The Hong Kong PhD Scholarship Programme 2027 is a fully government-funded initiative in Hong Kong. It enables international students to pursue postgraduate studies at one of Hong Kong’s top eight universities and is funded by the Hong Kong Research Scholarship Council. The programme aims to attract talent from around the world. The number of scholarships offered by the Hong Kong PhD Scholarship Programme has increased from 300 to 400 for the 2026/2027 academic year. There are no application fees. Citizens of all countries are eligible to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Scholarship Programme, regardless of gender, race, religious affiliation, or political affiliation. Further details are provided below.
Details About Hong Kong PhD Fellowship 2027
- Host Country: Hong Kong
- No. of PhD Fellowships: 400
- Scholarship Name: Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
- Deadline: 1st December 2026
Eligible Universities
8 Universities are Participating under the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027.
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong
- The Education University of Hong Kong
- City University of Hong Kong
- The University of Hong Kong
- Hong Kong Baptist University
- Lingnan University
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
Fields of Study
- Business Studies
- Humanities
- Sciences
- Medicine
- Engineering and Technology
- Social Sciences
Program Duration
The duration of the Hong Kong fellowships is 3 years.
Benefits and Perks of the Fellowship
The Fellowship Award:
- Yearly stipend: HK$344,400 (about US$44,150)
- Travel support: HK$14,400 (about US$1,840)
- No work experience needed.
- If the fellowship takes over 3 years, the University may offer extra support.
Course Start Date
Universities in Hong Kong normally start their academic year in September.
Eligibility Criteria
- Candidates may be of any nationality.
- Candidates must be newly admitted, full-time doctoral students.
- If you do not wish to submit an IELTS report, you must provide proof that you completed your previous studies at an institution where the language of instruction was English.
- Candidates whose previous studies were not in English must provide proof of their English language proficiency.
- Candidates must select one of the eight universities on the list.
How to Apply?
Candidates must first submit an initial online application through the Hong Kong PhD Programme Electronic System (HKPFSES) to obtain an HKPFS reference number by 1 December 2026 at 12:00:00 Hong Kong time, before submitting applications for admission to the PhD program at their desired universities.
Applicants can choose up to two programs/departments at one or two universities to obtain a doctorate.
Step 1: Submit the Initial Application to the Research Grants Council (by December 1st, 2026)
- 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 the initial application, applicants must submit the full application for their chosen PhD programs to the proposed universities, indicating their HKPFS reference number.
All the links to the Universities that are participating under the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28 are available at: https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html
