Hong Kong has five scholarship routes in our database, and they split cleanly by level. Three are for undergraduates at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). One is a fully funded PhD scheme that covers all eight UGC-funded universities. The last is a broader HKU listing for undergraduate and postgraduate students. If you are a Pakistani student choosing between a bachelor's and a research degree, this page shows which route fits and where each guide sits.
All five Hong Kong scholarships at a glance
| Scholarship | Funding | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| CUHK Non-Local Student Admission Scholarships | Full / Partial | No separate deadline; follows the CUHK undergraduate admission deadline |
| HKU Belt and Road Scholarship | Partial Funding | Aligned with HKU's undergraduate or research postgraduate admission deadline |
| HKUST Academic Admissions Scholarships for International Qualification Holders | Full / Partial | Early Round late November, Main Round early January, Late Round end of June |
| Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) | Fully Funded | 1 December (12:00 noon Hong Kong Time) for the initial application |
| University of Hong Kong HKU International Scholarships | Full / Partial | Varies by scheme; September 4, 2026 for Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships, rolling for C.Y. Tung Scholarship |
The PhD route: Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) is the only option here marked fully funded without qualification. It is run by Hong Kong's Research Grants Council and awards around 400 fellowships a year to international students. The money covers a monthly stipend and a travel allowance for up to three years, at any of the eight UGC-funded universities. Read the full details for the scheme page.
Timing needs care. The initial application goes through HKPFSES by 1 December at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time. Your full PhD admission application is a separate step, set by each host university, usually December-January. Missing either one ends the attempt.
Undergraduate admission scholarships at CUHK and HKUST
Both of these are merit-based and awarded automatically, so there is no extra scholarship essay to write. That is a real advantage if you are already preparing a university application.
CUHK Non-Local Student Admission Scholarships are considered for every non-local student admitted to a full-time undergraduate programme. Awards range from partial to full tuition plus a living allowance. There is no separate deadline, because consideration is tied to the standard CUHK undergraduate admission deadline. See the full details.
HKUST Academic Admissions Scholarships for International Qualification Holders work in tiers for top-performing non-local applicants, going up to full tuition plus an annual living allowance of HK$60,000. HKUST runs three rounds: Early in late November, Main in early January and Late at the end of June. Dates shift slightly each cycle, so confirm them on the HKUST admissions calendar. The full details page has the listing.
Applying in an earlier round is the sensible move when your results allow it, since the schedule gives you the most room to fix problems with documents.
HKU options: Belt and Road and the wider scholarship listing
The HKU Belt and Road Scholarship is government-funded and administered through HKU. It covers full non-local tuition fees for outstanding first-year students from Belt and Road Initiative countries who start an undergraduate or research postgraduate degree. Our data lists it as partial funding, because tuition is covered but nothing else is stated. Supplementary scholarship materials go in alongside the admission application, so the deadline matches HKU's admission deadline. More on the full details page.
The University of Hong Kong HKU International Scholarships listing covers the Academic Advising and Scholarships Office, for undergraduate and postgraduate students. It includes internal university options and external schemes such as the C.Y. Tung Scholarship and the Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fellowships. Status is currently Opening Soon. Deadlines differ by scheme: September 4, 2026 for the Youde fellowships, and a rolling basis for C.Y. Tung. See the full details.
Choosing between them and preparing documents
Start with your level. A master's graduate aiming at research should look at HKPFS first, because it is the one route with a stipend and travel allowance built in. A school leaver should compare CUHK, HKUST and HKU together, since automatic consideration means one strong application can serve several universities.
For Pakistani applicants, the HKU Belt and Road Scholarship deserves a close look if your country qualifies under the scheme; confirm that on the official page. The CUHK and HKUST awards need nothing beyond a strong admission file, which keeps the workload low.
Collect transcripts, identity documents and references early. Our documents checklist for international scholarships lists what to gather, and the scholarships guide for Pakistani students covers the wider picture.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a separate application for the CUHK scholarships?
No. The data describes automatic consideration for every admitted non-local undergraduate, tied to the standard admission deadline.
Which Hong Kong option is fully funded?
HKPFS is listed as fully funded, for PhD study. CUHK, HKUST and the HKU listing range from partial to full.
When is the HKPFS deadline?
The initial application via HKPFSES closes on 1 December at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time each year. Host universities set their own admission deadlines, usually December-January.
Are HKUST deadlines fixed?
They follow three rounds, but the dates shift slightly each cycle. Check the HKUST admissions calendar.
Can I apply for the HKU Belt and Road Scholarship as a postgraduate?
It covers undergraduate or research postgraduate degrees at HKU, for first-year students from Belt and Road Initiative countries.
Open the individual guides above for each scheme, and check the official websites of the universities and the Research Grants Council for current dates before you apply.