The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is a Research Grants Council programme for outstanding students who want to begin a full-time PhD at one of Hong Kong’s eight UGC-funded universities. The 2027/28 round is open to applicants worldwide regardless of country of origin, prior work experience or ethnic background. The official RGC information confirms 400 fellowships for this intake, correcting older or third-party figures that may show a different number.
Applications for the 2027/28 round opened on 1 September 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time. The initial HKPFSES application must be submitted by 1 December 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time, after which applicants must also complete the full application required by their chosen university or universities. There is no RGC application fee, although individual universities may charge their own application or processing fees.
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027 Details
Established by Hong Kong’s Research Grants Council, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is designed to attract high-calibre researchers into PhD study. Candidates must be seeking admission as new full-time PhD students at an eligible university, and selection considers academic excellence together with research potential, communication skills and leadership.
The scheme covers disciplines reviewed through two broad selection panels: Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology; and Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies. The fellowship itself is awarded by the RGC, while admission remains the responsibility of the participating universities. Applicants therefore need to satisfy both the fellowship requirements and the admission rules of the programme they select.
| Programme | Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) |
| Study level | New full-time PhD |
| Location | Hong Kong SAR |
| Awards | 400 fellowships for 2027/28 |
| Annual stipend | HK$344,400 (2026/27 published rate) |
| Travel/research allowance | HK$14,400 per year (2026/27 published rate) |
| Initial deadline | 1 December 2026, 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time |
| RGC application fee | None |
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Funding and Benefits
The RGC states that the fellowship provides an annual stipend of HK$344,400 and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,400 per year at the published 2026/27 rate. The support is provided for up to three years. Applicants should check the official 2027/28 notice for any updated monetary rate before making a final financial plan.
If a PhD requires more than three years, the RGC notes that additional support may be provided by the chosen university. That support is not automatically identical across institutions, so candidates should check the funding policy of each university before accepting an offer. The programme should not be described as covering every possible personal expense beyond the stated stipend and travel/research allowance.
- Stipend: HK$344,400 annually at the currently published rate.
- Conference/research travel: HK$14,400 annually at the currently published rate.
- Duration: up to three years of fellowship support.
- Number of awards: 400 for the 2027/28 academic year.
Also Check: Applicants comparing major international graduate awards can review our Commonwealth Graduate Scholarships guide and the University of Tokyo ADB Scholarship for other funded postgraduate routes.
Participating Universities
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme operates through eight UGC-funded universities. Applicants use the RGC initial application to indicate programme choices and then submit full admission applications to the selected institutions by their respective deadlines. University deadlines can differ from the RGC deadline.
The eight institutions are 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, and The University of Hong Kong. Candidates should compare programme fit, supervisors, admission requirements and university-specific fees before finalising choices.
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Eligibility
Applicants must be seeking admission as new full-time PhD students at one of the eight participating universities. The RGC states that candidates are eligible irrespective of country of origin, prior work experience and ethnic background. University admission requirements still apply separately, including academic qualifications and any programme-specific language or research requirements.
The RGC selection process places primary weight on academic excellence while also assessing research ability or potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities. A strong application should therefore connect academic performance with a credible research direction and evidence that the applicant can contribute effectively in a research environment.
Application Information and Documents
The initial HKPFSES form asks for personal information, proposed research field, programme choices and other information required by the RGC. After submitting it, candidates receive an HKPFS reference number that must be quoted in full applications to the chosen universities. The specific supporting-document list then depends on the university and PhD programme.
Applicants should be prepared for common doctoral-admission materials such as academic transcripts, degree evidence, research proposal or research-interest information, references, identification and language evidence where required by the university. Do not assume a third-party checklist is complete; the university application page is the authority for the final document set and any application fee.
How to Apply for HKPFS 2027/28
Start by completing one initial application through the official Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Electronic System. Only one initial application is accepted per applicant, and the RGC warns that multiple initial applications can lead to disqualification. Applicants can indicate programme choices in accordance with the official system and should consider their priority carefully.
After the initial submission, complete the full application for each selected university using the HKPFS reference number before that university’s own deadline. An initial RGC application without the corresponding full university application is treated as void. Keep the RGC acknowledgement email because it contains the reference number and login information used to review or amend the application.
- Read the RGC guidance note and participating-university requirements.
- Submit one HKPFSES initial application.
- Save the assigned HKPFS reference number.
- Submit full applications to the selected universities before their individual deadlines.
- Monitor email for university and RGC correspondence.
Deadline and Selection Timeline
The initial deadline is 1 December 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time (UTC+8). The system opened on 1 September 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time. Late initial submissions are not considered, and applicants should submit early enough to resolve technical or completeness issues.
Full university deadlines vary, so the RGC deadline is not the only date to track. The official guidance states that successful fellowship applicants are notified by email and letter, with results scheduled to be announced in May 2027. Candidates should continue following university admission instructions while the fellowship selection process is underway.
Frequently Asked Questions
The questions below clarify some of the most important conditions that are easy to misread in third-party scholarship summaries. The RGC guidance and the chosen university’s admission rules should always override an older summary.
In particular, applicants should distinguish between the RGC fellowship application and university admission applications. Both stages are required for a valid candidature under the current process.
How many HKPFS awards are available for 2027/28?
The Research Grants Council states that 400 PhD fellowships will be awarded in the 2027/28 academic year. This is the current official figure and should be preferred over older third-party numbers.
Is there an HKPFS application fee?
The RGC does not charge an application fee for the fellowship. However, participating universities may charge their own application or processing fees, so candidates must check each selected institution.
Can I submit more than one initial application?
No. The official application form states that only one initial application is accepted per applicant, and multiple initial applications can result in all applications from that applicant being disqualified.
Conclusion
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme offers substantial support for high-achieving students entering full-time PhD study at Hong Kong’s eight UGC-funded universities. For 2027/28, the official RGC information confirms 400 awards, a December 1 initial deadline and a two-stage process involving both the RGC and the selected universities.
Applicants to the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme should prioritize research fit, accurate programme choices and complete university applications rather than relying only on the fellowship form. Use the official HKPFSES guidance for the initial application and verify stipend updates, university fees, admissions documents and institutional deadlines directly before submission.
