Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme — Fellowship

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme was established by the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong to attract strong doctoral candidates from around the world. Awardees pursue full-time PhD study at one of eight participating University Grants Committee-funded universities in Hong Kong.

The scheme spans science, medicine, engineering, technology, humanities, social sciences and business. The latest published 2026/27 round is closed, and the next round has not yet been announced.

Benefits & funding

For the 2026/27 academic year, each awardee receives an annual stipend of HK$344,400.
Each awardee also receives a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,400 per year.
Both forms of support are provided for up to three years.
The scheme planned to award 400 fellowships for 2026/27.
A chosen university may provide additional support when a PhD takes longer than three years; applicants must ask the university for details.

Eligibility

Applicants must seek admission as new full-time PhD students at one of the eight participating universities.
The scheme accepts candidates regardless of country of origin, prior work experience or ethnic background; it states no nationality or residency restriction.
Applicants must meet the admission requirements of their selected university and PhD programme; the scheme does not publish one common prior-degree threshold.
Current PhD students may apply if they seek admission to another programme as new full-time PhD students.
Applicants are assessed for academic excellence, research ability or potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership.
Applicants from non-English-medium universities generally need TOEFL or IELTS results unless the proposed PhD programme is taught in another language; individual universities set the detailed language and admission rules.

Can you apply?

Open to all applicants

No nationality, residency, education, or experience limits are listed.

Circlebreaker is a free database of global fellowships, scholarships and programs — every one decoded like this.

We only check the criteria we have data for. Always confirm full eligibility on the official page before applying.

Application process

1
Review the PhD programmes and admission requirements at the eight participating universities.
2
Submit one initial application through the HKPFS Electronic System and obtain an HKPFS Reference Number.
3
Select up to two programmes or departments at one or two universities and indicate priority.
4
Submit a full PhD admission application to each selected university, quoting the HKPFS Reference Number, before that university’s deadline.
5
Complete any interview requested by a university; nominated applications proceed to the relevant RGC selection panel.

Program timeline

The latest published application window opened.
September 1, 2025, 12:00 noon Hong Kong time
December 1, 2025, 12:00 noon Hong Kong time
Initial application deadline for the 2026/27 round.
Full-application deadline listed for all eight participating universities.
December 1, 2025, 11:59 p.m. Hong Kong time
By May 2026
Results for the 2026/27 round were scheduled to be announced.
Successful candidates normally register with their universities.
July to September 2026
Latest possible deferred registration date, subject to RGC approval.
January 31, 2027
Next application window
Not yet published by the official site.