The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has solidified its position as a premier destination for top-tier research talent, welcoming over 1,000 recipients of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) since the program's inception in 2009. This milestone, announced on September 3, 2026, underscores HKUST's leadership among Hong Kong's University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities in attracting elite doctoral students from around the globe.
According to the university, these fellowship recipients hail from more than 50 countries and regions, accounting for over a quarter of all HKPFS awardees to date. In the 2026/27 academic year, which began this September, HKUST admitted over 100 new fellows, a cohort that 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 highlights HKUST's world-class research capabilities and its commitment to nurturing talent, while affirming its pivotal role in supporting Hong Kong's development into an international hub for high-caliber talent and advancing the city as a center for post-secondary education, innovation, and technology.
Since the first intake of doctoral students in the 2010/11 academic year, HKUST has consistently ranked among the top universities in Hong Kong for HKPFS recipients, securing the highest number of awardees for 14 of the past 17 academic years. The university's success has been further bolstered by the HKSAR Government's decision, announced in the 2025-26 Budget, to increase the annual scheme quota to 400. This policy change has enabled HKUST to welcome more than 100 recipients in both the 2025/26 and 2026/27 academic years. Each recipient receives three years of financial support from the Research Grants Council (RGC), including an annual stipend and research-related allowance worth approximately HK$358,800 per year.
Expressing deep encouragement at these achievements, Prof. Nancy Ip, President of HKUST, stated: "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. 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 HKPFS support, HKUST offers a comprehensive package to its fellows, including a full tuition waiver for four years, research and academic development funding, and guaranteed first-year accommodation. This allows 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 funds overseas research and academic exchange activities. Additionally, the HKUST RedBird PhD Award grants recipients a HK$40,000 recruitment award in their first year and an annual HK$20,000 Academic Excellence Award in subsequent years, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
The research domains of HKPFS recipients at HKUST span frontier areas including artificial intelligence, future computing and electronics, biomedical sciences and translational medicine, materials science and future energy, innovation for business management and fintech, as well as sustainability and green technology. Throughout their doctoral journey, they engage in cutting-edge research while strengthening their capabilities through scholarly publications, teaching assignments, and international exchanges. Prof. Bert Shi, Dean of the HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School, noted that the diverse pool of fellows brings together talent from over 50 countries, enriching the university's scholarly community. He added that upon graduation, many doctoral graduates join world-renowned universities and research institutes, while others pursue entrepreneurial paths, with several startups securing robust backing from government, investors, and industry partners.
The HKPFS, established by the RGC in 2009, aims to attract outstanding students worldwide with exceptional academic achievements and research potential to pursue research postgraduate studies at UGC-funded universities in Hong Kong. For the 2026/27 academic year, the scheme offers 400 fellowships, and HKUST's continued success in securing a significant share of these awards underscores its global reputation and its critical role in shaping the city's future as a knowledge-based economy.
