Lingnan University will officially launch the Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class (CCT Class) in the 2026/27 academic year.
Prof S. Joe Qin, President and Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science of Lingnan University, said, “The Samuel C.C. Ting Elite Class has received the support of Nobel Laureate Prof Samuel C.C. Ting, Honorary Doctorate awardee of Lingnan University and Honorary Director of the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS). The name ‘CCT Class’ reflects Prof Ting’s initials and also signifies Creative and Critical Thinking, echoing Lingnan’s longstanding core educational value. This initiative carries forward Prof Ting’s steadfast commitment to scientific exploration and excellence. Through this elite class, Lingnan aspires to nurture a new generation of academic leaders who will uphold his spirit of innovation and rigorous enquiry, and grow into research-oriented liberal arts talents with a global perspective.”
Supported by dedicated University funding, the CCT Class will select outstanding undergraduate students in the 2026/27 academic year from among those awarded full University Entrance Scholarships, including talents from the Hong Kong SAR, the Chinese Mainland, and around the world. The scheme aims to build a high-level interdisciplinary learning platform on campus, foster a culture of academic excellence, and further enhance the University’s international profile.
Selected students will receive comprehensive support over the four years of study, including a full tuition scholarship, fully funded campus accommodation, and AI training provided by leading global companies with professional certification. They will also benefit from elite mentorship by distinguished faculty, priority access to research opportunities, exclusive engagements with eminent scholars, including Nobel Laureates, and priority consideration for admission to postgraduate programmes upon graduation.
A senior task force led by Prof Raymond Chan Hon-fu, Vice-President (Academics) cum Provost and Lam Man Tsan Chair Professor of Scientific Computing at Lingnan University, will oversee the implementation of the programme.
Prof Samuel C.C. Ting discovered a new form of matter, known as the “J particle”, in 1974, a breakthrough that advanced theoretical development in particle physics. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics two years later. Prof Ting was conferred an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor of Science, honoris causa) by Lingnan University in 2023 and has served as Honorary Director of the Lingnan University Institute for Advanced Study (LUIAS) since mid-2024.
