Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28: Fully Funded PhD Positions, Open to All Nationalities

Deadline: 1 December 2026 (12:00 noon, Hong Kong Time) | Region: Hong Kong | Funding: Fully funded | Disciplines: All

If you are looking for a fully funded PhD with real international standing, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) deserves a place on your shortlist. It is one of the most competitive and best-supported doctoral fellowships in Asia, and the 2027/28 call closes on 1 December.

What is the HKPFS?

The scheme was established by Hong Kong’s Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2009 to attract the best students from across the world, and around 300 fellowships are awarded each academic year. The 2027/28 intake is expected to be similar in size, though sources vary on the exact number.

New applicants to full-time PhD programmes at government-funded institutions in Hong Kong are eligible, irrespective of their country of origin and ethnic background. There is no discipline restriction, so the scheme covers science, engineering, medicine, social sciences and humanities.

Which universities can you apply to?

Each of these universities has its own deadline: City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Education University of Hong Kong, HKUST and the University of Hong Kong all close on 1 December 2026, while The Hong Kong Polytechnic University closes on 2 December 2026. You can choose up to two programmes at one or two universities in the initial RGC application.

What does the fellowship cover?

At CityUHK for 2026/27, recipients receive a monthly stipend of HK$28,400 (about US$3,640) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,200 per year for a maximum of three years. Individual universities may add their own awards. HKUST, for example, offers a RedBird PhD Award of HK$40,000 in the first year and HK$20,000 per year after that.

Note: the 2027/28 figures may be slightly higher. Some sources report about HK$28,700 per month, but the official call was not yet confirmed at the time of writing. Check the RGC page before you finalise your plans.

How to apply: two steps

This is where many applicants slip up, because you apply twice.

Step 1: the RGC initial application. Make an initial application online through the HKPFS Electronic System to get a reference number by 1 December 2026, 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time, before applying to your chosen universities. Only one application can be submitted to the RGC.

Step 2: the university application. Submit the full application, with all required documents, to the university’s online admission system by its own deadline, for example 11:59 pm GMT+8 on 1 December at HKUST, quoting your RGC reference number.

Official information: www.rgc.edu.hk/hkphd

Tips for a competitive application

• Don’t leave it to the last week. Two portals, recommendation letters and a research statement take longer than most people expect.

• Treat the research statement as your main pitch. HKUST asks applicants to explain their reasons for pursuing PhD or MPhil studies in Hong Kong and the contribution they hope to make to research in Hong Kong and to society. Generic answers stand out for the wrong reasons.

• Choose programmes deliberately. Pick departments and supervisors whose current work genuinely matches your interests, since you only get two choices.

• Line up referees now. Give them the deadline and your materials well ahead of time.

Need help with your application?

Found a programme that fits? Your mentor can help you sharpen your research statement, CV and supervisor outreach before you submit. Book a call to get started.

For more personalized tips or templates contact our team.

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