Life at Cambridge /
Sharing from Our Scholars
Find out what past Scholars think about Cambridge and the Scholarship here.
My four years of undergraduate studies at Cambridge were amazing and unforgettable.
Mr. Tse, Phoenix Tze Sing
謝梓昇
2012 Scholar
My four years of undergraduate studies at Cambridge were amazing and unforgettable. The Engineering course was intense, but I managed to take advantage of the opportunities that Cambridge offered, from volunteering at local schools, to playing in the Chinese orchestra at the British Museum. My college was very supportive with good supervisions and social activities – the engineering challenges which took place during the engineers’ garden parties and dinners were always the highlight – one year, we had to build a boat to go onto the River Cam! Outside of studies, the Formula Student team and Chinese orchestra played a big part in my life. To bring the Formula Student cars to Silverstone for competition after years of design and building work was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences.
Thank you so much, The Friends of Cambridge University in Hong Kong, for awarding me The Prince Philip Scholarship.
Having completed his undergraduate studies in June 2016, Phoenix is currently pursuing a PhD in Gas Turbine Aerodynamics at the Whittle Laboratory, Cambridge.
None of this would have been possible without the generous support of The Friends and their benefactors, to which I am greatly indebted.
Mr. Hung, Johnathan Man Chiu
孔文超
2011 Scholar
Cambridge has been my home for the past seven years, and my time here has been, and will continue to be, a huge influence on my life. The notorious ‘Cambridge bubble’ certainly exists, as the hectic term time schedule almost encourages isolation from the outside world. However within the bubble is a boundless world of intellectual stimulation. Starting as a naive undergraduate, and subsequently studying for my Masters and now PhD, I have reaped great rewards while facing trials and tribulations! During this journey of discovery, I have met the most interesting and stimulating minds. My future is unknown, but I am sure I shall cherish my memories here forever. None of this would have been possible without the generous support of The Friends and their benefactors, to which I am greatly indebted.
Johnathan is currently studying for a PhD in Theoretical Cosmology at the Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics (DAMTP) at Cambridge.
My time at Cambridge was some of the best of my life, and this was made possible by the Prince Philip Scholarship.
Mr. Kwan, Ping Kan
關秉勤
2011 Scholar
My time at Cambridge was some of the best of my life, and this was made possible by the Prince Philip Scholarship. I had the opportunity to attend lectures by world-renowned experts, and exchange ideas with some of the brightest minds in the world. The study of law at Corpus Christi was rigorous, and my legal thinking now was shaped by the many hours of discussion with my jurisprudence and legal history supervisors. Intellectual pursuits aside, Cambridge has also broadened my horizon and taught me the power of the law in the context of social justice (something Prince Philip Scholars are encouraged to get involved in). I travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo with the Cambridge Lawyers Without Borders society to help improve access to justice there, and also set up the African Prisons Project in Cambridge in 2013. These are all fond memories which made my time in Cambridge unforgettable. I also made lifelong friends with whom I to stay in touch on a very regular basis!
Ping Kan is currently working as a litigation associate at Latham & Watkins’s Hong Kong office.
I am incredibly grateful to The Friends of Cambridge in Hong Kong for their support in my Cambridge journey that has undoubtedly shaped who I am today.
Ms. Wong, Hilary Jin Yan
2010 Scholar
As the best university in the world, Cambridge holds a mythical status: the gorgeous architecture, the Harry Potter-esque gowns and the large share of Nobel Prize recipients. Once I arrived here, however, I realized what made Cambridge a magical place is the people who all love learning. At supervisions, we had the unique opportunity to ask questions and discuss science with frontline researchers who made original discoveries. Students bonded over their shared passion for learning, not just in our degree subjects but about the world around us, helping and challenging one another along the way. Even as an international student, I made friends easily, many of whom remain my closest friends. I also became an avid rower at my college, and participated in Cambridge Bumps and the Head of River Race on the Thames. I am incredibly grateful to The Friends of Cambridge in Hong Kong for their support in my Cambridge journey that has undoubtedly shaped who I am today.
Hilary is currently completing her PhD in Genetics at Cambridge.
11 years later and still so beautiful. Thank you, Cambridge, for it all.
Mr. Kam, Hugh Tsun Ting
2004 Scholar
Burying a time capsule with friends in the pouring rain just before graduation, cycling with a rice cooker on each handlebar to a Chinese New Year celebration, pelting stones at a friend’s window at midnight (as part of a birthday surprise), lecturing English friends on how to write Chinese during our law lectures, buying Secret Santa at Ann Summers, talking life philosophy at 2am in the laundry room on a Saturday night, orating in the Senate Hall itself, having chicken and sweetcorn bap from Nadia’s almost every day, listening in person to Lord Bingham set out his doctrine on the rule of law for the first time, getting into a crazy water fight on the Cam, staring in awe at the Tour de Cambridge rushing past Pembroke every morning at 9am just before lectures, oh, and actually meeting Prince Philip the man himself…!
11 years later and still so beautiful. Thank you, Cambridge, for it all.
Hugh Kam is a barrister at Plowman Chambers and a Member of the Council of the Hong Kong Bar Association.
Lively formal halls, gruelling rowing practices and the relaxing cycling back and forth the Cavendish Laboratory complemented the Tripos for a complete Cambridge experience.
Mr. Hau, Gary Wai Kei
2002 Scholar
I read Natural Sciences (Physics) at Corpus Christi College. While I failed to discover the Grand Unifying Theory during my four years there, I enjoyed the intellectual challenges during my attempts. Lively formal halls, gruelling rowing practices and the relaxing cycling back and forth the Cavendish Laboratory complemented the Tripos for a complete Cambridge experience.
After Cambridge, I worked in the business strategy areas for a decade across Europe and Asia. Recently, I helped launch the government’s Innovation and Technology Venture Fund, and is now responsible for the development of the fintech ecosystem in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
In my spare time, I enjoy trail-running. I am also a Christian, the husband of a wise and beautiful alumna, and a proud father.
Gary is currently working at the Fintech Facilitation Office of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority.
I met extraordinary people and made some of my best friends….. My dream was made possible thanks to the Prince Philip Scholarship.
Ms. Ng, Elaine Pui Kei
2001 Scholar
The Cambridge years were a life-changing chapter. A teenage girl born and raised in Hong Kong was exposed to intensive, world-class intellectual stimulation – emerging from freshers’ confidence crisis with an inspired, independent mind. I met extraordinary people and made some of my best friends. Those days feel surreal now. My dream was made possible thanks to the Prince Philip Scholarship.
After Cambridge, I trained as a solicitor at Allen & Overy, and have now worked in the Government for over a decade in legislative drafting. I am honoured to be serving the people of Hong Kong. In a similar spirit, it is my privilege to be on the Executive Committee of The Friends – to give back what I can to help deserving students experience their own unique chapters at Cambridge. In my remaining free time, I pursue weekend farming, among other interests.
Elaine read Law at Cambridge and is currently Senior Government Counsel in the Law Drafting Division at the Department of Justice, HKSAR Government.
Once you have decided to embark on this journey, no matter whether worldly success awaits you at the end, you would be forever grateful for the experience, which is so extraordinary and memorable in itself.
Ms. Tsui, Maggie Yeuk Ting
2001 Scholar
The Prince Philip Scholarship set me off a journey of personal and spiritual growth, right from the moment when I attended the interview, being merely the first of many inspiring, intellectually stimulating and occasionally life-changing, conversations I had in Cambridge, with people who would become my lifelong teachers and friends. My Cambridge experience was also composed of the heavenly sound of Trinity’s fountain in the middle of the night, the crisp breeze on my face cycling down Trinity lane, the smell of the medieval manuscripts and incunabula in the Wren Library when I prepared for the Tripos and the taste of strawberries, cream and champagne on summer punts.
Once you have decided to embark on this journey, no matter whether worldly success awaits you at the end, you would be forever grateful for the experience, which is so extraordinary and memorable in itself.
Maggie is currently Executive Director of Natixis and Board Member of the Hong Kong Arts Centre.
I met many wonderful friends in Cambridge, whose companionship and moral support brought me great joy and comfort in times. The scholarship was literally a gift that changed the course of my life.
Mr. Fung, Isaac Chun Hai
2000 Scholar
Thanks to the Prince Philip Scholarship, I spent three wonderful undergraduate years at Cambridge, where the solid foundation of my scientific career was laid. Through its challenging curricula and eye-opening activities, Cambridge exposed me to the depth and breadth of scholarly pursuits. Cambridge’s undergraduate ‘supervisions’ (weekly small group tutorials) enabled doctoral students and faculty to give each undergraduate their attention and to engage them individually. I was given ample opportunities to ask questions and be drilled. The weekly essay questions trained me in both scientific thinking and writing, and prepared me well for my subsequent graduate school education. I met many wonderful friends in Cambridge, whose companionship and moral support brought me great joy and comfort in times. I am grateful to the Friends of Cambridge University in Hong Kong for their generosity. The scholarship was literally a gift that changed the course of my life.
Isaac is currently Associate Professor of Epidemiology, at Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, Georgia, USA.
This metamorphosis would not have happened without a friendly nudge many years ago to apply for the Prince Philip scholarship.
Mr. Lau, Herbert Ho Bun
2000 Scholar
Time flies: A cliché that pops into my head whenever I admire the fountain that I first laid eyes on 18 years ago. It feels like it was only yesterday I was running round the Great Court as a fresher, excited by the prospect of living on foreign soil, free of parental supervision for the first time. Meeting and discussing random topics over the dinner table with new friends all over the world was stimulating, even when excessive alcohol was consumed. Like a duck takes to the River Cam, I felt fulfilled in a carefree and inspiring atmosphere. With the frenetic mix of supervisions and societies events, eight-week terms always passed like the blink of an eye.
I stayed on for my doctoral studies, sometimes dreaming of becoming a fellow one day, not least for the superior food at High Table. In the eight years of working towards my doctorate, I had matured from a naïve kid into an independent scientist. This metamorphosis would not have happened without a friendly nudge many years ago to apply for the Prince Philip scholarship.
Having travelled for six years around the globe as an astrophysics postdoc modelling barely observable stars, Herbert now works as a senior research scientist for Schlumberger Cambridge Research, analysing downhole data for monitoring and optimisation in the oilfield industry.
