Hong Kong 2024 PhD Fellowship Scheme for International Students

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), established in 2009 by the Research Grants Council (RGC), aims to attract the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD programmes in Hong Kong’s institutions. About 300 PhD Fellowships will be awarded this academic year. For awardees who need more than three years to complete the PhD degree, additional support may be provided by the chosen institutions. Financial aid is available for any field of study.

• Table of Content
• About Hong Kong
• Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
• Aim and Benefits of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
• Requirements for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Qualification
• Interview date, Process and Venue for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About Hong Kong

Hong Kong, officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, is a metropolitan area and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delta in South China. 

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

Aim and Benefits of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

The Fellowship provides an annual stipend of HK$331,200 (approximately US$42,460) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,800 (approximately US$1,760) per year for each awardee for a period up to three years. 300 PhD Fellowships will be awarded in the 2024/25 academic year*. For awardees who need more than three years to complete the PhD degree, additional support may be provided by the chosen universities. For details, please contact the universities concerned directly.

Requirements for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Qualification

Candidates seeking admission as new full-time PhD students in the following eight institutions, irrespective of their country of origin, prior work experience, and ethnic background, should be eligible to apply.

• 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

Applicants should demonstrate outstanding qualities of academic performance, research ability / potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.

Interview date, Process and Venue for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

Selection Criteria: 

While candidates’ academic excellence is the primary consideration, the Selection Panels will take into account factors as follows:

• Academic excellence;
• Research ability and potential;
• Communication and interpersonal skills; and
• Leadership abilities.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

• Eligible candidates should first make an Initial Application online through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Electronic System (HKPFSES) to obtain an HKPFS Reference Number by 1 December 2023 at Hong Kong Time 12:00:00 before submitting applications for PhD admission to their desired universities.
• Applicants may choose up to two programmes / departments at one or two universities for PhD study under HKPFS 2024/25. They should comply with the admission requirements of their selected universities and programmes.
• As the deadlines for applications to some of the universities may immediately follow that of the Initial Application, candidates should submit initial applications as early as possible to ensure sufficient time to submit applications to universities.

For more details, visit Hong Kong website.