STEM Internship Scheme


Technology Start-up Support Scheme for Universities

Objective

Launched in 2020, the STEM25 Internship Scheme (the "Scheme") aims to encourage STEM students to gain innovation and technology ("I&T")-related work experience during their studies and to foster their interest in pursuing a career in I&T after graduation, so as to enlarge the local I&T talent pool. The Scheme provides allowance for undergraduates and postgraduates taking full‑time STEM-related programmes in designated local universities to enrol in short-term internships.

As an additional measure to attract I&T talents, the Scheme has been expanded as from June 2023 to cover the internship opportunities offered by the five government-funded research and development centres ("R&D Centres") and the Hong Kong Productivity Council ("HKPC") to undergraduates and postgraduates studying STEM programmes in local and non-local universities (including the Greater Bay Area ("GBA") campuses established by designated local universities). The expansion aims to encourage STEM students of other places to gain first-hand experience and understanding of the local I&T ecosystem and boost their confidence in pursuing a career in I&T in Hong Kong.

Eligibility26

Key Features

Application

Individual participating institutions are responsible for administering the Scheme and prescribing their respective application procedures and arrangements. Interested students are welcomed to approach the respective participating institutions.

It is at the discretion of individual universities to decide whether an internship place offered by a company/organisation is I&T-related and meaningful, taking into account the feedbacks of past student interns, and to set a ceiling on the number of student interns under the Scheme in each company/organisation to enrich student experiences. Interested employers are welcomed to approach the respective universities.

Frequently Asked Questions

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There are currently eight participating universities, namely City University of Hong Kong ("CityU"), Hong Kong Baptist University ("HKBU"), Lingnan University ("LU"), the Chinese University of Hong Kong ("CUHK"), the Hong Kong Education University ("EdUHK"), the Hong Kong Polytechnic University ("PolyU"), the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology ("HKUST") and the University of Hong Kong ("HKU").

Hong Kong Metropolitan University ("HKMU") will be joining the Scheme as from 2024-25.

The five government-funded R&D Centres refer to –

(a) Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre ("APAS");

(b) Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute ("ASTRI"), designated as the R&D Centre for Information and Communications Technologies;

(c) Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel ("HKRITA");

(d) Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre ("LSCM"); and

(e) Nano and Advanced Materials Institute ("NAMI").

The five R&D Centres and the Hong Kong Productivity Council ("HKPC") joined the Scheme as participating institutions as from 12 June 2023.

Each participating institution is responsible for administering the Scheme and prescribing its application procedures and arrangements. Interested students may approach respective participating institutions and interested employers may approach the respective participating universities for details.

Yes. Starting from April 2021, both local and non-local students who are legally employable in Hong Kong and meet the eligibility requirements are welcomed to join the Scheme. Non-local students are allowed to enrol in internships in Hong Kong only, subject to the conditions of stay of their visa/entry permit issued by the Immigration Department.

Final year students who have fulfilled all the course/credit requirements are eligible, so long as the internship commences before the expiry of student status and they meet the requirements of the individual universities. Non-local students should be subject to the conditions of stay of their visa/entry permit issued by the Immigration Department.

Only full-time internship is eligible under the Scheme. However, subject to the arrangement of individual universities and agreement of the participating employer, student interns may take unpaid study leaves insofar that the full-time employment requirement is met.

On the premise that the requirements of their university have been met, students may undertake internships under the Scheme during gap semester/year with a cap as prescribed by their university but not more than 90 days in each academic year.

Yes. As individual universities have prescribed their respective arrangements for application and allowance disbursement, the participating employer should ensure that it meets any requirements as set by the respective universities of the student interns. Such arrangements may include setting a ceiling on the number of student interns in each company/organisation and deciding whether an internship place is I&T‑related and meaningful based on the feedbacks of past student interns.

You may visit the following websites for more information on the relevant requirements under: 

the Minimum Wages Ordinance (Cap. 608):
https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/erb/smw_esi_wes.htm

Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF):
https://www.mpfa.org.hk/en/mpf-system/mandatory-contributions/employees

For the avoidance of doubt and any complications on the understanding of remuneration to be provided by the participating employer/ institution to the student intern for the internship, it is advisable that the agreed remuneration to be paid and received by the student intern, including salary, wage and any expected allowance, including the allowance under the Scheme, where applicable, should be clearly stated in the employment agreement for the internship and agreed between the employer and the intern, before commencement of work.

Others

Videos of Case Sharing by Student Interns

Advertorials

30 Sep 2020 Headline Daily
30 Sep 2020
Headline Daily
29 Sep 2020 HKET
29 Sep 2020
HKET
25 Sep 2020 SCMP
25 Sep 2020
SCMP
18 Sep 2020 Ming Pao
18 Sep 2020
Ming Pao
30 Jul 2020 HKET
30 Jul 2020
HKET
29 Jul 2020 SCMP
29 Jul 2020
SCMP
28 Jul 2020 Headline Daily
28 Jul 2020
Headline Daily
21 Jul 2020 Ming Pao
21 Jul 2020
Ming Pao

Enquiry

Interested students and employers may contact the following participating institutions where appropriate

Universities Contact
City University of Hong Kong Career and Leadership Centre
Tel: (852) 3442 2251
Email: stem.internship@cityu.edu.hk
Hong Kong Baptist University Miss Penny LO
Career Centre
Tel: (852) 3411 5278
Email: pennylo@hkbu.edu.hk

Hong Kong Metropolitan University
(joining in 2024-25)

Student Affairs Office
(Career Development and Entrepreneurship)
Tel: (852) 2768 6644
Email: career@hkmu.edu.hk
Lingnan University Office of Student Affairs – Career Advising Services
Tel: (852) 2616 7406 / (852) 2616 7446
Email: career@LN.edu.hk
The Chinese University of Hong Kong Career Planning and Development Centre
Tel: (852) 3943 7202
Email: cpdc@cuhk.edu.hk
The Education University of Hong Kong Career Development Service
Tel: (852) 2948 6246
Email: careerservice@eduhk.hk
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Careers and Placement Section, Student Affairs Office
Tel: (852) 3400 2446
Email: stem.cps@polyu.edu.hk
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Career Center
Tel: (852) 2358 6688
Email: itcstem@ust.hk
The University of Hong Kong The Centre of Development and Resources for Students
Tel: (852) 3917 2317
Email: stem@cedars.hku.hk

R&D Centres and HKPC Contact
Automotive Platforms and Application Systems R&D Centre Ms Anna LI
Tel: (852) 2788 6089
Email: annali@hkpc.org
Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute Talent Acquisition Team
Tel: (852) 3406 2707
Email: summerintern@astri.org
Hong Kong Research Institute of Textiles and Apparel Mr Hino CHANG
Human Resources Section
Tel: (852) 2627 8160
Email: recruit2@hkrita.com
Logistics and Supply Chain MultiTech R&D Centre Ms Koey YONG
Tel: (852) 3973 6274

Mr Chris CHAN
Tel: (852) 3973 6286

Email: recruit@lscm.hk
Nano and Advanced Materials Institute Mr Andy WONG
Human Resources Unit
Tel: (852) 3511 3486
Email: andywong@nami.org.hk
Hong Kong Productivity Council Ms Anna LI
Tel: (852) 2788 6089
Email: annali@hkpc.org