Are you an international PhD applicant willing to pursue a PhD at a world-class institution with full financial support? The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) offers a world-class opportunity for passionate students to advance their academic and research pursuits.

The CUHK attracts top doctoral talent worldwide through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2009: each academic year, the RGC awards about 300 fellowships for international applicants.

The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) offers exceptional PhD programs supported by competitive annual stipends and extensive research opportunities. With world-class facilities and international collaborations, CUHK has nurtured over 340 elite researchers and continues to excel in the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, now entering its 16th year. Study awards for the 2026-27 academic year are available.

CUHK is globally recognized as a leading research university dedicated to achieving excellence with purpose and responsibility. It aims to foster innovation, education, and societal impact, contributing to development in Hong Kong, mainland China, and beyond.

CUHK offers diverse PhD programs across its eight faculties: Arts, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Law, Medicine, Science, and Social Science. These programs empower global talents to lead in research and innovation.

Key Details and Dates

• Application Deadlines:

• RGC Application: December 1, 2025, 12:00 noon (Hong Kong Time)
• UHK Application: December 1, 2025, 11:59 pm (Hong Kong Time)

• Interview Period: September – December 2025
• Result Announcement Dates:  March – April 2026
• Funding Type: Fully funded
• Host Institution: Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
• Eligible Countries: All
• Eligible Gender: Male/Female
• Target Group: Prospective PhD students
• Fields: Various Fields
• Study Level: Doctoral (PhD)
• Duration: 3 to 4 years
• Program Language: English
• Host Country: Hong Kong

Fields of PhD Studies at CityUHK

Applicants can apply for PhD studies in the following disciplines:

• Arts
• Business Administration
• Education
• Engineering
• Inter-Faculty
• Law
• Medicine
• Science
• Social Science

Benefits and Financial Aids

The selected candidates will benefit from the HKPFS as follows:

• Annual Stipend:
  HK$340,800 per year (approx. US$43,700)
  Total up to HK$1.36 million (approx. US$174,770)

• Conference & Research-related Travel Allowance:
  HK$14,200 per year (approx. US$1,820)
  HK$30,000 RPg Student Grant for Overseas Academic Activities (approx. US$3,840)
  Total up to HK$86,800 (approx. US$11,130)

• CUHK Vice-Chancellor HKPFS Scholarship – Tuition Fee Waiver: Up to HK$195,500 (approx. US$25,060)

• Lodging Award: Up to HK$100,000 (approx. US$12,820)

• Extra benefits: Free on-campus accommodation and a fee waiver for the first year.

Eligibility Criteria

In addition to the CUHK’s admission requirements, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Demonstrate academic excellence
• Have research ability and potential
• Have communication and interpersonal skills
• Show leadership abilities

Doctoral program admission requirements are as follows:

Doctoral Degrees (PhD, EdD, DMus, DNurs, DPsy, DBA, DSocSci):

• Master’s degree from a recognized university; or
• Bachelor’s degree with Upper Second Class Honours and at least 1 year in a master’s programme with proven research ability; or
• At least 1 year in a doctoral programme at a recognized university; or
• M.B., Ch.B., or equivalent for Faculty of Medicine programmes.

PhD Stream under MPhil–PhD Programmes:

• Master’s degree; or
• Bachelor’s degree with Second Class Honours or above; or
• Honours bachelor’s degree with GPA equivalent to “B”; or
• Professional qualifications equivalent to an honours degree.

Must meet the English language requirements:

• • TOEFL: 550 (Paper-based) / 79 (Internet-based).
  • IELTS (Academic): 6.5.
  • GMAT (Verbal): Band 21 or above.
  • GMAT Focus Verbal: Band 78
• Alternatively, they must pass in English from:
  • Pass in English from:
  • HKAL / HKHLE / CUHK Matriculation / GCE A-Level or AS-Level
  • HKDSE English Level 4 or above

Research Areas

The following are the research areas details at CUHK:

Strategic Research Areas:

CUHK focuses on four key interdisciplinary research areas critical for 21st-century advancement:

• China: Tradition and Modernity
• Environment and Sustainability
• Information and Automation Technology
• Innovative Biomedicine

Areas of Excellence (AoE)

The University Grants Committee (UGC) supports cutting-edge research, with CUHK leading 13 of 35 AoE projects, including:

• AI-Powered Surgical Robots
• Using Data to Transform Diabetes Care and Patient Lives
• Centre for Medical Engineering of Molecular and Biological Probes
• Aging, Skeletal Degeneration, and Regeneration
• Probing the Fundamental Structure of Matter with High-Energy Particle Collisions
• Centre for Genomic Studies on Plant-Environment Interaction for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security
• Centre for Organelle Biogenesis and Function
• The Historical Anthropology of Chinese Society
• Institute of Network Coding
• Centre for Research into Circulating Fetal Nucleic Acids
• Chinese Medicine Research and Further Development
• Centre for Plant and Agricultural Biotechnology
• Information Technology

How to Apply?

Step 1: Submit an initial application via the RGC HKPFS Electronic System and obtain an HKPFS reference number by December 1, 2024, 12:00 noon (Hong Kong Time)

Step 2: Submit a full application to the CUHK Admission System, providing the HKPFS reference number by December 1, 2024, 11:59 pm (Hong Kong Time)

Apply Now for RGC

Apply to CUHK

For more details, visit the CUHK HKPFS page.

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