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PhDStipend + research/conference travel allowance for up to 3 years (university tuition package varies)

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28

Last verified 18 September 2026 by the Scholarships for Africans editorial team

Hong Kong's Research Grants Council funds new full-time PhD students from any country with a stipend and a research travel allowance for up to three years — the initial application closes 1 December 2026 at noon Hong Kong time.

Provider
Research Grants Council, Hong Kong
Host country
Hong Kong
Deadline
1 December 2026 12:00 GMT+8 (Hong Kong time, initial application)
Region
Asia
Official source Track this application

Topics

Applying from your country? See your edition: Kenya · Nigeria · Ghana · Ethiopia · Uganda · Tanzania · Rwanda · Angola · Mozambique · São Tomé & Príncipe · Senegal · Cameroon · Ivory Coast · Benin · Togo · DR Congo

Eligibility & requirements at a glance

Review the recorded eligibility, funding and deadline information below. Confirm the current award conditions on the provider's official source.

Who can apply
New full-time PhD applicants of any nationality, including all African countries, applying to one of the eight participating Hong Kong universities. You may choose up to two programmes or departments at one or two universities under HKPFS 2027/28.
Funding
Stipend + research/conference travel allowance for up to 3 years (university tuition package varies)
Study level
PhD
Deadline
1 December 2026 12:00 GMT+8 (Hong Kong time, initial application)

Key eligibility criteria

  • New full-time PhD applicants of any nationality, including all African countries, applying to one of the eight participating Hong Kong universities. You may choose up to two programmes or departments at one or two universities under HKPFS 2027/28.

Recorded funding information

  • Stipend + research/conference travel allowance for up to 3 years (university tuition package varies)

About the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28 (2026)

## Overview The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) is run by Hong Kong's Research Grants Council to attract outstanding doctoral students to the city's eight publicly funded universities. It is a two-step scheme: first you register centrally with the RGC to obtain an HKPFS reference number, then you apply directly to the universities and programmes you have chosen. ## Level and destination Full-time PhD study at one of the eight participating universities in Hong Kong, for the 2027/28 academic year. ## Eligibility for African applicants Open to new full-time PhD applicants of any nationality, including every African country. You must be applying for a **new** full-time PhD place (not continuing an existing one), and you may nominate up to two programmes or departments at one or two participating universities. ## Funding coverage and exclusions The fellowship provides a monthly stipend and a conference and research-related travel allowance for up to three years. Two things to check before you rely on this award: * **Stipend amounts:** the figures published on the RGC site are for the 2026/27 year (HK$344,400 stipend and HK$14,400 travel allowance per year). The 2027/28 amounts have not yet been confirmed. * **Tuition and a fourth year:** tuition support, and any funding beyond three years, are decided by each university, not by the RGC. Confirm the package with your chosen university — this scheme is not automatically a full-cost award everywhere. ## Deadlines * **Initial application: 1 December 2026, 12:00 noon Hong Kong time (UTC+8)** — through the HKPFS Electronic System, to obtain your reference number. * **Full applications:** each university sets its own deadline; several fall on 1 December 2026 (some as late as 23:59 Hong Kong time). Check each one individually. ## How to apply 1. Register in the HKPFS Electronic System and complete the initial application by 1 December 2026, 12:00 noon Hong Kong time, to receive your HKPFS reference number. 2. Choose up to two PhD programmes or departments at one or two participating universities. 3. Submit a separate full PhD admission application to each chosen university, quoting your HKPFS reference number, before that university's own deadline. 4. Ask each university about tuition support, stipend top-ups and funding beyond year three. ## Official links Application steps: [cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/apply.html](https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/apply.html) · Scheme and award details: [cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html](https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html) **Verified:** 18 September 2026 against the Research Grants Council's official HKPFS pages.

Funding information

The funding information below is recorded in this listing; it does not establish additional covered components. Check amounts, caps, exclusions and conditions on the official source.

  • Stipend + research/conference travel allowance for up to 3 years (university tuition package varies)

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28 eligibility

Always cross-check eligibility against the sponsor's official site before applying — sponsor rules can change between intakes.

  • New full-time PhD applicants of any nationality, including all African countries, applying to one of the eight participating Hong Kong universities. You may choose up to two programmes or departments at one or two universities under HKPFS 2027/28.

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28 document information

No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the materials the provider requests.

    How to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28 2026

    Follow the provider's stated process. The checks below are guidance, not additional application requirements. Any original editorial instructions remain in the description above.

    1. 1
      Check the provider's process

      Consult https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/apply.html to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there.

    2. 2
      Check eligibility and any requested materials

      Listed eligibility: New full-time PhD applicants of any nationality, including all African countries, applying to one of the eight participating Hong Kong universities. You may choose up to two programmes or departments at one or two universities under HKPFS 2027/28.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist.

    3. 3
      Check dates and next steps

      Listed deadline information: 1 December 2026 12:00 GMT+8 (Hong Kong time, initial application). Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

    Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28 deadline & application timeline

    Provider deadline information: 1 December 2026 12:00 GMT+8 (Hong Kong time, initial application). This text cannot be safely converted to a countdown; check the official source for its meaning. The earlier milestones are optional planning suggestions only.

    1. Planning suggestion: 12 months out

      Check the current call and decide whether this opportunity fits your plans.

    2. Planning suggestion: 6 months out

      If the provider requires tests or documents that take time, plan for them using its published instructions.

    3. Planning suggestion: 3 months out

      If an application is required, review the provider's process and prepare only the materials it requests.

    4. Planning suggestion: 1 month out

      If submission is required, allow time to check your materials and any stated cutoff.

    5. Provider deadline
      1 December 2026 12:00 GMT+8 (Hong Kong time, initial application)

      Provider deadline information: 1 December 2026 12:00 GMT+8 (Hong Kong time, initial application). Confirm the current instructions and any cutoff or time zone on the official source; no additional time is assumed here.

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    Editorial verification note

    Verified 18 September 2026 against cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs (apply + index pages): initial application deadline 1 December 2026 at 12:00 Hong Kong time for HKPFS 2027/28; up to two programmes at one or two universities. Stipend figures published on the RGC site are labelled 2026/27 (HK$344,400 stipend, HK$14,400 travel allowance) and are NOT confirmed 2027/28 amounts. Tuition support and funding beyond three years are set by each university and must be checked per institution — do not present as universally fully funded.
    Last checked 9/18/2026

    Frequently asked questions

    Who can apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28?+

    New full-time PhD applicants of any nationality, including all African countries, applying to one of the eight participating Hong Kong universities. You may choose up to two programmes or departments at one or two universities under HKPFS 2027/28.

    What funding does the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme 2027/28 offer?+

    Listed funding: Stipend + research/conference travel allowance for up to 3 years (university tuition package varies). Confirm amounts, exclusions and conditions on the official source. This label does not establish any additional benefit components.

    When is the application deadline?+

    Provider deadline information: 1 December 2026 12:00 GMT+8 (Hong Kong time, initial application). Confirm the current cutoff and any time zone on the official source; no additional cutoff or late-submission policy is assumed here.

    What documents do I need to apply?+

    No explicit document checklist is recorded here. If an application is required, prepare only the documents requested by the provider; requirements may differ from admission requirements.

    How do I check the application process?+

    Consult https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/apply.html to confirm whether consideration is automatic or requires an application, and follow only the process stated there. Listed eligibility: New full-time PhD applicants of any nationality, including all African countries, applying to one of the eight participating Hong Kong universities. You may choose up to two programmes or departments at one or two universities under HKPFS 2027/28.. Confirm the current criteria and, if submission is required, use the provider's own checklist. Listed deadline information: 1 December 2026 12:00 GMT+8 (Hong Kong time, initial application). Confirm any cutoff, time zone and follow-up process with the provider.

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