Scholarships
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)
The Research Grants Council (RGC) established this prestigious scheme to attract global academic talent to Hong Kong’s universities.
For the 2027-28 intake at CUHK, the HKPFS package offers substantial financial support totalling up to HK$1.81 million (~US$232,420) during the student’s normative study period. Explore more details here.
CUHK Vice-Chancellor’s PhD Scholarship Scheme
The Scholarship offers:
- An award of total HK$80,000 (approx. US$10,260) (HK$40,000 in the first year of attendance and HK$20,000 each in the second and third years subject to satisfactory study progress);
- Annual studentships of HK$229,200 (approx. US$29,400) throughout the normative study period; and
- A Conference and Research-related Travel Allowance totalling HK$30,000 (approx. US$3,840) for the duration of the normative study period.
This prestigious scholarship targets the most brilliant candidates seeking full-time PhD admission at CUHK. Elite research recipients demonstrate outstanding academic and/or research achievements, intellectual curiosity paired with creativity, and potential for academic/professional leadership. Qualifying criteria may include a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5/4.0 or equivalent, academic/research awards, impactful publications, strong reference letters highlighting research potential, or a PhD offer from a top-tier university for the intake of the same academic year (as ranked by THE World, QS World, ARWU, or relevant subject rankings).
Candidates applying to CUHK’s full-time PhD programmes through the Online Application System by the specified deadlines are automatically considered for this scholarship. No separate application is required.
Postgraduate Studentships
- Available to qualified full-time research postgraduate students
- Annual studentship for 2026-27 is HK$229,200 (approx. US$29,400). Payable during the normative period of study.
- Studentship results are announced together with admission offers
Research Postgraduate Student Grant for Overseas Academic Activities
Full-time Research Doctoral Student: Maximum HK$30,000 in total during the normative period of study.
Tuition Waiver Scheme for Local Students
- Starting from the 2018-19 academic year, the Government grants a tuition waiver to all current and newly admitted local* full-time research postgraduate (RPg) students enrolled in UGC-funded RPg programmes for their entire normative period of study.
- For complete details and application procedures, please visit the website of University Grants Committee (UGC).
*Students would be considered a non-local student if he/she is a holder of the following documents issued by the Immigration Department of the HKSAR:
- Student visa/entry permit; or
- Visa/entry permit under the Immigration Arrangement for Non-local Graduates; or
- Dependant visa/entry permit who were 18 years old or above when he/she was issued with such visa/entry
Other Scholarships
The University offers a number of scholarships, prizes and awards to recognise students’ outstanding academic and non-academic performance. Other exchange scholarships, university bursaries and loans are also available. Please visit the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid’s Website for details.
More scholarships and funding are available to postgraduate students, including the PhD International Mobility for Partnerships and Collaborations Award, Young Scholars Thesis Award, CUHK Convocation Postgraduate Admissions Scholarships. More information is available on the websites of the Office of Admissions and Financial Aid and the Office of Academic Links.