Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28 for Pakistani Students

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is a prestigious doctoral funding programme, created in 2009 by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong to attract the best and brightest students from around the world. For the 2027/28 academic year, 400 PhD Fellowships will be awarded to new full-time PhD students, and Pakistani applicants are eligible because the scheme is open irrespective of country of origin, prior work experience and ethnic background. What the Fellowship Offers Each awardee receives an annual stipend of HK$344,400 (approximately US$44,150) and a conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,400 (approximately US$1,840) per year, for a period of up to three years. Awardees who need more than three years to complete the PhD may receive additional support from their chosen university, so it is worth contacting the university directly. Tuition arrangements are handled by the universities rather than stated by the RGC, and some, such as PolyU, offer a tuition fee waiver to successful awardees. For this reason, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is listed as partially funded on this page, and applicants should confirm tuition coverage with their chosen university. Participating Universities Applicants may study at any of eight UGC-funded 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. Programmes are open across disciplines, and applications are reviewed by one of two selection panels: Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology, or Humanities, Social Sciences and Business Studies. Eligibility and Selection Candidates must be seeking admission as new full-time PhD students at one of the participating universities. Applicants should demonstrate outstanding academic performance, research ability and potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities, with academic excellence being the primary consideration. Applicants may choose up to two programmes at one or two universities, and must also meet the admission requirements of each programme they select, including any language requirements set by the university. How to Apply The process has two steps. First, submit an initial application to the RGC through the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme Electronic System (HKPFSES) to obtain an HKPFS reference number. Second, submit your PhD admission application directly to each chosen university, entering the reference number where requested. Both steps must be completed before the university deadlines, which fall on or around the same date, so check each university's portal early. For questions about the scheme, contact the RGC at hkpf@ugc.edu.hk. Deadlines The initial application to the RGC opened on 1 September 2026 and closes on 1 December 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time, which is 9:00 AM in Pakistan. University admission deadlines generally fall on 1 December 2026 as well, with some closing slightly later, so confirm the exact date and time with each university. Do not wait for the last day, because the initial application must be completed first to obtain your reference number. Visit the official RGC website for full details and apply early for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme before 1 December 2026.