The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has solidified its position as the leading destination for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) recipients among the city's universities. Since the Research Grants Council (RGC) initiated the scheme in 2009, HKUST has welcomed more than 1,000 fellowship recipients from over 50 countries and regions, accounting for over a quarter of all HKPFS recipients to date. This milestone underscores HKUST's world-class research capabilities and its role in attracting international research talent, supporting Hong Kong's development into a global hub for high-caliber talent.
In the 2026/27 academic year, which started this September, HKUST admitted over 100 new HKPFS recipients. These doctoral students will receive a combined total of more than HK$112 million in fellowships and research allowances from the HKSAR Government over the next three years. This achievement follows the government's increase of the annual scheme quota to 400 in the 2025-26 Budget, allowing HKUST to welcome 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 RGC, including an annual stipend and research-related allowance worth around HK$358,800 per year.
Since the first intake of doctoral students in the 2010/11 academic year, HKUST has enrolled more than 1,000 fellowship recipients, securing the highest number of awardees among Hong Kong's universities for 14 of those academic years. This consistent performance highlights the university's strong research environment and its ability to attract elite scholars from around the world.
Prof. Nancy Ip, President of HKUST, expressed her pride in the university's achievements, stating, "For 35 years, HKUST has been driven by a commitment not only to advance knowledge, but to generate knowledge that creates meaningful impact. Over the past 17 years, more than a thousand outstanding students from around the world have chosen HKUST for their postgraduate research journey, enriching our community with diverse perspectives and reflecting the global recognition of our research excellence." She added that the university will continue to attract global talent, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and support young scholars in tackling pressing challenges.
Beyond HKPFS, HKUST offers a comprehensive support package to its recipients, including a four-year full tuition waiver, research and academic development funding, and guaranteed first-year accommodation. Additionally, the university provides various scholarships and support schemes for other full-time research postgraduate students, such as the Postgraduate Studentship, which offers annual support of over HK$220,000, and the Global Research Award for overseas research and academic exchange. The HKUST RedBird PhD Award further supports doctoral students with a HK$40,000 recruitment award and an annual HK$20,000 Academic Excellence Award.
The research domains of HKPFS recipients at HKUST span frontier areas including artificial intelligence, biomedical sciences, materials science, fintech, and sustainability. Throughout their PhD journey, they engage in cutting-edge research, strengthen their skills through scholarly publications and teaching, and participate in international exchanges. Prof. Bert Shi, Dean of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, noted that the diverse pool of recipients, combined with local graduates, forms a vibrant scholarly community. He added that graduates enjoy exceptional career prospects, with many joining world-renowned institutions or starting ventures that benefit society.
Established in 2009, the HKPFS aims to attract outstanding students with exceptional academic achievements and research potential. Recipients are selected through a highly competitive process based on academic performance, research capability, communication skills, and leadership. For the 2026/27 academic year, the scheme offers 400 fellowships.
