Statistics Academy for the Talented
Programme Code: ACT260313
Academic Criteria:
– Level of Study: S3 – 4/ Grade 9 – 10/ Year 10 – 11 students
– English Requirement: Applicants are expected to meet the English language proficiency requirement, with an IELTS score of 6.5 or an equivalent qualification.
Programme Dates: August 10 – 14, 2026 (Monday to Friday)
Programme Time: 3:00 pm – 4:30 pm (HKT)
Non-refundable Application Fee: HKD 100
Programme Fee: HKD 5,000
– For HKU Academy Members will receive an exclusive scholarship of HKD 2,000, which will be automatically deducted from the Programme Fee upon application.
– For Non-Members we will encourage you to apply as soon as possible to secure a 5% Early-bird discount before February 15, 2026
Application Deadline:
– Non-local Students: March 31, 2026 (Tuesday)
– Local Students: May 31, 2026 (Sunday)
Delivery Mode: Face-to-Face
Programme Overview:
The world is highly complex and full of uncertain events. How can we formulate and answer questions when things seem to be so random?
This five-day workshop will provide participants with practical experience in using rigorous statistical tools to explore these questions. Participants will learn the language of probability and its paradoxes, understand the causes and dangers of bias, and discover how to use statistical methods to predict the future and make informed decisions.
Learning Objectives:
Through this programme, participants will:
- Discuss insightful and interesting observations related to probability and statistics in everyday life, such as Benford’s law and statistical paradoxes
- Identify common misuses of statistics and biased sampling to understand the importance of proper statistical design in surveys and experiments
- Engage in group discussions and hands-on activities to gain experience in data collection through games and competitions
- Learn how statistics can support decision-making processes
- Work on simple statistical simulations to experience statistical modelling and prediction
Programme Rundown (Tentative):
Programme Instructors
- Dr. K.P. Wat
– Dr. K.P. Wat is a qualified actuary, with over 10 years of teaching experience at HKU. He has taken charge of internship matters and curriculum design for the Actuarial Science and Risk Management programmes at HKU for years. With various qualifications in actuarial science, financial risk management and investment, he actively volunteers in different professional bodies, such as the Society of Actuaries, the Actuarial Society of Hong Kong and the CFA Society Hong Kong. - Professor Edwin Fong
– Professor Edwin Fong is a Bayesian statistician, exploring Bayesian methods that are motivated by prediction – this encompasses topics in Bayesian nonparametrics, scalable inference, and model selection. He was previously a data scientist at Novo Nordisk, where he developed novel statistical methods within the healthcare setting. He joined HKU after completing his PhD at Oxford and the Alan Turing Institute.
Submit Application: https://actstudentapp.hku.hk/student/login
*If you have any questions regarding the application process, please refer to the Application Guide / ⽹上申请系统 – 申请指南 or email us at talented@hku.hk
Accommodation & Extracurricular Activities Options – to be released
Visa Application for Non-local Students (required for face-to-face programmes only):
Students without the right of abode in Hong Kong are required by law to obtain a student visa issued by the Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD). As the visa application process takes 10–12 weeks, please submit your online application (HKU Student Visa) as soon as you receive your offer from the HKU Academy. For visa-related enquiries, please contact HKU VISA team at Contact Us | HKU Student Visa.
*Students are responsible for arranging their own visa before coming to Hong Kong. The Admissions Office is not responsible for any delay, cancellation, or rejection of student visa applications.
Travel and Medical Insurance:
All students need to have valid travel and medical insurance as a mandatory condition for participation in our programmes. We strongly recommend that students secure their insurance policies well in advance of their departure to ensure continuous coverage.
*Programme Attendance Policies:
Students are highly encouraged to attend ALL classes on time for the duration of the Programme. Please note that according to the University’s attendance and absenteeism policy, at least 80% of the lectures and required classes for each curriculum must be attended.
*Disclaimer:
– Programme fees and application fees are non-refundable.
– Programme contents and formats are subject to change. The programme is subject to cancellation if there are insufficient applications.