Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS): stipend, eligibility, deadlines and how to apply

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) is a doctoral fellowship run by Hong Kong's Research Grants Council (RGC), the statutory body that allocates public research money across the city's university sector. It started in 2009 and awards around 400 fellowships a year to strong research candidates who want to do a full-time PhD at one of Hong Kong's eight UGC-funded universities. The stipend is large by any standard, there is no nationality restriction, and the field is open. For a Pakistani student with a good academic record and a clear research direction, it is one of the better doctoral options in Asia. You can read the full scholarship details on our scholarship page before you start.

The catch is that HKPFS is not a scholarship you apply for in isolation. It sits on top of a normal PhD admission process, and most of the hard work happens at the university level. If you understand that from day one, you will plan better than most applicants.

The fellowship in one table

Why the HK$344,400 stipend changes the PhD calculation

Many PhD offers leave students doing the maths on whether they can survive on the stipend. HKPFS is different. The annual stipend is HK$344,400, roughly US$44,150, and it comes with a separate allowance of HK$14,400 (around US$1,840) each year for conferences and research travel. The funding is set for up to three years and is renewable subject to satisfactory progress.

On top of the RGC money, many host universities waive tuition fees for HKPFS fellows. Universities also often add funding for fellows who need more than three years to finish. Treat both of these as university decisions rather than guaranteed parts of the fellowship, and ask your target university directly what it gives HKPFS fellows.

Beyond money, you get a free choice of research topic and supervisor within the host university, and access to the research facilities at the university that admits you. All eight participating universities teach and run research in English.

Eight universities, two choices

The fellowship money follows you to whichever UGC-funded university admits you. The eight are:

• The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
• The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
• The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
• City University of Hong Kong
• The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
• Hong Kong Baptist University
• Lingnan University
• The Education University of Hong Kong

In a single HKPFS application you can nominate up to two research programmes across up to two of these universities. Use both slots. Applying to only one programme is the most common way people waste their own chances here, and there is no reward for loyalty to a single department.

Is a Pakistani applicant eligible?

Yes. HKPFS is open to applicants of any nationality, with no restriction on country of origin and no need for any prior link to Hong Kong. The real filters are elsewhere:

• You must be seeking admission as a new full-time PhD student. If you are already a PhD student at a Hong Kong university, you cannot apply.
• You need outstanding academic achievement, typically a strong Bachelor's and/or Master's record.
• You should show research ability and potential, and a publication record where applicable.
• You need a good command of English. Communication and leadership skills are assessed at interview.
• You must get an HKPFS reference number before you submit the PhD admission application.

Who does this suit? Students with a clear research question, good grades and at least one academic who will write a strong letter for them. If you are still unsure what you want to research, or your grades are average and you have no research experience, you will find it hard to stand out. In that case, a year spent on research assistance or a publication may do more for you than a rushed application.

How selection works

Selection happens in two stages, and the order matters.

1. You register on the HKPFS Electronic System (HKPFSES) and submit the Initial Application. This gives you an HKPFS reference number.
2. You submit a full PhD admission application directly to your chosen university or universities, quoting that reference number.

Each university then runs its own shortlisting and interviews. It nominates its finalists to the RGC's central selection panels, which are split by discipline: one for Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology, and one for Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies. The panels weigh academic excellence most heavily, then research ability, communication skills and leadership potential.

The practical point is that your university application decides whether you reach the RGC panel at all. A weak research proposal or a department that has never heard from you is where most applications stall.

The paperwork you will need

The document list is short, but each item carries weight:

• The Initial Application through HKPFSES
• A full PhD admission application to each chosen university
• Academic transcripts and degree certificates
• A research proposal or statement of research interest
• Two academic reference letters
• A CV or resume
• Proof of English proficiency (IELTS/TOEFL or equivalent), if the host university requires it

English test requirements are set by the host university, so check each programme separately. For a general list of what Pakistani applicants usually need to prepare, see our documents checklist for international scholarships. If your university asks for attested transcripts or degrees, the IBCC and MOFA attestation guide explains that process.

Two deadlines, and missing either one ends it

This is the part applicants get wrong most often. There are two separate deadlines and they are not the same thing.

The HKPFSES deadline is at noon Hong Kong Time, not midnight. Convert that to Pakistan time yourself before you plan your submission day, and do not leave it to the evening of 1 December. Aim to finish the Initial Application at least a week early. Then look up each university's own admission deadline, because some may fall in December and others in January. Confirm the exact dates for your intake on the official RGC portal and on each university's PhD admissions page.

A realistic plan from September to December

1. Pick up to two PhD programmes, across up to two universities, that match your research interest.
2. Contact potential supervisors early. It is not formally required, but most successful applicants secure a supervisor's interest before applying, ideally months ahead.
3. Ask your two referees early. Referees are often approached close to the December deadline, and rushed letters show.
4. Register on HKPFSES and submit the Initial Application by 1 December to get your reference number.
5. Submit the full PhD application to each university, quoting the reference number, before that university's own deadline.
6. Prepare for interviews or assessments arranged by the university.

What separates strong applications from the rest

Write a different research proposal for each department. If you apply to two universities, a single generic proposal tells both panels you did not look closely at what they do. Read the department's recent work and show how your project fits its strengths.

Your first email to a supervisor should be short and specific: who you are, the problem you want to work on, why their group, and your CV attached. Long, flattering emails sent to dozens of professors rarely get replies.

Track both deadlines independently. Put the HKPFSES deadline and each university deadline in your calendar as separate entries. Missing either one disqualifies the application.

Do not treat a rejection from HKPFS as the end. Several universities, HKUST among them, automatically consider unsuccessful HKPFS applicants for university-funded postgraduate studentships. If you are not selected, ask the university whether you were considered for one of these. A strong application is rarely wasted.

Once you have an offer, the student visa is a separate process. Our article on common student visa rejection reasons covers mistakes worth avoiding at that stage. You can also compare this fellowship with other options in our guide to all Hong Kong scholarships.

Frequently asked questions

Can Pakistani students apply for HKPFS?

Yes. The scheme has no nationality restriction. Any applicant seeking admission as a new full-time PhD student at one of the eight UGC-funded universities can apply.

Do I need a Master's degree?

The requirement is outstanding academic achievement, typically a strong Bachelor's and/or Master's record. Check the specific entry rules of the PhD programme you are applying to, since these are set by the university.

Can I apply to more than one university?

Yes. One HKPFS application lets you nominate up to two research programmes across up to two universities.

Do I need a supervisor before I apply?

It is not formally required. In practice, most successful applicants contact a potential supervisor and secure their interest before submitting.

Is tuition covered?

The RGC fellowship covers the stipend and travel allowance. Many host universities waive tuition fees for HKPFS fellows, but confirm this with your university.

How long does the funding last?

Up to three years, renewable subject to satisfactory progress. Universities often add funding for fellows who need longer to finish.

Before you apply, check the current cycle's rules on the official HKPFS website, and keep the full HKPFS scholarship page open for reference.