest aerospace city in Europe, Toulouse offers a lot of aerospace-related degree programmes and opportunities in the aviation industry. As an aviation enthusiast, studying in Toulouse lets me get closer to the sky. The International Airport Transport Operations Management (IATOM) master programme at ENAC gives me a broad overview and understanding of different players in the aviation industry. Conferences from different experts in the industry give a deep and professional insight in various important and challenging topics in aviation, especially during the pandemic time. For leisure, besides visiting the famous aviation museum “Aeroscopia” and the Airbus factory, flying on a small plane to explore the natural scenery of the Pyrenees is an enjoyable activity in Toulouse.”

Janice Wong

Scholarship Awarded: 2020-2021
Institution: Institut Polytechnique UniLaSalle
Degree: Msc in Urban Agriculture and Green Cities

“Salut mes amis! As a recipient of the Alexandre Yersin Scholarship in 2020, I started my master’s degree in Urban Agriculture and Green Cities at the Institut Polytechnique UniLasalle in Normandie. My background in environmental management and technology, combined with a passion for food, led me to advance my studies in France, a country known for its progressive agri-food industry and a sustainable mindset with its land. Thanks to the scholarship and a wide range of activities organized by Campus France, I was able to experience the French food system outside of studies through traveling, joining farm tours, visiting local artisanal food producers, and interacting with locals (without any financial stress). The slow food culture and lifestyle in France have inspired me to consciously design a lifestyle that is more suited for me, which some of us could find a little carried away in a fast-paced city like Hong Kong. Especially amidst this unusual time of the pandemic, my journey was made much smoother with the support provided by Campus France including visa fast-tracking and insurance. I cannot wait to leverage my experience to bridge between the agri-food industry between France and Hong Kong! I guarantee you that pursuing a master’s degree in France is going to be a life-changing experience!”

Ka Yee Wong

Scholarship Awarded: 2020-2021
Institution: HEC Paris
Degree: MSc in Sustainability and Social Innovation

“Apparently, 2020 was not an ideal year for anyone to fully engage with campus life, but these challenges made studying in France and at HEC Paris a more unique experience. The ever-changing COVID situation taught me how to be more adaptable and to make the most of what is available. As the classes in the first semester were moved online after a few weeks, I learnt how to stay motivated regardless of circumstances, to connect with people online and to appreciate the time I spent isolated in the French countryside with a few local friends, cattle, sheep and donkeys.”

ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR NEXT STEP?

French Government Excellence Scholars receive an outstanding education, access to a global network of alumni, and experts in their relevant industries. Let France support you in taking your professional and personal development to the next level.

Just like our awardees, make your dreams in France come true and apply before the 3rd of April 2022 via our newly launched online application platform.

To learn more about the scholarship, click here, or contact us at: campusfrance@consulfrance-hongkong.org.