Quick Information
| Country | Hong Kong |
|---|---|
| Degree Level | PhD |
| Funding Type | Fully Funded |
| Scholarship Value | Annual stipend HK$344,400 + conference and research-related travel allowance HK$14,400 per year, up to 3 years |
| Application Deadline | December 1, 2026 |
| Last Verified Date | November 11, 2026 |
| Official Source | https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html |
What the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Is
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme was set up in 2009 by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong to attract the best doctoral students in the world to Hong Kong’s universities. For the 2027/28 academic year, 400 fellowships are on offer — a large number for a single PhD award — across eight publicly funded universities. Since it began, the scheme has brought more than 4,200 top students from Hong Kong and around a hundred countries and regions to study in Hong Kong.
What It Pays
Each fellow receives an annual stipend of HK$344,400 (about US$44,150) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,400 a year, for up to three years. Those are the rates stated for the 2026/27 academic year, and the amount for your intake is confirmed in the award letter. The stipend is generous by PhD standards and is paid directly to the student. Tuition and fee arrangements sit with the host university, so confirm exactly how tuition is handled with the university you choose before you accept an offer.
Who Can Apply
There is no nationality barrier at all: the scheme is open to new full-time PhD applicants at the eight participating universities, irrespective of country of origin, work experience or ethnic background. Graduates with a strong academic record and a clear research direction can apply on exactly the same terms as everyone else. You must be seeking admission as a new full-time PhD student — if you are already enrolled in a PhD, you are outside the scheme. English proficiency is set by the host university, not by the Research Grants Council.
How to Apply — Two Deadlines on the Same Day
Apply in two steps, and note that both fall on 1 December 2026. First, submit the short initial application on the Research Grants Council’s electronic system before 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time to get your HKPFS Reference Number. Second, submit your full PhD applications to your chosen universities — up to two programmes at one or two universities — by 11:59 pm Hong Kong Time on the same day, quoting the reference number. The system times out after 30 minutes of inactivity, and only one initial application is allowed per person. Results come out in May 2027.
Why It Suits Researchers
Hong Kong’s universities are strong in engineering, science, business and technology, and the fellowship’s scale — 400 places — makes it a realistic target for a well-prepared applicant. The absence of a nationality quota, the high stipend and the two-university choice in one application are real advantages. The main risk is the single-day double deadline: prepare both the initial application and the university applications in advance, and do not leave either to the final hours.
Official source: Research Grants Council — Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme