The Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong has opened applications for the prestigious Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) for the 2027/2028 academic year. The program will award approximately 400 fully funded fellowships to exceptional doctoral candidates from around the globe to pursue PhD research across Hong Kong’s top eight research universities.
Ranked consistently among the world’s most prestigious academic awards, the fellowship provides comprehensive financial security, allowing scholars to focus entirely on frontier scientific, engineering, and humanities breakthroughs.
Generous Fellowship Financial Support
Selected HKPFS fellows receive an extraordinary funding package guaranteed for up to three years:
- Annual Living Stipend: HK$337,200 (approximately $43,200 USD) per year, disbursed in monthly installments.
- Conference & Research Travel Allowance: HK$14,000 (approx. $1,800 USD) annually to support international conference attendance, field research, and lab visits.
- University Tuition Waivers: Most participating universities provide full tuition waivers and guaranteed on-campus graduate housing subsidies for fellows.
Participating World-Class Universities
Fellowships are tenable across Hong Kong’s globally recognized research institutions:
- The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
- City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
- Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU), Lingnan University, and EdUHK
Candidate Eligibility and Rigorous Selection
Candidates are evaluated primarily on academic excellence, verified research ability, leadership potential, and cultural adaptability. While prior academic publications in peer-reviewed journals are not strictly mandatory, they significantly elevate an applicant’s competitive profile.
Two-Stage Application Process and Deadlines
Applicants must first register on the RGC HKPFS electronic portal to obtain a unique reference number, and subsequently submit complete PhD admission dossiers directly to their chosen host universities before December 1, 2026.
