In order to attract top candidates from around the world to pursue full-time PhD studies at HKU, the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship (HKU-PS) is launched to offer the most prestigious package to selected outstanding full-time PhD students admitted to The University of Hong Kong.

Each President's Scholar will receive a package of up to around HK$414,000 (US$53,000) in the first year, and up to around HK$394,000 (US$50,000) in each of the subsequent years during the normative study period, subject to satisfactory study progress.

The package includes:

(a) Cash Award to support research and living expenses:
HK$40,000 in Year 1; HK$20,000 per year in the remaining normative study period
(b) Waiver of composition fees for the whole normative study period (i.e. HK$42,100 per year)
(c) Postgraduate Scholarship of $26,600 per month
(d) Conference and Research-related Travel Allowance of HK$13,300 per year
(e) a guaranteed hall place in Year 1, with possibility of renewal in Year 2
(b) Waiver of composition fees for the whole normative study period (i.e. HK$42,100 per year)
(c) Postgraduate Scholarship of $26,600 per month
(d) Conference and Research-related Travel Allowance of HK$13,300 per year
(e) a guaranteed hall place in Year 1, with possibility of renewal in Year 2
Hong Kong PhD Fellowships

Eligibility for HKU-PS

The HKU-PS will be awarded to the brightest candidates applying for the full-time PhD programmes at HKU. As the University will also nominate top PhD candidates to the Research Grants Council (RGC) to compete for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (HKPF), recipients of HKU-PS will be selected from among the HKPF nominees. In principle, all HKPF awardees will receive HKU-PS. Selected candidates who are not awarded HKPF but considered to be of high calibre by the University will also receive HKU-PS.

Items (c) and (d) of the HKU-PS package overlap with the HKPF award provided by the RGC. HKU-PS recipients who are awarded HKPF concurrently will receive items (c) and (d) from the RGC for their first three years of study. Other parts of the HKU-PS package, plus the postgraduate scholarships and travel allowance for the fourth year of study (for 4-year PhD students), will be provided by HKU.

Application for HKU-PS

Candidates who have been nominated by the University to compete for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme will be considered for HKU-PS. Separate application for HKU-PS is not required.

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPF), established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2009, aims at attracting the best and brightest students across the world to pursue their research degree programmes in Hong Kong. Around 300 PhD Fellowships are awarded by the RGC each academic year.

The University Postgraduate Fellowships (UPF) Scheme is generously supported by The University of Hong Kong Foundation for Educational Development and Research (‘HKU Foundation’), the Jessie & George Ho Charitable Foundation, Dr Lee Shau Kee, Philip K H Wong Foundation and the Hui Pun Hing Endowment Fund, carrying the titles ‘HKU Foundation Postgraduate Fellowship’, ‘Jessie Ho Memorial Postgraduate Fellowship’, ‘Lee Shau Kee Postgraduate Fellowship’, ‘Philip K H Wong Foundation Postgraduate Fellowship’ and ‘Hui Pun Hing Memorial Postgraduate Fellowship’ respectively.

The Scheme aims to attract top students worldwide to the HKU family and is available for selected new full-time PhD candidates with excellent academic performances. The fellowship is at a total value of HK$70,000 on top of the Postgraduate Scholarships for the 2021/22 intake. Applicants in their final year of undergraduate study may also apply for the UPF. The application deadline is December 1, 2020.

To apply, please check the box ‘UPF’ in your on-line application.

HKU applicants for the HKPF will be automatically considered for the UPF. However, HKPF awardees will not concurrently be awarded the UPF and Postgraduate Scholarships offered by the University.

In addition, UPF awardees will not be concurrently awarded the HKU Presidential Scholarships.

Full-time MPhil and PhD students who hold a first degree with second-class honours first division (or equivalent) or above are normally considered eligible to receive a Postgraduate Scholarship during the normative study period. Candidates' results in Master's degrees may also be considered. The basic level of scholarship is HK$18,030 per month (w.e.f. September 1, 2020).

A PGS holder whose PhD probationary candidature has been confirmed will receive a higher PGS rate with effect from the following calendar month after his/her probation is fully confirmed. For example: probation confirmed within November 1 – 30, 2020 --> higher PGS rate is applicable w.e.f. December 1, 2020. The higher PGS rate is HK$18,520 per month (w.e.f. September 1, 2020).

The University Grants Committee (UGC) provides a non-means-tested ‘Tuition Waiver Scheme’ (‘The Scheme’) for all current and new local students enrolled in full-time UGC-funded Research Postgraduate (RPg) programmes of any disciplines in local institutions, to cover their composition fees with effect from July 1, 2018.  Eligible students do not need to apply for the Scheme.

For more information, please refer to the UGC website.

The University administers a number of scholarships that are awarded to postgraduate students for outstanding academic achievements. Here are some examples available to current students.

Full-time MPhil and PhD students are eligible to apply for conference and/or travel support for presenting papers/posters in overseas academic conferences or participating in other overseas educational activities.

For further information on scholarships, please refer to the University's scholarship website.

Full-time non-local research postgraduate students who register on July 1, 2019 and thereafter are guaranteed a hall place in their first year of study.

Recipients of Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (HKPF) and HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship (HKU-PS) are guaranteed a hall place in Year 1, with possibility of renewal in Year 2.