The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), run by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong, offers 400 PhD Fellowships for the 2027/28 academic year. Each fellowship provides an annual stipend of HK$344,400 (approximately US$44,150) plus a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,400 (approximately US$1,840) per year, for up to three years. Candidates seeking admission as new full-time PhD students at eight Hong Kong universities can apply, irrespective of their country of origin, prior work experience and ethnic background. The initial application closes on 1 December 2026. At Youth Works Hub, we reviewed the official application pages, and every detail is set out below.
What Is the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme?
The Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong established the HKPFS in 2009. Its aim is to attract the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD studies in Hong Kong's universities.
What Does the Fellowship Pay?
💵 Annual stipend: HK$344,400 (approximately US$44,150)
✈️ Conference and research-related travel allowance: HK$14,400 (approximately US$1,840) per year
🗓️ Duration: up to three years
🔢 Number of fellowships: 400 PhD Fellowships for the 2027/28 academic year
The amounts above are the figures stated on the official HKPFS page. For awardees who need more than three years to complete the PhD degree, additional support may be provided by the chosen universities; the official page asks applicants to contact the universities concerned directly for details.
Which Universities Take Part?
You must be seeking admission as a new full-time PhD student at one of these eight universities:
🏛️ City University of Hong Kong
🏛️ Hong Kong Baptist University
🏛️ Lingnan University
🏛️ The Chinese University of Hong Kong
🏛️ The Education University of Hong Kong
🏛️ The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
🏛️ The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
🏛️ The University of Hong Kong
Who Can Apply?
Candidates seeking admission as new full-time PhD students at the eight universities above are eligible, irrespective of their country of origin, prior work experience and ethnic background. Applicants should demonstrate outstanding qualities in academic performance, research ability or potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities. You must also comply with the admission requirements of the university and programme you select.
How the Application Works: Two Steps
The process has two steps, and the order matters: the initial application comes first, before you apply for PhD admission to your chosen universities.
📝 Step 1: Initial Application to the RGC. Eligible candidates submit an initial application online through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Electronic System (HKPFSES) to obtain an HKPFS Reference Number. The system opened on 1 September 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time, and the deadline is 1 December 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time. A guidance note (PDF) for completing the initial application is available on the official site.
🎓 Step 2: Full applications to the universities. After the initial application, submit full applications for your selected PhD programmes to the proposed universities, quoting your HKPFS Reference Number, before each university's deadline.
🎯 Choose up to two programmes or departments at one or two universities for PhD study under HKPFS 2027/28.
Because the deadlines of some universities may immediately follow the initial application deadline, the official page advises candidates to submit initial applications as early as possible so they have enough time to apply to universities.
University Application Deadlines
The official page lists the following university deadlines for 2027/28 (for City University of Hong Kong, check the university directly):
⏰ Hong Kong Baptist University: 1 December 2026 (11:59pm Hong Kong Time)
⏰ Lingnan University: 1 December 2026 (11:59pm Hong Kong Time)
⏰ The Chinese University of Hong Kong: 1 December 2026 (11:59pm Hong Kong Time)
⏰ The Education University of Hong Kong: 1 December 2026 (11:59pm Hong Kong Time)
⏰ The Hong Kong Polytechnic University: 1 December 2026 (11:59pm Hong Kong Time)
⏰ The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: 1 December 2026 (11:59pm Hong Kong Time)
⏰ The University of Hong Kong: 1 December 2026 (11:59pm Hong Kong Time)
For programme information, PhD admission requirements, application methods, regulations and policies, check each university and PhD programme directly.
How Are Fellows Selected?
Shortlisted applications are reviewed, according to their area of study, by one of two Selection Panels made up of experts in the relevant broad areas:
🔬 Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology
📚 Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies
Academic excellence is the primary consideration. The panels also take into account these factors:
🎓 Academic excellence
🧪 Research ability and potential
🗣️ Communication and interpersonal skills
🧭 Leadership abilities
If your application includes a personal statement, our guide on how to write a scholarship motivation letter covers what to include, length, structure and common mistakes.
Find more funding like this in the Scholarships category on Youth Works Hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship pay?
The fellowship provides an annual stipend of HK$344,400 (approximately US$44,150) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,400 (approximately US$1,840) per year, for up to three years.
How many fellowships are awarded for 2027/28?
400 PhD Fellowships will be awarded in the 2027/28 academic year.
Who can apply?
Candidates seeking admission as new full-time PhD students at the eight participating universities, irrespective of their country of origin, prior work experience and ethnic background.
Do I need to apply to the RGC before the universities?
Yes. You first submit the initial application through the HKPFS Electronic System to obtain an HKPFS Reference Number, then apply to your chosen universities and quote that number.
How many programmes can I choose?
You can choose up to two programmes or departments at one or two universities for PhD study under HKPFS 2027/28.
When is the deadline?
The initial application closes on 1 December 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time. University applications close on 1 December 2026 at 11:59pm Hong Kong Time according to the official page.
What happens if I need more than three years?
For awardees who need more than three years to complete the PhD degree, additional support may be provided by the chosen universities. Contact the universities concerned directly for details.
How are applicants selected?
Shortlisted applications are reviewed by one of two Selection Panels: Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology, or Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies. Academic excellence is the primary consideration, alongside research ability and potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.
Deadline
⏳ 01 December 2026
Links
🖱️ Initial application (HKPFS Electronic System): https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/InitApplication.jsp
📄 How to apply: https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/apply.html
ℹ️ Scheme information: https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html
