DO NOT Miss this Golden Opportunity to Study at Top-Ranked Universities in the World on Fully Funded Scholarships for Masters leading to PhD & PhD!

Apply for the prestigious Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) for 2027-28 in almost every field: Sciences, Medicine, Engineering and Technology, Humanities, Social Sciences, and Business Studies.

Who can apply?

Direct PhD: Students with a Bachelor’s degree (16 years of education) are eligible to apply. You will typically have a 4-year PhD duration.
Regular PhD: Graduates with an MPhil or Master’s degree (18 years of education) can also apply, typically for a 3-year PhD scholarship.

Almost all universities in Hong Kong rank within the Top 100 globally in various subjects and overall metrics!

Application Deadline: 01 December 2026

Latest QS World University Rankings (2026/2027) for Hong Kong Universities:

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) — QS: 11
The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) — QS: 32
The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) — QS: 44
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) — QS: 50
City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) — QS: 63
Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU) — QS: 244
The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) — QS: 406
Lingnan University — QS: 701–710

Financial Support in HKPFS:

The HKPFS provides substantial financial support for up to three years:

Monthly Stipend: HK$28,700 (approx. US$3,660), which amounts to an annual stipend of HK$344,400 (approx. US$44,150).
Travel Allowance: An annual allowance of HK$14,400 (approx. US$1,840) is provided for conference and research-related travel.
Tuition Waiver: Many universities also provide a full tuition fee waiver for HKPFS awardees.

How to Apply & Insider Tips:

Contact Professors Early: Reach out to professors of your choice before they finalize other candidates for their labs. This is critical to reserving your place, especially for technical majors.
Quality Over Quantity: Do NOT bombard professors with generic emails and incomplete CVs. Study the professor’s profile, understand their research, and craft a personalized email with a strong subject line and an updated CV.
English Proficiency is Key: For HKPFS, strong IELTS/TOEFL scores are a must (aim for at least a 6.5 band). For standard university studentships, an English Proficiency Letter from your parent university might work, but standardized tests are highly preferred.
The "Plan B" Advantage: Often, if you are not selected for the HKPFS scheme but your profile impresses a professor, they can fund your Master's or PhD directly through their lab's project funding (Regular Studentships). So, give your initial outreach your best effort!

Insight from HKPFS Alumni:

"If you fail in getting this fellowship, there are bright chances a professor can hire you on available studentships, as happened with many students last year."

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Comment by Hong Kong Scholarship Alumni Prof. Dr. Raza Jafri:

"A good proposal, for better chances try getting IELTS with a minimum 6.5 band, a good motivation letter, and strong recommendations. Contacting a supervisor will be an added benefit. Usually, the interviewing panel decides your supervisor after looking at your proposal and interview. But, if you are lucky enough to find a supervisor ready to supervise, it will increase your chances for the fellowship or postgraduate studentship. So, find your relevant professors now."

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Important Links:

Apply first on the HKPFS portal, then on the university portal: https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/index.html

Resources on How to Write Emails to Professors:

4 Tips to Email Professors for Graduate School: http://redbus2us.com/4-tips-to-email-professors-for-graduate-school-admission-in-usa/
How to Start an Official Email to a Professor: http://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/19708/how-to-start-an-official-email-to-a-professor
Writing the First Email to a Potential Supervisor: https://www.quora.com/How-do-I-write-the-first-email-to-a-professor-that-may-accept-me-as-his-graduate-student
UVA SRG: Advice for Prospective Students: https://uvasrg.github.io/prospective/
GradWinner: Find and Email Supervisors: https://gradwinner.com/articles/find-and-email-supervisors-for-ms-phd
GradWinner: Find Top Professors: https://gradwinner.com/articles/find-top-professors-for-ms-phd
Academic Phrasebank (Excellent for ensuring your email tone is highly professional): https://www.phrasebank.manchester.ac.uk/

Additional Guides & Templates for Contacting Supervisors:

8. GradWrite Hub: How to Email a Potential PhD Supervisor (Covers ideal email length, structure, and provides excellent cold email examples): https://www.gradwritehub.com/blog/how-to-email-phd-supervisor

9. The University of Queensland: How to approach a PhD supervisor (Great insights into what faculty actually look for in initial emails, including formatting your CV and establishing eligibility): https://study.uq.edu.au/stories/how-approach-phd-supervisor

10. Email Your Professor: How to Email a Professor for Research Opportunities (Crucial advice on writing a subject line that actually gets opened and common mistakes to avoid): https://www.emailyourprofessor.com/how-to-email-a-professor
Best Regards
Waqar Baig

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Fully Funded PhD & Direct PhD at Top Ranked Universities in Hong Kong