Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027–28
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) will award 400 fellowships for 2027/28, and the Research Grants Council’s latest published rates are an annual stipend of HK$344,400 plus a HK$14,400 travel allowance, for up to three years. To compete, you apply twice, and the first deadline falls earlier in the day than the second: the initial application closes on December 1, 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time, while the universities’ own deadlines on the same date run to 11:59 pm.
HKPFS is open to new full-time PhD applicants at eight Hong Kong universities, irrespective of country of origin, work experience and ethnic background, so Pakistani graduates can apply on the same terms as everyone else. The Council’s pages describe no Pakistan-specific route. As of October 10, 2026, the scheme has been open since September 1, and the deadline is about seven and a half weeks away. This guide explains how the two steps connect, what the money is, and the rules that can quietly void an application.
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027–28 at a Glance
| Run by | Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong, established in 2009 |
| Awards | 400 PhD Fellowships for the 2027/28 academic year |
| Stipend | HK$344,400 per year (about US$44,150, according to the RGC). This figure is stated for the 2026/27 academic year |
| Travel allowance | HK$14,400 per year (about US$1,840) for conferences and research-related travel |
| Length of award | Up to three years. Universities may add support beyond that. Contact the university for details |
| Who can apply | New full-time PhD applicants to eight UGC-funded universities, irrespective of country of origin |
| Open since | September 1, 2026, 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time |
| Initial application deadline | December 1, 2026, 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time. Late submissions are not considered |
| University application deadline | December 1, 2026, 11:59 pm Hong Kong Time, for all eight universities |
| Results | May 2027 |
| RGC application fee | None. Universities may charge their own fees |
| Contact | HKPF@ugc.edu.hk, quoting your HKPFS Reference Number |
What the Fellowship Pays
| Item | Amount stated by the RGC | Period |
|---|---|---|
| Annual stipend | HK$344,400 (about US$44,150) | Per year, for up to three years |
| Conference and research-related travel allowance | HK$14,400 (about US$1,840) | Per year, for up to three years |
The RGC states these figures for the 2026/27 academic year and does not repeat them for 2027/28, so treat them as the latest published rates and not as a promise for your intake. US dollar figures are the RGC’s own approximate amounts, and we have not converted anything to rupees. Awardees who need more than three years to finish a PhD may receive additional support from their chosen universities, and the RGC tells applicants to ask each university about that directly.
Eligibility and Selection
- New full-time PhD applicants to one of the eight universities listed below. Nationality, work history and ethnic background do not limit eligibility.
- The eight universities: 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.
- University admission rules apply. Each university sets the entry requirements for its own PhD programmes, so you must meet them as well as the scheme’s.
- Current PhD students may apply for a different PhD as a new full-time student. The Selection Panel can decide to discount earlier PhD experience so the contest stays fair to others.
- English: if you studied at a non-English-speaking university, you need TOEFL or IELTS scores in your application unless you can prove English was the language of instruction for all courses. This is waived for programmes taught in a language other than English.
Selection starts with the universities, which may interview you and then nominate candidates to the RGC. Two Selection Panels review the shortlist: one for Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology, and one for Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies. Academic excellence is the primary consideration, followed by research ability and potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.
The Two-Step Application
You cannot apply to the fellowship through a university alone, and you cannot apply through the RGC alone. Both steps are required, and they run in this order:
- Step 1: Initial application. Submit it online in the HKPFS Electronic System before the deadline. The system gives you an HKPFS Reference Number, with the form PF26-xxxxx, and emails you a password. Choose up to two programmes, at one or two universities, and mark your priority.
- Step 2: Full application to each university. Apply to each university you chose, quoting your HKPFS Reference Number, before that university’s deadline. Each university sets its own requirements, referees and application method.
- If you skip Step 2, the initial application becomes void and the RGC does not process it further.
| Step | Deadline in Hong Kong Time | Our own conversion to Pakistan time |
|---|---|---|
| Initial application to the RGC | December 1, 2026, 12:00 noon | December 1, 2026, about 9:00 am |
| Full application to each university | December 1, 2026, 11:59 pm | December 1, 2026, about 8:59 pm |
Hong Kong Time is UTC+8 and Pakistan is UTC+5, so Pakistan is three hours behind. These conversions are our own calculation, not an official RGC table.
HKPFS Electronic System: Initial Application
The two deadlines on December 1 are not the same deadline. The initial application ends at noon in Hong Kong, which is about 9:00 am in Pakistan, while the university forms stay open until 11:59 pm Hong Kong Time. Because the reference number must come first, our reading is that an applicant who plans to do everything on the last evening will find the first door already closed. The RGC itself warns that some universities’ deadlines follow the initial one almost at once, and advises submitting the initial application as early as possible. Treat the noon deadline as your real deadline, and file Step 1 days ahead.
Rules That Can End an Application
Each person may submit only one initial application, and if the RGC finds more than one, it disqualifies all of them. The system times out after 30 minutes without activity and loses unsaved entries. Your two choices can be changed only until the noon deadline, and the RGC accepts no changes afterwards. If you forget to quote your reference number to a university, that university treats your PhD application as a regular one, with no HKPFS consideration. And the RGC can stop processing an application that does not follow the Guidance Note, which also requires the form to be written in English.
The RGC cross-checks what you enter in its system against what you send to each university. Incomplete, inaccurate or inconsistent information may mean the application is not considered under HKPFS. If you apply to two universities, each sees only its own copy. If both nominate you, the RGC processes only the nomination from the university you marked as your priority.
AI-use disclosure
The 2027/28 Guidance Note adds a rule on AI. You must disclose to the relevant institution any use of AI models, systems or tools in preparing your application, including the tool, the purpose, how and to what extent you used it. It lists examples such as refining research questions, literature review, language editing, citation management and data analysis. You remain responsible for the accuracy and originality of any AI-generated content, and the RGC may take action over non-disclosure or inaccurate disclosure.
After You Apply
| Stage | What the RGC says |
|---|---|
| Results | Announced by May 2027. Only successful applicants are notified, by email and letter. The decision is final and the RGC gives no individual feedback |
| If you are not selected | A university may still admit you to its PhD programme and offer a regular postgraduate studentship, if it considers you qualified |
| Registration | Normally July to September 2027. It can be deferred to January 31, 2028 at the latest, for well-justified reasons and with RGC approval |
| Changing university | Not allowed. The award is tied to the university named in your offer letter, and ends if you leave it |
| Student visa | Follow the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s guidance for entry for study |
Notes for Pakistani Applicants
The RGC makes no distinction by country, and its pages describe no Pakistan-specific route. What matters in practice is the English rule and the clock. If your degree was taught in English, collect proof that English was the language of instruction for all courses, and otherwise plan for IELTS or TOEFL. Since each university decides its own admission requirements and referee rules, read those pages before the early December rush. The RGC says applicants who struggle to get transcripts, certificates or test results by a university’s deadline should ask that university directly, because universities may issue conditional offers.
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The RGC charges no application fee for HKPFS, but universities may charge their own application or processing fees.
Yes, up to two programmes in total, at one or two universities, with your priority marked. If you select two programmes at the same university and are nominated, the university decides which one it supports.
No. The RGC says referee details are not needed at the initial stage, but each university asks for them in the full application, and requirements differ by university.
Your PhD admission is not automatically refused. The RGC says universities may admit candidates who were not selected and offer a regular postgraduate studentship.
Official Sources
- Research Grants Council: Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (award, eligibility, selection criteria)
- Research Grants Council: Application Procedure (steps and university deadlines)
- Research Grants Council: Enquiry and FAQs (33 answers on process, deadlines, results)
- Research Grants Council: What’s New (2027/28 opening notice)
- Research Grants Council: Guidance Note for Applicants 2027/28 (PDF) (initial application rules, AI disclosure)
- HKPFS Electronic System: Initial Application (the online form)
Information in this guide was checked against the official pages above on October 10, 2026.
Scholarship requirements, deadlines, and funding details can change. Always verify current information directly with the official provider before applying.
ScholarshipOrbit is an independent guidance resource and is not affiliated with the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong, the University Grants Committee, the Hong Kong SAR Government, or any organization mentioned above.
