HKUST has been drawing the best doctoral students from around the world through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council. HKUST has recruited the largest number of HKPFS awardees among local institutions, coming from 50+ countries and regions including Australia, China, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States, etc. 1 out of 5 PhD new students of HKUST received the Fellowship. By joining us, you will find yourself being part of an exceptionally strong research community.

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Data as of July 2024

A Prestigious and Fully-Funded Option for Your PhD Studies

Stipend: HK$340,800 (~US$43,730) per year for 4 years*

Wavier of Tuition Fee for 4 years

HKUST RedBird PhD Award:

Recruitment Award of HK$40,000 (~US$5,130) in the first year

+ Academic Excellence Award of HK$20,000 (~US$2,570) per year, in the following years^

Conference Travel Allowance:

HK$14,200 (~US$1,820) per year for 4 years

University Accommodation:

Guaranteed in the first year of research postgraduate studies

* subject to continual meeting of renewal conditions and compliance to RGC’s regulations

^ renewable in subsequent years, subject to continual meeting of renewal conditions

Eligible candidates, who are not selected for the fellowship, may be considered for admission to relevant PhD program with Postgraduate Studentship, HKUST Redbird PhD Award, and a waiver of tuition fee in the first year.

More funding and scholarships are also available to PhD students at HKUST, including Global Research Award, Research Travel Grant, etc, which provide you with supplementary funding to attend conferences and conduct research overseas.

 

Requirements

On top of meeting the HKUST admission requirements, HKPFS applicants are expected to have:

  • Outstanding academic records

  • Excellent research ability and potential

  • International exposure and a global outlook

  • Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills

  • Strong leadership abilities

 

Application Procedures and Timeline 

The application for 2025/26 Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is now closed. Successful candidates will be notified by RGC via email in May 2026.

  1. By 1 Dec 2025 (12noon, GMT+8) - RGC application deadline
  2. By 1 Dec 2025 (11:59pm, GMT+8) - HKUST application deadline
    • Submit the HKPFS application online directly to HKUST.
    • Applicants who have chosen two HKUST programs in the initial application are reminded to submit a separate full application for EACH chosen program to HKUST.
    • Please be reminded to quote the HKPFS reference number obtained from RGC.
    • Upload all the required documents to the Online Admission System.
  3. By 8 Dec 2025
    • Nicely inform your referees that it is most helpful if they can provide the reference reports earliest possible.
    • Attend the admission interviews, where appropriate.
  4. May 2026
    • Successful candidates will be notified by RGC via email.
    • The result of HK PhD Fellowship Scheme will also be announced in the website of Research Grants Committee (RGC) at https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/hkpfs/funded_research.html.
    • Eligible candidates, who are not selected for the fellowship, may be considered for admission to relevant PhD program with Postgraduate Studentship of HK$229,620, HKUST Redbird PhD Award, and a waiver of tuition fee in the first year.

 

Find the Program

HKUST PhD programs require a combination of coursework and independent research, with a major emphasis on research. The normal duration of studies of full-time PhD program is three years if a relevant research master’s degree is earned prior to the PhD program, or four years with a bachelor’s degree. All programs are taught in English.

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Tips for Submitting the HKPFS Fellowship Application

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Frequently Asked Questions

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