Eligibility

There are 30 funded places on this programme, which is open to the following home undergraduate students:

• Second year students from Software Engineering, Electronic and Electrical Engineering, and Chemistry undergraduate programmes
• Third year students on the integrated master’s degree MEng and MChem

To meet the eligibility criteria for this project, you must be:

• ·45 or under
• A citizen of any country within Europe, the Americas or Australia

What you will be doing

This is a 5-month project that involves working collaboratively with students from our Joint Education Institute in person at Manchester Met, online and in person in Wuhan China.

You will be working on the following high-impact project:

Developing a Cost-Effective Domestic Wastewater Recycling System. Water scarcity and wastewater pollution are major global challenges affecting both the UK and China.

Students from chemistry, engineering, and computing will collaborate to design a cost-effective domestic wastewater recycling system capable of collecting, treating, monitoring, and reusing greywater for household purposes such as cleaning, irrigation, and hydroponics.

The project promotes sustainable design, cross-disciplinary problem solving, and international collaboration between Manchester Metropolitan University and Hubei University — turning sustainability education into real-world impact.

Schedule of Activities

The list of scheduled activities are below. Your participation in these sessions is essential and expected.

1) Project launch

Starts on 2 Feb 2026: Project launch – you will participate in the Joint Education Institute Winter School at Manchester Met to meet students from the Joint Education Institute and start project work. This will involve 8-10 hours of activity.

2) Extracurricular collaborative Project Work

March – May 2026: You will continue to collaborate with your project team members and partners online to further develop your projects – 2 hours per week across 8 weeks of activity.

3) Pre-departure workshops

May – June 2026: Pre-departure workshops. These will cover areas such as visa applications, funding requirements and cultural expectations.

After successful completion of all Manchester-based and online elements of the programme, you will be eligible to participate in the Hubei University Summer School.

4) Summer school in China

16 June 2026 – 17 July 2026: You will travel to China to attend a 4-week Summer School at Hubei University, China.

The Summer School follows an intensive programme and compulsory activities will take place 6 days per week. Key activities include:

• Chinese Language Course: Tailored beginner-level courses.
• Culture Immersion: Introductory sessions on Chinese culture and organized trips to significant cultural sites.
• Industry Engagement: Visits to leading local industrial partners for a first-hand understanding of China’s technological landscape.
• Collaborative Projects: Continuing to work alongside the Joint Education Institute Winter School participants on ongoing project.

Financial Support

Successful applicants will receive a prestigious £2000 International Mobility grant from the Lee Kai Hung Foundation.

This funding may be used towards visa, travel and living costs in China.

Hubei University will provide the following, through the Young Envoy Scholarship Programme and the China Scholarship Council:

• Tuition fees
• On-campus accommodation
• Cultural excursions

Travel insurance will be provided by Manchester Metropolitan

Funding is subject to full engagement with the programme and adherence to terms and conditions set out by Manchester Met and Hubei University. This will be explained fully during pre-departure workshops.

How to Apply

Please submit your expression of interest (max. 300 words) by Wednesday, 31 December.

In your expression of interest, you should: 

• explain your motivation for participating in the programme and how you expect this to impact your future 
• outline any personal qualities and skills you would like to develop – this could be personally, academically or professionally 
• explain how the Lee Kai Hung funding would help you to study abroad 

As part of the selection, we will consider: 

• Your expression of interest 
• Your engagement with your programme of study (including any grades to date) 
• You may be invited for an interview, planned between 19-21 January 2025

If you are successful, we will then support you through the steps needed to take up the opportunity. 

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