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Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

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 for seven years in a row (2012/13 – 2018/19), coming from 36 countries and regions including China, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Italy, Kenya, Korea, Malaysia, Netherlands, Russia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom and the United States, etc. With 1/6 HKUST PhD students being HKPFS Fellows, by joining us, you will find yourself being part of an exceptionally strong research community.

Data as of May 2018

A Prestigious and Fully-Funded Option for Your PhD Studies

  • Stipend: HK$309,600 (~US$39,700) per year, for 4 years 

  • Excellent Research Award: HK$40,000 (~US$5,000) in the first year of study (for 2019-20 admissions)

  • Conference Travel Allowance: HK$12,900 (~US$1,650) per year, for 4 years; and

  • University Accommodation: Guaranteed in the first 2 years of research postgraduate studies

More funding and scholarships are also available to PhD students at HKUST, including Overseas Research Awards, Fulbright Junior Research Awards, Research Travel Grants, 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 2019/20 Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is now closed. Successful candidates should receive the notification from RGC.

1

 By 1 Dec 2018 (12noon, GMT+8) - RGC application deadline

2

 By 4 Dec 2018 (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.

3

 By 10 Dec 2018
  • Nicely inform your referees that it is most helpful if they can provide the reference reports earliest possible.
  • Attend the admission interviews by Skype or in person.

4

 Mar 2019
  • Successful candidates will be notified by RGC via email.
  • Candidates who are not selected for the fellowship, may be considered for admission to relevant PhD program(s) with Postgraduate Studentship of HK$207,960/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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