Awards, Financial Assistance, Fees and Living Expenses

• Hong Kong PhD Fellowships

  The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (HKPF) Scheme was established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2009. The HKPF aims at attracting the best and brightest students across the world to pursue their research degree programmes in Hong Kong. About 135 PhD Fellowships will be awarded to all institutions in each academic year. For the 2013-14 exercise, application starts in September 2012.

  To discourage plagiarism, the RGC requests institutions to conduct plagiarism checking on all nominated applications before submitting their nominations to the RGC. Applicants should make sure that their application materials do not contain any plagiarised materials, in particular the research proposal & past research experience and vision statements which are expected to be an original piece of work written by the applicant.
  

  Eligibility

  New applicants to full-time PhD programmes in government-funded institutions in Hong Kong, irrespective of their country of origin and ethnic background, are eligible to apply. Applicants should demonstrate outstanding academic performance, research ability/potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.

  The Fellowships

  The HKPF provides each awardee with a monthly scholarship of HK$20,000* and a conference and research related travel allowance of HK$10,000 per year for a period up to three years. For HKPF awardees who are admitted to a 4-year PhD programme in 2013-14, the University will provide a monthly scholarship and travel allowance at the same level as the HKPF for their fourth year of study. Please click here for further details.
  
  * HKPF holders in the University of Hong Kong have to observe the Regulations Governing Postgraduate Scholarships.

  

  

  Application

  Applicants will need to submit one initial application to the RGC (only with basic information such as their names, the two chosen programmes / institutions, place of birth, etc.) through RGC's on-line system, and each of the applications will be allocated a reference number. The deadline for submitting an initial application to RGC is December 1, 2012 at Hong Kong Time 12:00:00 (GMT +8 hours). Please click here for RGC on-line initial application.

  Applicants who have chosen HKU in their initial applications have to submit an on-line application form and upload soft copies of supporting documents via the on-line application system of HKU to apply for admission. They are required to indicate that they are applying for the HKPF in the on-line application form and quote the reference number assigned to them by the RGC. The deadline for submitting an application to HKU is December 1, 2012. Please click here to HKU Online Application System.

  Applicants who have applied for the HKPF will be automatically considered for the award of University Postgraduate Fellowships (UPF) mentioned in the following session. Nevertheless, applicants who have successfully been selected for the award of HKPF will not concurrently be awarded the UPF and Postgraduate Scholarships offered by the University. The HKPF Scheme does not cover the Joint PhD programmes.
  

• University Postgraduate Fellowships (UPF)

  The University Postgraduate Fellowships (UPF) Scheme aims to attract top students worldwide and is available for selected new full-time PhD candidates with excellent academic performances. The fellowship is at a value of HK$70,000 on top of the Postgraduate Scholarships. Applicants in their final year of study may also apply for the UPF. The deadline for application is December 1, 2012.

  There is no separate on-line application form for UPF. Applicants who have applied for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowships will be automatically considered for the award of UPF. They are required to submit a short essay on-line on why they should be awarded the UPF.

  The University Postgraduate Fellowships Scheme is generously supported by The University of Hong Kong Foundation for Educational Development and Research (“HKU Foundation”), Dr Lee Shau Kee and the Philip K H Wong Foundation.
  

  Further information is available in the Guide to Application

• Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS)

  Full-time MPhil and PhD students who hold a first degree with second-class honours first division (or equivalent) or above are normally considered eligible to receive a Postgraduate Scholarship during the normative study period. Candidates' results in Master's degrees may also be considered. The basic level of scholarship is HK$13,600 (US$1,740) per month for the 2012-2013 academic year (w.e.f. September 1, 2012).

  With effect from September 1, 2012, a PGS holder whose PhD probation has been confirmed will receive a higher PGS rate ($14,070) with effect from the following calendar month after his/her probation is fully confirmed. For example:

  PhD probation confirmation date	PGS rate $14,070 will apply w.e.f.
  On or before August 31, 2012	September 1, 2012
  On September 1, 2012 and thereafter	The following calendar month e.g. probation confirmed within November 1 – 30, 2012 --> higher PGS rate applicable w.e.f. December 1, 2012

  Further information is available in the Guide to Application

• Scholarships and Conference/Travel Support

  The University administers a number of scholarships that are awarded to postgraduate students for outstanding academic achievements. Here are some examples.

  Full-time MPhil and PhD students are eligible to apply for conference and/or travel support for presenting papers/posters in overseas academic conferences or participating in other overseas educational activities.

  For further information on scholarships, please refer to the University's scholarship website.

• Fees and Living Expenses

  Composition Fees:
  Full-time	$42,100 p.a.a
  Part-time b	$53,000 p.a.c

   

  Notes:

  a. Subject to revision.

  b. Due to the withdrawal of funding from the University Grants Committee on part-time places with effect from 2009-10, part-time MPhil and PhD programmes will be offered on a self-funded basis and the tuition fees will be reviewed on an annual basis.

  c. The Council approved that the tuition fee for part-time MPhil and PhD students who register on September 1, 2012 and thereafter be $53,000 p.a..

  Please click here for the full schedule of fees for 2012-13.
  

  Living Expenses for Non-local Students

  The living costs vary from one person to another depending on the type of accommodation selected and other factors. Usually, the postgraduate scholarship is sufficient to cover food, lodging, general living expenses and composition fees. Please click here for further information.