Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)
Important Dates (for 2024-25 entry)
| Official Application Deadline | 1 December 2023 |
| Review of Applications will start from | 15 November 2023 |
General background
- Established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong in 2009.
- Aimed at attracting the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD studies at one of Hong Kong’s universities
- Applicants must demonstrate outstanding qualities of academic performance, research ability/potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.
- Starting from the 2020-21 intake, all PhD candidates who are nominated to Research Grants Council (RGC) by CUHK but not selected for HKPFS will be offered a regular PhD place with the CUHK Vice-Chancellor PhD Scholarship.
Benefits
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
- Annual stipend of HK$331,200 (~US$42,460) for each awardee for a period up to three years.
- A conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$13,800 (~US$1,760) for each awardee for a period up to three years.
- Only 2 course duties during normative study period.
The CUHK Vice-Chancellor HKPFS Scholarship
- A tuition fee waiver up to HK$168,400 (~US$21,500) for their whole normative study period.
- An award of HK$40,000 (approx. US$5,130) for lodging in the first year of study and HK$20,000 in the subsequent years within the normative study period.
- The on-campus hostel fee will be waived in the first year of study.
MPhil-PhD Programmes
Important Dates (for 2024-25 entry)
| Main Round Application Deadline | 1 December 2023 |
| For Clearing Round* | 31 March 2024 |
* Applications in Clearing Round will only be considered subject to availability of places.
For non-Postgraduate Studentship (i.e. Self-funded) PhD applicants: Applications are accepted throughout the year.
Admission requirements
- Bachelor’s degree in Computer / Information / Electronic or related engineering or science fields
- from a recognized university with honors not lower than Second Class; or
- from an honors programme of a recognized university, with an average grade not lower than B; or
- from a programme of study in a tertiary educational institution and obtained professional or similar qualifications equivalent to an honors degree;
- conditional offer will be given to applicants who are expected to receive the Bachelor’s degree in the current academic year.
- Fulfill the English Language Proficiency Requirement:
- obtained a degree from a university in Hong Kong1 or taken a degree programme of which the medium of instruction was English; or
- achieved scores in the following English Language tests2 as indicated:
- TOEFL: 550 (Paper-based)/79 (Internet-based);
- IELTS (Academic): 6.5;
- GMAT (Verbal): Band 21; or
- obtained a pass grade in English in one of the following examinations:
- Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level);
- Hong Kong Higher Level Examination;
- CUHK Matriculation Examination;
- General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level)/Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level); or
- achieved Level 4 or above in the English Language subject of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination; or
- obtained a recognized professional qualification, provided that the examination was conducted in English.
Note:
- This is based on the understanding that English is the medium of instruction of degree programmes offered by universities in Hong Kong. Moreover, graduates from universities in Hong Kong should have fulfilled the English language requirements of the institution concerned when they were admitted to the degree programmes. The CUHK Graduate School may request applicants to provide additional supporting documents to prove their English proficiency.
- TOEFL and IELTS are considered valid for two years from the test date. GMAT is considered valid for five years from the test date.
Benefits
Postgraduate Studentships (PGS)
- Available for most full-time students to cover the tuition and basic living expenses
- PGS holders must assist in the teaching and research work of the Department.
- There are two types of PGS:
- Department funded PGS – student can choose any professor in the Department as supervisor, subject to mutual agreement.
- Research grants funded PGS – the grant owner would serve as the supervisor.
Application Procedure
- Create an account at the Online Application System for Postgraduate Programmes, fill out online application and settle the application fee by credit payment.
- Upload scanned copies of supporting documents to the CUHK Online Application System by the working deadline.
Note: Please make sure the scanned copies are clear and readable, otherwise it may delay your application process. - Submit the following supporting documents to the Division of Information Engineering NO LATER THAN the official deadline:
- Copy of Hong Kong Identity Card or other identity document
- Curriculum vitae (including the area of interest and a list of publications if available)
- Research proposal
- Original English score report (TOEFL or IELTS) – Please apply for an institution copy of TOEFL test report and send it to CUHK
***Note: CUHK does not accept TOEFL report sent by an individual. The report MUST be sent by the TOEFL agency (ETS) directly to CUHK. (Institution Code: 0812; Department Code: 99)***
For further enquiries about the programme and admission, please check here.