About the Program
What is the HKLSS Life Sciences Summer Internship Program?
With the full support of Nan Fung Group, Hong Kong Life Sciences Society has been offering a remarkable internship opportunity to university students since 2019. Through the six-week internship program in Hong Kong, Shanghai and Shenzhen, students have the opportunity to explore the life sciences and biotech industry. The Program goes beyond providing a hands-on internship experience, it also expands interns' horizons with visits to leading life sciences and biotech companies, as well as insightful sharing sessions by industry experts.
Which internship companies in Hong Kong/Mainland are involved in this program?
We offer opportunities for students who are interested in developing a career in biotech, life sciences or biomedical sciences in Hong Kong, Shanghai or Shenzhen. The life sciences and biotechnology companies covering biotech start-up, venture capital, science organization, healthcare and pharmaceutical companies.
The companies that have participated in previous cohorts include:
Ally Bridge Group, Antengene, Arctic Vision, AstraZeneca, Belun Technology, Bio-Cancer Treatment, Boston Consulting Group, Delos Capital, Ecoinno, Hong Kong Life Sciences Society, Lee's Pharmaceutical, Morningside Venture, Nan Fung Life Sciences, Novus Life Sciences, OMNI Pharmaceutical, Opharmic Technology, Our Hong Kong Foundation, Pivotal bioVenture Partners, Simcere Pharmaceutical, Snowhill Science, Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals, Take2 Health, The Mills Fabrica, Viva Ventures Biotech Fund, Vivo Capital, WuXi AppTec, WuXi Biologics, Zhaoke Ophthalmology
*Applicants who are selected for interviews will get to know more information about the internship companies.
Who is eligible to apply for this program?
Senior-year undergraduate and postgraduate students, aged 18 or above, with an academic qualification in life sciences, biomedical sciences, medicine or a related discipline are welcome to apply for this program. This program is also open to Hong Kong students who are studying abroad.
Priority will be given to MRes, MPhil or PhD students when considering interns for R&D positions.
Recent graduates and applicants with a non-life sciences background can still apply and will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Does this internship only offer positions in R&D? Is there any other job area I can explore through this internship?
HKLSS Life Sciences Summer Internship Program offers various positions in life sciences and biotech companies. Apart from working in the research and development department, our partners also offer positions related to business/product development, biotech or healthcare investment, marketing, science communication and project management etc. We encourage applicants to break through the boundaries and explore the life sciences/biotech/biomedical sciences industry in different departments in this internship program.
Can I choose the location and the job area for an internship?
You can indicate your interested area(s) and location preference (Hong Kong, Shanghai, or Shenzhen) in the online application. HKLSS and the participating companies will take it into account during the job mapping.
I am a non-local student studying at a local university. Can I apply to this program and choose to work in Shanghai or Shenzhen?
Non-local students studying in Hong Kong are eligible to apply to this program. We suggest non-local students to apply for internships in Hong Kong due to the student visa restrictions.
Are there any pre and post-internship activities?
Selected interns are required to join all the program-related activities during the internship, such as orientations, company visits and weekend sharing sessions. These activities will allow interns to explore different life sciences and biotech opportunities and understand industry development.
Is it a mandatory to complete the full six-week internship period? What will be the start date and end date of the internship?
All interns are required to complete the full six-week internship period. The HKLSS Life Sciences Summer Internship Program will start in early July and end in mid-August. However, the start or end dates might slightly vary, subject to the company's decision.
Will I be paid for the internship?
Each intern will be paid upon completion of the internship. There may have some pay variations, subject to the decision by individual companies.
Do I need to pay/arrange for my transportation and accommodation if I am going to intern in Mainland China?
HKLSS will bear the cost and arrange the return transportation, accommodation, and insurance for all interns who are going to Mainland China.
When do I need to pay the deposit? Do interns who are working in Hong Kong need to pay the deposit as well?
As the number of internship positions is limited, HKLSS aims to identify the most outstanding and dedicated candidates to join our Summer Internship program.
The deposit for all successful applicants shall be HK$2,500. The above fee, to be paid in May or June, and will be returned to the intern upon completion of the internship.
About the Selection
What are the selection criteria of the internship?
Applicants will be shortlisted based on their academic performance, past working experience, and interview performance etc.
What is the selection process?
The application process for the Summer Internship Program 2024 will commence in December 2023, followed by the screening of candidates.
From March to April, the first round of interviews is being conducted by the HKLSS, followed by the second round of interviews conducted by the participating companies.
In May and June, offers are being extended to selected candidates. The Summer Internship Program will officially begin in July to August.
Is there anything we should prepare for the interview?
Like any job interview, you may be asked the below questions:
- Self introduction
- What do you expect to learn from the internship?
- Which specific areas of life sciences/biotech are you interested in? Why?
- What are your strengths and weaknesses?
If I am now doing an exchange program/studying in another country, can I arrange an online interview?
Yes. Phone interviews or virtual interviews will be arranged for overseas applicants.
I am an international student studying at a local university and thus don't speak Cantonese. Is there still a place for me in this program?
Most of the companies in Mainland China use Mandarin in their work environment while English is commonly used in Hong Kong.
Does submitting my application earlier increase the likelihood of securing an internship placement?
Yes, HKLSS shall review applications on a weekly basis, meaning that the earlier the student applies, the more likely the student will get an interview.