The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has announced that it has enrolled more than 1,000 recipients of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) since the scheme's inception in 2009. This milestone positions HKUST as the leading destination for HKPFS awardees among Hong Kong's University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities, with over a quarter of all fellowship recipients to date choosing HKUST.
In the 2026/27 academic year, which began in September, HKUST welcomed over 100 new HKPFS recipients. Over the next three years, these doctoral students will receive a combined total of more than HK$112 million in fellowships and research allowances from the HKSAR Government. This achievement underscores HKUST's world-class research capabilities and its commitment to nurturing talent, while affirming its pivotal role in attracting international research talent and supporting Hong Kong's development as a global hub for high-caliber talent.
Since the first intake of doctoral students in the 2010/11 academic year, HKUST has secured the highest number of HKPFS awardees among Hong Kong's universities for 14 of the past 17 years. Following the HKSAR Government's announcement in the 2025-26 Budget to increase the annual scheme quota to 400, HKUST has welcomed more than 100 recipients in both the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years. Each recipient is granted three years of financial support provided by the Research Grants Council (RGC), which includes an annual stipend and research-related allowance worth around HK$358,800 per year.
Prof. Nancy Ip, President of HKUST, stated, "For 35 years, HKUST has been driven by a commitment not only to advance knowledge, but to generate knowledge that creates meaningful impact. We believe transformative discoveries begin with curiosity, courage, and a willingness to explore the unknown. By fostering a vibrant environment for research, learning, and innovation, we empower our faculty and students to push boundaries and turn ideas into solutions that benefit society."
Beyond the support provided under the HKPFS, HKUST offers a comprehensive package to its recipients, including a full tuition waiver for four years, research and academic development funding, and guaranteed first-year accommodation. The university also provides scholarships and support schemes for other full-time research postgraduate students, such as the Postgraduate Studentship, which provides annual support of over HK$220,000, and the Global Research Award, which supports overseas research and academic exchanges. Additionally, the "HKUST RedBird PhD Award" gives recipients a HK$40,000 recruitment award in their first year, followed by an annual HK$20,000 Academic Excellence Award in subsequent years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
The research domains of the HKPFS recipients admitted to HKUST span frontier areas, including artificial intelligence, biomedical sciences, materials science, innovation for business management and fintech, as well as sustainability and green technology. Throughout their PhD journey, they will engage in cutting-edge research while strengthening their research capabilities and teaching skills through scholarly publications, teaching assignments, and international academic exchanges.
Prof. Bert Shi, Dean of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, noted, "HKUST's diverse pool of HKPFS recipients comes from more than 50 countries and regions, bringing talent from around the world together with home-grown graduates. Upon graduation, many join world-renowned universities and research institutes, while others embark on entrepreneurial paths, transforming their research into innovative solutions that benefit society."
Established by the RGC in 2009, the HKPFS aims to attract outstanding students from around the world to pursue research postgraduate studies at UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. For the 2026/27 academic year, the scheme offers 400 fellowships.
