The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong, aimed at attracting the best and brightest students from around the world to come for PhD studies in Hong Kong. Each Fellowship awardee will be provided with a monthly stipend of HK$28,400* (US$1=HK$7.8) and a conference/research-related travel allowance of up to HK$14,200* per year for a maximum period of three years by the RGC. In addition, the full tuition fee for a Fellowship awardee will be waived by Lingnan University for his/her first year of study. For an awardee with a normative study period of four years, Lingnan University will offer the same level of Fellowship and conference/research-related travel allowance for his/her fourth year of study.
Lingnan University currently offers MPhil and PhD programmes in the Arts, Business, Data Science, Science/Interdisciplinary Studies and Social Sciences disciplines.
Please click here to learn more about Lingnan University’s various departments/units.
To offer more diversified learning opportunities, especially for interdisciplinary research studies, Lingnan University has been offering a number of full-time PhD programmes in collaboration with universities in Chinese Mainland while some new collaborative programmes are also in the pipeline. For further details and updates on Lingnan MPhil/PhD programmes and collaborative programmes, please visit its officiale websites at www.LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/list-of-programmes and www.LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/list-of-programmes/collaborative-programmes.
Applicants may seek admission to Lingnan University’s PhD programmes in two ways as follows:
- Apply via the HKPFS+ during the period from 1 September to 1 December 2025 (Hong Kong Time 12:00 noon). Applicants who apply for and do not get the Fellowship can still be considered for the regular PhD places at Lingnan University;
- Apply via Direct Admissions~ starting from 1 November 2025 (it is strongly recommended that applications reach the University in the Main Round application till 16 January 2026). Normally, full-time PhD students will be awarded full Postgraduate Studentships. In 2025-26, the full monthly stipend is HK$19,280*# before confirmation of candidature and HK$19,660*# after confirmation of candidature.
Lingnan University also offers research-based 2-year MPhil programmes. Applicants may apply for admission to its MPhil programmes via Direct Admissions starting from 1 November 2025 (it is strongly recommended that applications reach the University in the Main Round till 16 January 2026). Full-time MPhil students will normally be awarded Postgraduate Studentships as well. In 2025-26, the full monthly stipend is HK$19,010*#.
+Not applicable to applications for collaborative programmes with universities in Chinese Mainland
~ Applications for collaborative programmes with universities in Chinese Mainland can be made to Lingnan University directly. Details can be referred to www.LN.edu.hk/rpg/admission/list-of-programmes/collaborative-programmes
*Amount subjects to annual review
#Lingnan University may also award a partial studentship which is a fraction of the amount for a full studentship to students
For more details regarding application periods, methods and requirements, please visit the University’s website at www.LN.edu.hk/rpg/.
For enquries, please contact Lingnan University’s School of Graduate Studies (tel.: (852) 2616 8720; email: rpgadm@LN.edu.hk).