The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has solidified its status as a leading destination for top-tier research talent, having welcomed over 1,000 recipients of the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) since the scheme's inception in 2009. According to a September 3 announcement, these elite students, hailing from more than 50 countries and regions, represent over a quarter of all HKPFS recipients to date, a milestone that reinforces HKUST's position as the top choice among Hong Kong's University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded universities for such awardees.
In the 2026/27 academic year, which commenced this September, HKUST has admitted over 100 new HKPFS recipients. Over the next three years, these doctoral students will receive a combined total exceeding HK$112 million in fellowships and research allowances from the HKSAR Government. This achievement underscores HKUST's world-class research capabilities and its commitment to nurturing talent, while affirming its pivotal role in attracting international research talent and supporting Hong Kong's development into a global hub for high-caliber talent, as well as advancing the city as an international center for post-secondary education, innovation, and technology.
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, accounting for over a quarter of the scheme's cumulative total. 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), which includes an annual stipend and research-related allowance worth around HK$358,800 per year.
Prof. Nancy Ip, President of HKUST, expressed her deep encouragement at these 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. 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 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, enabling 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 university has established the 'HKUST RedBird PhD Award,' which 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 and 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 PhD journey, they will engage in cutting-edge research while strengthening their research capabilities and teaching skills 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, noted, "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, some of whom discovered their passion for research early on through HKUST's Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program, while others chose to pursue advanced studies here after being inspired by cutting-edge research projects led by HKUST faculty. 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 added, "Upon graduation, HKUST doctoral graduates enjoy exceptional career prospects. Many join world-renowned universities and research institutes, dedicated to nurturing the next generation and chasing scientific breakthroughs. Others embark on entrepreneurial paths, transforming their research achievements into innovative solutions that benefit society. Several of these startups have secured robust backing from the government, investors, and industry partners, flourishing across various sectors to unlock long-term value for society."
