Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
Hong Kong Research Grants Council · Hong Kong
One of Asia's most generous doctoral awards, funding PhD study at any of Hong Kong's eight publicly funded universities.
Application deadline
1 Dec 2026
57 days remaining
- Intake
- Sep 2027 intake
- Open to
- Worldwide
- Study level
- PhD
We never charge for applications
What the scholarship covers
- Monthly stipend of about HKD 28,100
- Conference and research travel allowance
- Awarded for three years, extendable by the university
- Additional support from the host university in many cases
Eligibility requirements
- Applying for full-time PhD study in Hong Kong
- Excellent academic record and research ability
- Open to applicants of any nationality
- Strong English or Chinese proficiency
Documents you will need
- Initial application on the RGC fellowship portal
- Full application to the chosen university
- Academic transcripts
- Research proposal
- Two referee reports
How to apply, step by step
- 1
Register on the RGC portal
You receive a reference number needed for the university application.
- 2
Choose up to two universities
You may name two preferences among the eight eligible institutions.
- 3
Apply to the universities separately
The RGC application alone is not enough; each university needs its own application.
- 4
Contact potential supervisors
Departments weigh supervisor interest heavily when ranking candidates.
- 5
Submit both by the December deadline
Missing the university application voids the fellowship application.
When to do what
Counting backwards from the deadline. Applications rushed in the final fortnight are the ones that fail.
24 weeks before
Identify research groups across the eight universities.
20 weeks before
Email potential supervisors with your research interests.
16 weeks before
Develop the research proposal.
12 weeks before
Register on the RGC portal for a reference number.
8 weeks before
Complete each university's own application.
3 weeks before
Confirm referees have submitted and both applications are complete.
What the panel is actually looking for
- Academic excellence and research ability
- Research proposal quality
- Supervisor and departmental support
- Leadership and communication skills
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting only the RGC application and not the university one.
- Contacting supervisors after applying rather than before.
- Naming two universities with no genuine research fit.
- Leaving referee reports until the final week.
Fields of study
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Don't miss this deadline
We'll email you before applications for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme close.
Apply to more than one
Even outstanding applicants are rejected for reasons outside their control, quotas, country allocations, a stronger field that year. Shortlist three or four awards you genuinely qualify for and apply to all of them.