The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has solidified its position as the leading destination for top-tier research talent in Hong Kong, having welcomed over 1,000 recipients of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) since the scheme's inception in 2009. This milestone, announced on September 3, 2026, underscores HKUST's world-class research capabilities and its pivotal role in supporting Hong Kong's development as an international hub for post-secondary education, innovation, and technology.
According to the university, these fellowship recipients come from more than 50 countries and regions, accounting for over a quarter of all HKPFS awardees to date among Hong Kong's University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities. In the 2026/27 academic year, which began this 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, reflecting the government's commitment to nurturing high-caliber talent.
Since the first intake of doctoral students in the 2010/11 academic year, HKUST has enrolled more than 1,000 fellowship recipients over the past 17 years. Notably, the university has secured the highest number of HKPFS awardees among Hong Kong's universities for 14 of those academic 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), including an annual stipend and research-related allowance worth around HK$358,800 per year.
Prof. Nancy Ip, President of HKUST, expressed her pride in this achievement, stating, "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." She added, "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. Looking ahead, we will continue to attract talent from across the globe, strengthen interdisciplinary collaboration, and support young scholars to tackle the world's most pressing challenges through research and innovation for the benefit of Hong Kong, our nation, and the world."
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. This enables students to fully dedicate themselves to research and expand their international academic networks. The university also provides a range of 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, which supports overseas research and academic exchange activities. Additionally, the "HKUST RedBird PhD Award" provides a HK$40,000 recruitment award in the 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, future computing and electronics, biomedical sciences, translational medicine, materials science, future energy, innovation for business management, fintech, sustainability, and green technology. Throughout their PhD journey, these students will engage in cutting-edge research, strengthening their capabilities through scholarly publications, teaching assignments, and international academic exchanges. This rigorous training builds a solid foundation for their future careers in academia, research institutions, the innovation and technology industry, or entrepreneurial ventures.
Prof. Bert Shi, Dean of HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, highlighted the diversity of the recipients, saying, "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 undergraduate and master's graduates... Together, these young doctoral students from diverse cultural and academic backgrounds unite with seasoned faculty members to form a vibrant, international, and dynamic scholarly community." He also noted the exceptional career prospects for graduates, with many joining world-renowned universities and research institutes, while others pursue 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 with exceptional academic achievements and strong research potential. Recipients are selected through a highly competitive process based on academic performance, research capability, communication skills, and leadership abilities. For the 2026/27 academic year, the scheme offers 400 fellowships.
