Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2026/27 (400 Fully Funded Scholarships)

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2026/27 is a Fully Funded Initiative by the Government of Hong Kong. It allows international students to complete their PhD from one of the 8 Top Hong Kong Universities. The (HKPFS) is funded by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong. The aim is to attract talent from all around the world. The number of HKPFS fellowships increased from 300 to 400 for 2026/27. There is no application fee. Nationals from all countries can apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme regardless of their gender, ethnicity, or religious or political affinities. Moreover, prior work experience is not required. More details are below.

Details About Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

• Host Country: Hong Kong
• No. of PhD Fellowships: 400
• Scholarship Name: Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
• Deadline: 1st December 2025

Eligible Universities

8 Universities are Participating under the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2026.

• 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

Fields of Study

• Sciences
• Medicine
• Engineering and Technology
• Humanities
• Social Sciences
• Business Studies

Program Duration

The duration of the Hong Kong fellowships is 3 years.

Benefits and Perks of the Fellowship

The Fellowship Award:

• Annual stipend of HK$340,800 (approximately US$43,690)
• Conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,200 (approximately US$1,820)
• No prior work experience is required.
• If you require more than 3 years to complete the fellowship, additional support may be provided by the University.

Course Start Date

Universities in Hong Kong normally start their academic year in September.

Eligibility Criteria for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

• Candidates can be from any nationality.
• Candidate must be a full-time new PhD student
• If you don’t want to submit an IELTS report, then you must be able to prove that you have completed your previous education at an English-medium institute.
• Candidates whose previous education was not conducted in English must provide proof of English proficiency.
• The candidate must choose from the given list of 8 universities.

Application Deadline

Candidates have to apply for the Hong Kong PhD fellowship scheme before 1st December 2025. And the same deadline is for the University.

How to Apply (Application Process)

Candidates should first make an Initial Application online through the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme Electronic System (HKPFSES) to obtain an HKPFS Reference Number by 1 December 2025 at Hong Kong Time 12:00:00 before submitting applications for Ph.D. admission to their desired universities.

Applicants may choose up to two programs/departments at one or two universities for Ph.D.

Step 1: Submit the Initial Application to the Research Grants Council (by December 1st, 2025)

• Guidance Note for completing the Initial Application (in PDF format)
• HKPFS Electronic System – Initial Application

Step 2: Submit Full Applications to Proposed Universities

After completing an initial application, applicants should submit full applications for their selected Ph.D. programs to the proposed universities, quoting their HKPFS Reference Number.

All the links to the Universities that are participating under the Hong Kong PhD fellowship scheme 2026-27 are available at: https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html

Read the admission requirements and application process for the university.

USE THIS LINK TO APPLY

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