StudyDesk Scholarships
About the scheme
Established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) was created to attract the world’s best doctoral students to the city’s universities. For the 2027/28 academic year, 400 fellowships are on offer — each paying an annual stipend of HK$344,400 (about US$44,150) plus a HK$14,400 yearly travel allowance for three years of full-time PhD study.
Eight UGC-funded universities take part — HKU, CUHK, HKUST, CityUHK, PolyU, HKBU, Lingnan and EdUHK — and the scheme is deliberately open to all nationalities, irrespective of country of origin, prior work experience or ethnic background. Selection looks for outstanding academic performance, research ability and potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities, on top of each university’s own admission bar.
Eligibility
- Be seeking admission as a new full-time PhD student at one of the eight UGC-funded Hong Kong universities (HKU, CUHK, HKUST, CityUHK, PolyU, HKBU, Lingnan, EdUHK).
- Open irrespective of country of origin, prior work experience or ethnic background — no nationality restriction.
- Demonstrate outstanding academic performance and research ability/potential.
- Show strong communication and interpersonal skills plus leadership abilities.
- Meet the admission requirements of the chosen university — the fellowship does not waive them.
Benefits
- HK$344,400 per year stipend (about US$44,150) — among the most generous PhD stipends in Asia.
- HK$14,400 per year conference and research-related travel allowance.
- Three years of support; universities may provide extra support if the PhD extends beyond that.
- 400 fellowships for the 2027/28 academic year — a large intake by global standards.
- Study at one of Hong Kong’s eight publicly funded universities, with most covering tuition separately.
Documents required
- The official RGC call letter does not publish a document list — documents are handled at the university full-application stage.
- Per university HKPFS pages, expect: academic transcripts and degree certificates, CV, research proposal or statement of purpose, reference letters, and English test scores — confirm the exact list against each chosen university’s page.
How to apply
- Shortlist up to two programmesPick up to two PhD programmes at one or two of the eight participating universities and check you meet each university’s admission requirements.
- Step 1 — the RGC initial applicationSubmit through the RGC’s HKPFS Electronic System during the call window (1 September – 1 December 2026). On submission you receive your HKPFS Reference Number — keep it safe.
- Step 2 — the university full applicationApply directly to each chosen university for PhD admission, quoting your HKPFS Reference Number, before that university’s own deadline.
- Watch both clocksThe RGC initial application closes 1 December 2026 at 12:00 noon HKT; university full-application deadlines are separate (e.g. Lingnan: 1 December 2026, 11:59 pm HKT).
- Ask early if unsureEnquiries go to HKPF@ugc.edu.hk.
FAQs
400 for the 2027/28 academic year — one of the largest single PhD fellowship intakes anywhere, and the reason the scheme is a realistic target for strong applicants.
Not as part of the RGC award itself. Most host universities cover tuition separately, but this varies — verify the tuition arrangement with each university you apply to.
Yes — up to two programmes at one or two universities, in a single initial application through the RGC electronic system.
No. The scheme is explicitly open irrespective of country of origin, prior work experience or ethnic background.
Both. The RGC initial application closes 1 December 2026 at 12:00 noon HKT, and each university sets its own full-application deadline. Miss either and the application is incomplete.
Verified 24 Oct 2026: ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/hkpfs/call_letter.html (official 2027/28 call letter) — call window 1 Sep–1 Dec 2026, initial application deadline 1 Dec 2026 12:00 noon HKT, HK$344,400/yr stipend (~US$44,150) + HK$14,400/yr travel allowance for 3 years, 400 fellowships, 8 UGC-funded universities, no nationality restriction, two-step process (HKPFSES initial application + university full application with HKPFS Reference Number), up to 2 programmes, HKPF@ugc.edu.hk; ln.edu.hk (Lingnan) — university full-application cutoff 1 Dec 2026 11:59 pm HKT; opportunitiesforyouth.org + Harvard FAS careers page — corroboration. Document list not published in the official RGC call letter; tuition not part of the RGC award.
