Hong Kong’s prestigious PhD scholarship supports the brightest international students

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Established by the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s government, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) provides comprehensive funding for the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD studies in Hong Kong.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) enhances the scholarship with top-up funding during the normal study period, which consists of an annual stipend, a conference grant, a cash award and a tuition fee waiver. For a full-time four-year PhD student admitted to PolyU through the HKPFS, the total package amounts to HKD 1.67m (£167,000), along with guaranteed university accommodation for two years. 

PolyU also provides its own prestigious scholarship opportunities for international students, including the PolyU Presidential PhD Fellowship Scheme (PPPFS) and the International PhD Fellowship Scheme (IPFS). The PPPFS is a prestigious scholarship designed for top candidates worldwide with exceptional academic and research achievements, offering a package comparable to the esteemed HKPFS, amounting to HKD 1.63m (£163,000). The IPFS, designed to support high-calibre international students with remarkable academic achievements and credentials from reputable universities, offers a package up to HKD 1.2m (£120,000).  

Financial assistance aside, the HKPFS supports students in unleashing their research potential during their PhD studies at PolyU. It provides access to a well-rounded curriculum, a culturally diverse and inclusive research community, abundant opportunities for skill development and networking, and a supportive learning environment. 

Two awardees of the prestigious scholarship at PolyU, Razia Sultana and Mengistu Tilaye Shibbiru from Bangladesh and Ethiopia respectively, share their experience of PolyU’s PhD studies. 

“The HKPFS conference grant encourages international exposure by enabling students to attend conferences and collaborate with researchers globally,” Shibbiru says. “This helps broaden students’ academic networks and enhances their research experience. The supervision and mentorship from renowned professors, along with access to extensive research resources and a vibrant academic community, offer invaluable support to international students.”

“PolyU emphasises global learning experiences for PhD students,” Sultana adds. “There are several global learning programmes such as the Research Student Attachment Programme, the PolyU PhD Scholars International Collaborative Research Fellowship, the PhD Student Internship Scheme, and various collaborative PhD programmes, which leverage the parallel strengths of PolyU and other top-tier universities, key laboratories and centres or reputable industries for collaborative research and cultural exchange.”

“As an international student who has always aspired to pursue research education abroad, it is a great honour to be admitted to PolyU through the HKPFS,” Shibbiru says. “I am currently a second-year PhD student in the Department of Health Technology and Informatics [HTI]. The HKPFS has provided me with an opportunity to follow my research interests in antimicrobial resistance, infectious diseases and the One Health approach to disease. The scheme has supported me in diligently working towards my dream of becoming a young researcher in health technology and making meaningful contributions to the world.”

Sultana has a similarly positive view of the HKPFS. Studying for her PhD in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering (CEE), she has witnessed first-hand how the scheme supports students, especially regarding her own research interests in waste management, supply chains and the circular economy. “The HKPFS has greatly supported me in my research aims,” Sultana says. “More than that, it has fostered a global perspective and set me on a promising career path in my chosen field for years to come.” 

“Submitting an online application to the designated platform is straightforward,” Sultana explains. “The main advice I would give is to approach your potential supervisor early, read the application criteria carefully and, if you get to the interview stage, be yourself and let your passion for research shine through.”

If you have exceptional academic performance, solid research capabilities, diverse cultural perspectives, outstanding leadership and communication skills, a strong sense of social responsibility, and a passion for research, explore the HKPFS and other scholarship opportunities at PolyU. The deadline for the HKPFS application is 1 December 2024. 

Find out more about the PhD student experience at PolyU.

Explore the 2025/26 research postgraduate study guide.

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