Hong Kong PhD Fellowship 2027: How to Apply from Pakistan

To apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) for 2027-28, you need to do two things by 1 December 2026: get an HKPFS reference number from Hong Kong's Research Grants Council (RGC) by 12:00 noon Hong Kong time, and then submit a full PhD application, quoting that number, to your chosen university. Miss either step and your fellowship application does not count.

This guide walks a Pakistani applicant through both steps, using the RGC and university pages as checked on 19 October 2026. It is open to every nationality, it pays one of the highest PhD stipends anywhere, and it charges no application fee of its own.

What the fellowship pays

The RGC's HKPFS page says about 400 fellowships will be awarded for 2027-28. The amounts it lists are the 2026-27 rates:

Universities add their own support for fellows, and it differs. Two examples from the official pages:

• University of Hong Kong (HKU). Its HKPFS page says fellows get their composition fee (HK$49,500 a year) waived for the normal study period, the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship (HK$40,000 in year one, then HK$20,000 a year) and a guaranteed hall place in the first year.
• HKUST. Its HKPFS page lists a four-year tuition waiver, the stipend for four years subject to renewal, a RedBird PhD Award (HK$40,000 in year one, then HK$20,000 a year) and first-year accommodation.

Check the page of every university you apply to, because their extras and rules are not the same.

Who can apply

The scheme is for anyone seeking admission as a new full-time PhD student at one of eight universities: City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Baptist University, Lingnan University, the Chinese University of Hong Kong, the Education University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, HKUST and HKU. Country, work experience and ethnic background do not matter.

There is no single HKPFS rule on which degree you need. Each university sets its own PhD entry requirements, so a Pakistani applicant with a four-year bachelor's may be eligible for some programmes and need an MS or MPhil for others. Read the entry rules of each programme before you choose it.

English. The RGC FAQs say applicants from universities where English is not the medium of teaching need IELTS or TOEFL, unless they can show all their courses were taught in English. Universities can ask for more, so check each one. If you are relying on an English-medium letter from your Pakistani university, make sure your chosen programme accepts it. Our English test guide compares the options.

The RGC also says the panel looks for strong academic results, research ability, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership.

Step 1: the initial application to the RGC

You do this on the HKPFS Electronic System, linked from the RGC application page. It opened on 1 September 2026.

• Deadline: 1 December 2026, 12:00 noon Hong Kong time. That is 9:00 am in Pakistan. Late submissions are not considered.
• What it asks for: personal details, your programme choices, a declaration and where you heard about the scheme. The RGC's guidance note does not ask for a proposal or transcripts at this stage; those go to the university.
• One application only. Submitting more than one initial application disqualifies all of them.
• Up to two choices. You can pick up to two programmes, at one or two universities, in order of priority. Only the two choices saved at the deadline count, and you cannot change them afterwards. HKU, for example, asks you to list it as your first choice if you want to study there.
• AI tools. The guidance asks you to declare any use of AI tools, including for research ideas, literature review, language editing or data analysis. Be honest here.
• Save often. The system logs you out after 30 minutes without activity and unsaved work is lost.

Do this step early, in November if you can, because you need the reference number for step 2.

Step 2: the full application to each university

Submit a full PhD application to each university you chose, quoting your HKPFS reference number and saying you are applying for the fellowship. For 2027-28 all eight universities list the same deadline: 1 December 2026, 11:59 pm Hong Kong time, which is 8:59 pm in Pakistan. If you chose two programmes at the same university, HKUST asks for a separate full application for each.

Expect to upload most of these, depending on the programme:

• Research proposal
• CV and personal statement
• Transcripts and degree certificates
• English test result or English-medium proof
• Details of two referees, who submit reports online

Universities may charge their own application fee. Referees often have a little longer; HKUST, for example, asks for reference reports and any interview by 8 December 2026. Universities usually interview shortlisted candidates.

How to make your application stronger

These tips are our own suggestions, not RGC rules.

• Find a supervisor first. Read recent papers from two or three academics whose work fits yours, then write a short, specific email. Our guide to contacting professors and our sample supervisor email show how. Talking to a supervisor early helps you shape a proposal that fits the department.
• Write a focused proposal. State the problem, why it matters, what you will do and what you expect to find. Link it to the supervisor's work and, where it fits, to a question that matters in Pakistan. Start from our research proposal template.
• Use your two choices wisely. Picking two closely related programmes at different universities spreads your chances, but each must suit your background.
• Show research, not just grades. A thesis, a conference paper or a dataset you built tells the panel more than a list of marks. Our academic CV template helps you present it.
• Keep everything true. Never list a paper that is not accepted, or change a grade. Universities check, and a false claim can end your application.

What happens next

The RGC says results for 2027-28 will be announced by May 2027. If you are not selected for the fellowship, the university can still admit you with its own regular studentship; HKUST, for example, lists a postgraduate studentship of HK$229,620 for eligible candidates who are not selected.

Nobody can buy or "guarantee" an HKPFS place, and the RGC charges no fee. If anyone asks you to pay for help getting the fellowship, read our guide to avoiding scholarship scams before you reply.

If you are also aiming for the UK, the Gates Cambridge 2027 deadlines fall a week later, on 8 December and 6 January. For other options, see our lesser-known scholarships list.

Your next step

This week, shortlist two programmes, check their entry rules and English requirement, and email one potential supervisor at each. Then register on the HKPFS Electronic System so you have your reference number well before 1 December. Keep our HKPFS page and the deadline calendar handy, and confirm every date on the official RGC and university pages before you submit.