Hong Kong's government-funded flagship PhD fellowship — 400 awards for 2027/28 — paying one of the world's most generous doctoral stipends (~US$44K/year) for three years of full-time PhD study. Anyone worldwide can apply; there is no nationality restriction and no Master's requirement at some universities (exceptional bachelor's holders accepted by some programmes).
Why it is notable: the trap most applicants fall into — the TWO-step application (RGC initial application for a reference number, THEN a full university application). Miss either one and the other is void. Aggregators rarely explain this clearly.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
Fully funded for 3 years: annual stipend HK$344,400 (~US$44,150; HK$28,700/month) + annual conference/research travel allowance HK$14,400 (~US$1,840). Tuition is NOT part of the RGC award — but most host universities waive or cover it for fellows (each university has its own…
Eligibility criteria
Qualification Required
Masters/MPhilfor PhD
This scholarship is offered for PhD programs.
Who can apply
any nationality; applying for a NEW full-time PhD place at one of the eight universities; current PhD students cannot apply for the same programme (a different programme as a new student is possible but discounted).
Experience
No experience required
Language Certificate
set by each university, not the RGC — typically IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80–90 (English-taught degree often grants exemption; request it with proof). Book tests now — December results won't arrive in time.
Other Certificates
Degree certificates & transcripts
Age Limit
none
Tools that may help
We may earn a commission if you buy through these links. It never changes which scholarships we list or how we describe them.
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
any nationality; applying for a NEW full-time PhD place at one of the eight universities; current PhD students cannot apply for the same programme (a different…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Language
set by each university, not the RGC — typically IELTS 6.5 or TOEFL iBT 80–90 (English-taught degree often grants exemption; request it with proof). Book tests now — December results won't arrive in time.
02
Qualification
any nationality; applying for a NEW full-time PhD place at one of the eight universities; current PhD students cannot apply for the same programme (a different programme as a new student is possible b
03
Documents
per each university's PhD admission requirements (transcripts, certificates, research proposal, references); confirm per university before publishing.
Document checklist
01per each university's PhD admission requirements (transcripts, certificates, research proposal, references)
02confirm per university before publishing.
Application fee
No fee — completely free
No separate scholarship application fee is published; confirm on the official page.
Visa, kept concise: Student visa/entry permit sponsored by the admitting university; the university handles the application with immigration once you accept the offer.
Application Procedure
5 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
STEP 1 —
Submit the INITIAL application through the RGC HKPFS Electronic System (cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs) by 1 December 2026, 12:00 noon HKT, and obtain your HKPFS Reference Number. Only one RGC application allowed — duplicates ar
→
02
STEP 2 —
Submit FULL application(s) to your chosen university/universities (quoting the HKPFS reference number) by 1 December 2026, 11:59 PM HKT (all eight universities — verified on the official RGC FAQ page Q24, read directly 2
→
03
Nominate two academic referees familiar with your
research ability (per PolyU's official page; each university may vary slightly — confirm per university).
1 Dec 2026 — , 12:00 HKT (RGC initial application — verified on the official RGC FAQ page Q23, read directly 15 Oct 2026);…
Who can apply?
any nationality; applying for a NEW full-time PhD place at one of the eight universities; current PhD students cannot apply for the same programme (a different programme as a new student is possible but discounted).
What does the scholarship cover?
Fully funded for 3 years: annual stipend HK$344,400 (~US$44,150; HK$28,700/month) + annual conference/research travel allowance HK$14,400 (~US$1,840). Tuition is NOT part of the RGC award — but most host universities waive or cover it for fellows (each university has its own…
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
Hong Kong · RGC + the eight participating universities
