PhD Fellowship or MPhil Studentship

The Department of Philosophy at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) is the largest philosophy program in Hong Kong. It is a pluralistic department with equal strengths in analytic, Asian, and Continental philosophy. It has consistently been ranked as the top Philosophy Department in Asia and one of the best worldwide. For more information about the department, please visit: http://www.phil.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/.

PhD / Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Award (HKPFS) - (US$44,200 / year)

The PhD fellowship is established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong. The fellowship provides an annual stipend of approximately US$44,200 and a conference and research-related travel allowance of approximately US$1,850 per year for each awardee for a period of up to three years. Tuition fee during the student's normative study period will be waived. 

Additional Scholarship provided by the CUHK

HKPFS awardees will receive an additional scholarship provided by CUHK called the "CUHK Vice-Chancellor HKPFS Scholarship." This scholarship offers tuition waiver to HKPFS awardees for up to three years and an award of approximately US$5,130 for lodging in the first year of study and US$2,565 each in the second and third year. A conference and research-related travel allowance of approximately US$3,846 provided by the Graduate School and approximately US$1,538 provided by the Department are included. The scholarship also covers a tuition fee waiver for three years, and the on-campus hostel fee will be waived in the first year. Guaranteed on-campus accommodation is provided for the three years of study.

Application Procedure

1. Submit an initial application to the RGC through their online application system (https://cerg1.ugc.edu.hk/hkpfs/InitApplication.jsp) and obtain a HKPFS reference number by 1 December 2026, 12:00 noon Hong Kong Time (or +8 hours GMT).
2. Submit your full application through CUHK’s Online Application System for Postgraduate Programmes (https://www.gs.cuhk.edu.hk/admissions/admissions/how-to-apply) and quote the HKPFS reference number by 1 December 2026, 11:59 pm Hong Kong Time (or +8 hours GMT).

Applicants who are nominated to the HKPFS by CUHK but are not selected for the fellowship will be offered the CUHK Vice-Chancellor's PhD Scholarship. CUHK Vice-Chancellor's PhD Scholarship awardees receive an award of total approximately US$10,260 (1/2 in the first year of attendance and 1/4 each in the second and third years subject to satisfactory study progress).   An studentship of approximately US$29,400 per annum for three years will be provided.   Additionally, a conference and research-related travel allowance of approximately US$3,846 provided by the Graduate School and approximately US$1,538 provided by the Department are included.

MPhil & PhD / Regular Postgraduate Studentships (US$29,400 / year)

In addition to the more competitive Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme, the Philosophy Department of the Chinese University of Hong Kong also provides approximately 10 regular scholarships. These scholarships offer a studentship of approximately US$29,400 per annum for 3 years for PhD students and 2 years for Master of Philosophy students. 

Applicants for Hong Kong PhD fellowships who are not selected for these fellowships are automatically considered for our regular PhD scholarships. Applicants can also choose to apply solely for the regular PhD scholarships. For more information, please visit https://phil.arts.cuhk.edu.hk/postgraduate/mphil-phd/admission/ .