The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has solidified its position as the top choice for Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) recipients, having welcomed over 1,000 fellows since the scheme's inception in 2009. This milestone, announced on September 3, 2026, highlights HKUST's role in attracting high-caliber international talent and supporting Hong Kong's development as a global hub for research and innovation.
According to the university, the 1,000-plus HKPFS recipients come from more than 50 countries and regions, accounting for over a quarter of all fellowships awarded by the Research Grants Council (RGC) to date. In the 2026/27 academic year, which began in September, HKUST has admitted over 100 new fellows, who 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 underscores HKUST's world-class research capabilities and its commitment to nurturing talent, while affirming its pivotal role in attracting international research talent and 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, securing the highest number of HKPFS awardees among Hong Kong's universities for 14 of those years. Following the HKSAR Government's decision 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 from the RGC, including an annual stipend and research-related allowance worth around HK$358,800 per year.
Prof. Nancy Ip, President of HKUST, said, "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. The university also provides various [scholarships and support schemes](https://fytgs.hkust.edu.hk/eng/scholarships.html) 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. Additionally, the HKUST RedBird PhD Award provides a HK$40,000 recruitment award in the first year and an annual HK$20,000 Academic Excellence Award thereafter, subject to satisfactory performance.
The research domains of HKPFS recipients at HKUST span frontier areas including artificial intelligence and future computing, biomedical sciences, materials science, innovation for business and fintech, and sustainability. Throughout their PhD journey, they engage in cutting-edge research and strengthen their capabilities through scholarly publications, teaching, and international exchanges. Prof. Bert Shi, Dean of the [HKUST Fok Ying Tung Graduate School](https://fytgs.hkust.edu.hk/), noted that the university's diverse pool of fellows brings together talent from around the world with home-grown graduates, forming a vibrant scholarly community. Graduates enjoy exceptional career prospects, with many joining world-renowned institutions or launching startups that benefit society.
Established by the RGC in 2009, the HKPFS aims to attract outstanding students with exceptional academic achievements and research potential to pursue postgraduate studies in Hong Kong. Recipients are selected through a competitive process based on academic performance, research capability, communication skills, and leadership. For 2026/27, the scheme offers 400 fellowships, and HKUST's continued success in attracting these scholars underscores its status as a global magnet for top-tier talent.
