News - South China Morning Post
· collected 2026-09-06 · by Kelly Fung
Representatives from the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and King's College London spoke at an education summit in Hong Kong, advising students to focus on developing their curiosity and intellectual drive rather than just achieving top grades or perfect personal statements. Nearly 11,000 people attended the two-day Global Education Summit, co-organized by the South China Morning Post and HSBC Premier. Admissions director Samina Khan emphasized that a passion for learning is more important than high grades, encouraging students to expand their knowledge through independent research and reading. High grades are seen as only a starting point in the admissions process.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Representatives from top British universities, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge, and King’s College London, told an education summit in Hong Kong that they prioritize authentic curiosity and academic resilience over perfect grades and personal statements. At the Global Education Summit, organized by the South China Morning Post and HSBC Premier, admissions officials said students should show a genuine passion for learning and intellectual drive, rather than just relying on test prep and expensive consultants. The session focused on studying abroad, with nearly 11,000 people in total attending the two-day summit. One of the officials, Samina Khan, director of undergraduate admissions and outreach at the University of Oxford, emphasized that a passion for the course is essential to the admissions process, encouraging students not just to stick to their school curriculum but also to do their own research and reading outside of class.
Written for “UK University Admissions Policies” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but every quote it verified points left, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 5251: score contradicts its own evidence · logged 2026-09-06
Curiosity beats perfect statements, UK elite universities tell Hong Kong students
Show real stories and intellectual drive, not just top grades or costly consultants, admissions chiefs say
Elite British universities are prioritising authentic curiosity and academic resilience over rigid test prep and “perfect personal statements”, top admissions officials have told an education summit in Hong Kong.
asserted
officials → beat → Kong
Representatives from the “golden triangle”, including the University of Oxford, the University of Cambridge and King’s College London, spoke on day two of the Global Education Summit, co-organised by the South China Morning Post and HSBC Premier.
asserted
Representatives → include → Post
The session focused on studying abroad.
asserted
session → focus → ?
Nearly 11,000 people in total attended the two-day summit.
asserted
people → attend → summit
“At the heart of the admissions process at Oxford is a passion for the course that you want to study,” said Samina Khan, director of undergraduate admissions and outreach at the University of Oxford, during a panel curated by SCMP Learn, the newspaper’s education arm.
asserted
Khan → want → Learn
“Whether you’re doing an A-level or a Hong Kong diploma, don’t just stick to what you’re being taught in school.
asserted
you → do → school
You should be researching, you should be reading, listening to TED Talks to expand your knowledge.
asserted
you → research → knowledge
Admissions leaders emphasised that high grades represented only a starting baseline.
asserted
grades → emphasise → baseline
