City University of Hong Kong Research Postgraduate Scholarships

Students interested in pursuing advanced research studies in Hong Kong can explore a range of City University of Hong Kong Research Postgraduate Scholarships and financial support opportunities. City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) provides funding options for eligible students enrolled in its research degree programmes, including MPhil and PhD programmes.

Financial support available through CityUHK includes postgraduate studentships, research tuition scholarships, entrance scholarships, conference grants and research activity funding. Some awards are considered automatically alongside admission, meaning eligible applicants do not need to submit a separate scholarship application.

For international students searching for Hong Kong scholarships, City University of Hong Kong scholarships, MPhil scholarships, PhD scholarships in Hong Kong, research postgraduate funding, or scholarships for international students in Hong Kong, the university’s research degree funding options are worth exploring.

About City University of Hong Kong Research Postgraduate Scholarships

CityUHK provides several forms of financial assistance rather than one single scholarship covering every research postgraduate student.

The major opportunities include the Postgraduate Studentship, Research Tuition Scholarship, Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarship, Conference Grant, and Research Activities Fund.

Eligibility differs between funding schemes. In particular, several opportunities are applicable specifically to government-funded students.

Applicants should therefore confirm their student and funding status when considering the financial package available to them.

Postgraduate Studentship for Research Students

One of the main funding opportunities is the CityUHK Postgraduate Studentship.

The studentship is awarded based on academic merit and applies to government-funded students. Eligible new full-time students are considered for the studentship when their applications for admission to a research degree programme are assessed.

Importantly, a separate application for the studentship is not required.

This arrangement makes the funding process easier for prospective research students because consideration for financial assistance forms part of the research degree admission process.

How Much Is the CityUHK Postgraduate Studentship?

CityUHK has two studentship rates:

Basic Rate and Advanced Rate.

The Basic Rate normally applies to eligible full-time research students. The Advanced Rate is available to PhD students who have passed the university’s qualifying examination (QE).

For the 2025/26 academic year, the university lists the following rates:

Studentship	Monthly Amount
Basic Rate	HK$19,100 per month
Advanced Rate	HK$19,600 per month

These amounts were approximately US$2,433 and US$2,497 per month, respectively, according to CityUHK’s published information. The university notes that the studentship rate is reviewed in September each year.

Prospective students should therefore not assume these exact rates will remain unchanged for later academic years.

How Long Does the Studentship Last?

The postgraduate studentship is normally renewed annually.

Continued funding depends on satisfactory academic progress, coursework performance and the student’s performance in assigned academic-related responsibilities. Individual departments or schools may establish additional requirements.

For PhD students, the studentship can be awarded for a maximum of four years, regardless of the student’s entry qualifications, although funding cannot extend beyond the stipulated study period.

Teaching and Research Duties

Students receiving the postgraduate studentship may be required to assist their academic department.

Recipients are normally expected to undertake no more than an average of 10 hours per week of teaching and/or research support duties.

Studentship recipients also cannot undertake paid employment without prior approval from the School of Graduate Studies.

Research Tuition Scholarship

Outstanding research students may also be considered for the CityUHK Research Tuition Scholarship.

This scholarship takes the form of a tuition-fee exemption and is available to eligible government-funded students demonstrating outstanding academic performance.

Only full-time research students are eligible.

Successful recipients receive an exemption from one year’s tuition fees. The award period cannot extend beyond the student’s stipulated period of study.

New eligible students are considered for this scholarship when their research degree applications are reviewed, meaning no separate scholarship application is required.

Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarships

International students should pay particular attention to the Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarships.

CityUHK offers these scholarships to encourage outstanding international students to pursue MPhil or PhD studies at the university.

The objective is to promote international academic exchange and increase the diversity of CityUHK’s postgraduate research community.

Scholarship Worth Approximately HK$108,000

The Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarship has an approximate value of:

HK$108,000 — approximately US$13,800.

The award covers tuition fees and on-campus hostel accommodation expenses during the first year of research study.

This makes it a particularly attractive funding opportunity for outstanding international applicants beginning an MPhil or PhD at CityUHK.

Conference Grant

Research postgraduate students may have opportunities to receive additional financial assistance for academic conferences.

After confirmation of candidature and while within the normal study period, eligible research students can apply for conference grants to attend local or overseas conferences.

The maximum conference grant is:

HK$10,000 — approximately US$1,282.

Conference participation can be particularly valuable for postgraduate researchers seeking to present their research, build academic networks and gain international exposure.

Research Activities Fund

CityUHK also provides funding for eligible students undertaking research-related activities outside Hong Kong.

The Research Activities Fund provides a monthly allowance of:

HK$5,000

Depending on the institution visited and duration of the research activity, total funding across a student’s candidature can reach:

HK$60,000 — approximately US$7,692.

The activities must be beneficial and relevant to the student’s MPhil or PhD studies.

Who Can Apply?

Eligibility depends on the particular scholarship or financial award.

The Postgraduate Studentship is applicable to government-funded students and is based on academic merit. Eligible new full-time students are automatically considered when applying for admission.

The Research Tuition Scholarship is also applicable to government-funded students and targets full-time research students with outstanding academic performance.

The Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarship specifically aims to attract outstanding international students to MPhil and PhD programmes.

Applicants should check the eligibility requirements of their chosen research programme alongside the conditions attached to each funding opportunity.

Are International Students Eligible?

Yes. CityUHK specifically offers an entrance scholarship designed to encourage outstanding international students to undertake MPhil or PhD studies.

Additionally, the university states that candidates can apply for government-funded places supported by University Grants Committee or government funding. Government-funded students may then be considered for various financial awards.

However, international applicants should not assume that every scholarship or funding arrangement automatically applies to every non-local student.

Master’s vs MPhil: An Important Difference

Students searching online for City University Hong Kong Master’s scholarships should note an important distinction.

The funding information supplied here primarily concerns research degree programmes, particularly MPhil and PhD programmes. CityUHK separately lists its taught Master’s programmes and their admission and scholarship information.

Therefore, applicants seeking a conventional taught Master’s degree should not assume that the research postgraduate studentship described above applies to their programme.

Tuition Fees for Research Degree Programmes

For the 2026/27 academic year, CityUHK lists the full-time tuition fee for UGC-allocated and UGC-related research students as:

HK$46,992

The university states that tuition and continuation fees are normally adjusted each September.

Fee structures differ for self-financing students, particularly non-local students, so prospective applicants should check their admission category carefully.

How to Apply for CityUHK Research Postgraduate Funding

Prospective students should first identify an appropriate research degree programme and research area at City University of Hong Kong.

The university provides dedicated sections covering research areas, entrance requirements, application procedures, scholarships and financial aid, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme and online applications.

For funding such as the Postgraduate Studentship, eligible new full-time applicants are considered during admission assessment, so a separate studentship application is not required.

The same automatic consideration applies to eligible new students for the Research Tuition Scholarship.

City University of Hong Kong Research Scholarships at a Glance

Funding Opportunity	Key Benefit
Postgraduate Studentship	HK$19,100 Basic / HK$19,600 Advanced monthly rate listed for 2025/26
Research Tuition Scholarship	One-year tuition fee exemption
Entrance Scholarship	Approx. HK$108,000
Conference Grant	Up to HK$10,000
Research Activities Fund	Up to HK$60,000
Main Research Degrees	MPhil and PhD
Location	Hong Kong
International Students	Eligible for relevant awards
Studentship Application	Eligible new students considered with admission application

Why Consider Research Study at CityUHK?

The funding structure at City University of Hong Kong can provide research students with support at several stages of their postgraduate journey.

Rather than focusing exclusively on tuition, the available opportunities can potentially support monthly living expenses, tuition fees, accommodation, conference participation and international research activities.

For prospective international students, the combination of postgraduate studentships and competitive entrance scholarships makes CityUHK an option worth considering when searching for funded MPhil and PhD programmes in Hong Kong.

Applicants should nevertheless distinguish carefully between research postgraduate programmes and taught Master’s programmes, and check whether they will be admitted as government-funded, institutionally supported or self-financing students because this can affect funding eligibility.

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