Fees, Scholarships & Financial Support

Composition Fee for 2024/25

Full-time: HK$42,100 per annum (payable in two instalments)

For more information, please refer to the Graduate School website.

Scholarships and Financial Support

HKU PRESIDENTIAL PHD SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMME (HKU-PS)

In order to attract top candidates from around the world to pursue full-time PhD studies at HKU, the HKU Presidential PhD Scholar Programme (HKU-PS Programme) offers the most prestigious scholarship package, namely, the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship, to selected outstanding full-time PhD students.

Each HKU Presidential PhD Scholar will receive a package of up to around HK$433,300 (US$55,560) in the first year, and up to around HK$413,300 (US$52,990) in each of the subsequent years during the normative study period.

For more information, please refer to the Graduate School website.

HONG KONG PHD FELLOWSHIP SCHEME (HKPFS)

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council (RGC) in 2009, aims at attracting the best and brightest students across the world to pursue their research degree programmes in Hong Kong. Around 300 fellowships are awarded by the RGC each academic year.

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.

For the 2025/26 exercise, all HKPFS holders will be awarded the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship.

For more information, please refer to the Graduate School website.

POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIP (PGS)

Apart from awardees of the HKU Presidential PhD Scholar Programme (HKU-PS) and the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), other full-time PhD and MPhil 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 (PGS) during the normative study period, subject to availability of funding. Candidates’ results in Master’s degrees may also be considered.

The basic level of scholarship is HK$18,760 per month (w.e.f. September 2024). A PGS holder whose PhD probationary candidature has been confirmed will receive a higher PGS rate (HK$19,270, wef 1/9/2024) with effect from the following calendar month after his/her probation is fully confirmed.

For more information, please refer to the Graduate School website.

TUITION WAIVER SCHEME FOR LOCAL STUDENTS

The University Grants Committee (UGC) has announced a ‘Tuition Waiver Scheme’ for all local students enrolled in full-time UGC-funded Research Postgraduate (RPg) programmes in local institutions, to cover their composition fees with effect from the academic year 2018/19 (i.e. from July 1, 2018).

This Scheme provides non-means-tested funding to all current and new local students from all disciplines of study enrolled in full-time UGC-funded RPg programmes. Eligible students do not need to apply for the Scheme.

For more information, please refer to the UGC website.

CONFERENCE AND TRAVEL SUPPORT

The University Research Committee (URC) administers a number of conference and travel grants scheme for research students:

  • Conference Support for Research Postgraduate Students (details)
  • Conference/Travel Support for Awardees of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) (details)
  • Conference/Travel Support for Awardees of the HKU Presidential PhD Scholar Programme (HKU-PS) (details)
  • Travel Support for Research Postgraduate Students for International Academic Training/Research Activities (details)

IHSS CONFERENCE AND RESEARCH SUPPORT FOR RESEARCH POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS

Supplementing the Conference/Travel Support from the University, IHSS offers dedicated funding support to facilitate our full-time PhD and MPhil students in attending conferences, seminars, workshops and conducting research abroad. Eligible students can apply for funding once per academic year, enhancing their academic journeys and fostering international collaboration. Embrace new horizons and amplify your research impact with our dedicated support for your scholarly pursuits.

IHSS students may contact the General Office for more information.

FUNDING SUPPORT ADMINISTERED BY IHSS

IHSS administers a number of funding schemes. PhD and MPhil students are highly encouraged to pay attention to the internal circulars regarding the call for proposals.

OTHER AWARDS AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

University Financial Assistance

University finance assistance is in general made available to supplement government grants and loans. A limited number of means-tested bursaries and loans are available to local full-time students who are in financial needs. For enquiries, please contact the Centre of Development and Resources for Students (CEDARS).

For more information, please refer to the CEDARS website.

Academic Awards

The University administers a number of scholarships for award to postgraduate students with outstanding academic achievements. Applications for postgraduate scholarships will be invited from eligible students at various times throughout the year, and invitations for applications will be posted around the campus to notify students when such opportunities arise. The scholarships and awards include the Innovation Award, Publication Award, Dissertation Year Fellowship, Li Ka Shing Prizes and Award of Outstanding Research Postgraduate Students, to name just a few.

For more information, please refer to the Graduate School website.