HKPFS FAQ 2027/28: Questions Applicants Ask

Yes. The scheme is explicitly open irrespective of country of origin, prior work experience and ethnic background. Local HK residents, permanent residents and students from every country compete on equal terms.

No. There is no age restriction mentioned anywhere in the HKPFS eligibility criteria. The scheme is open to any qualified applicant regardless of age.

No, not as an HKPFS requirement. Whether you need a master's degree depends on the specific PhD programme's admission requirements at each university. Some programmes accept exceptional bachelor's graduates directly. Check with the graduate school at your target university.

Yes, but only for a different PhD programme. The RGC says a current PhD student is eligible if they apply for another PhD programme as a new full-time PhD student. The Selection Panel decides whether your previous PhD study should be discounted, to keep a level playing field for applicants with no PhD background. HKPFS cannot fund a PhD you have already started.

Not by HKPFS itself. Individual universities and programmes set their own requirements. Some programmes, especially in business, ask for a GMAT or GRE score. Most science and engineering programmes do not. Verify with your specific target programme.

The RGC initial application through HKPFSES closes on 1 December 2026 at 12:00 noon Hong Kong time, and university applications for HKPFS candidates close on 1 December 2026 at 11:59pm Hong Kong time. The system opened on 1 September 2026.

After you submit your initial application to RGC through the HKPFSES system, you receive an HKPFS Reference Number. This number must be included in every university application you submit. Without it, the university processes your application as a regular (non-HKPFS) application and you lose all fellowship consideration. An initial application that is not followed by a full university application is void.

Yes, but only before the 1 December 2026 noon deadline. You can update your university/programme choices in the HKPFSES system before the deadline. After that, your choices are locked and cannot be changed.

No. If you receive nominations from both universities and you decline your first-priority offer, the second-choice offer is not automatically transferred. RGC processes only the first-priority university's nomination. This is why your first-priority choice matters — list the university you'd genuinely be happy to attend first.

Referee details are not needed in HKPFSES at the initial application stage. At the university stage, some universities give referees a few extra days. HKUST, for example, asks for reference reports by 8 December 2026 (11:59pm HKT). Deadlines vary by university, so ask your target university and make sure your referees know their deadline well in advance.

Largely, yes. RGC pays the stipend (HK$344,400 a year, about HK$28,700 a month) and an annual conference and research travel allowance (HK$14,400) for up to three years. Tuition is waived by the university, not RGC. HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU and HKBU state a tuition waiver for the normative study period, but EdUHK states a waiver for Year 4 only, so check your university. The stipend is for living expenses.

RGC funding covers up to three years. Further funding comes from your university. HKU, CUHK, HKUST, PolyU, HKBU, Lingnan and EdUHK all say they continue the HKPFS-level stipend for the normative study period, so Year 4 of a 4-year PhD is covered, usually subject to progress. We could not confirm CityU's policy, so ask before you accept any offer.

Usually, yes. These are rough estimates from student accounts, not official figures. With on-campus housing (about HK$2,000–2,500/month), many students spend around HK$6,000–8,000/month in total and have significant savings. Off-campus rent in Kowloon or on Hong Kong Island ranges from about HK$7,000–15,000/month, which tightens the margins considerably. Securing on-campus accommodation is the single biggest factor in whether the stipend feels generous or tight.

Probably, under current rules. The Immigration Department lists a temporary exemption that lets non-local students on full-time local programmes at undergraduate level or above take up work in Hong Kong, instead of the standard 20-hours-a-week on-campus limit. Eligible students receive a “No Objection Letter”. The exemption is temporary, so verify the current policy with your university or the Immigration Department.

No. Publications are not required. Awardees without any prior publications exist. However, publications, conference papers or other research output significantly strengthen the “research ability and potential” criterion. If you don't have publications, a compelling research proposal and strong recommendation letters that specifically address your research potential can compensate.

No, not necessarily. Universities can admit PhD students who weren't selected for HKPFS and offer them the regular postgraduate studentship instead (HK$19,135 a month at HKU in 2026/27). Being rejected for the fellowship doesn't mean the university rejected you for the PhD. Check with your specific university about its non-HKPFS admission and funding options.

The RGC says HKPFS 2027/28 results will be announced by May 2027. Before that, universities usually interview shortlisted applicants in January–February 2027, and university admission decisions (separate from HKPFS) may come in March–April 2027; these months are the usual pattern, not official dates. The RGC notifies successful candidates by email and letter and publishes the results on its website.

No. The fellowship is tied to the specific university named in your RGC offer letter. If you leave that university, the fellowship is discontinued. You cannot transfer the award to a different institution.

Cantonese is not required for academic work — most PhD programmes at the eight universities are taught and supervised in English, though a few, such as Chinese-language programmes, are not. Day-to-day life in Hong Kong is easier with at least basic Cantonese, and some PhD students have reported difficulty connecting with local residents who prefer Cantonese. Mandarin helps in some contexts but is not a substitute in Cantonese-dominant environments.

This is a real consideration for some researchers. Post-2020 changes under Hong Kong's National Security Law have created documented concerns about self-censorship, particularly for research on topics related to Hong Kong politics, China–Hong Kong relations, democracy and social movements. STEM, natural sciences, engineering and business research are largely unaffected. Researchers in social sciences, humanities or political studies should research the current environment carefully before committing to a Hong Kong PhD.