Financial Aid & Fees

Postgraduate Studentship

(Applicable to government-funded students only)

The postgraduate studentship is granted on the basis of academic merit.

Eligible new full-time students will be considered for the Studentship award as part of their application for admission to a research degree programme. Separate applications are not required.

There are two different studentship rates, namely the Basic Rate and the Advance Rate. Basic Rate will normally apply to all eligible full‐time research students. Advance Rate will be awarded to those PhD students who have passed the QE.

The studentship is normally renewed on a yearly basis. Continuation and renewal of the award are subject to satisfactory study progress, achievement in coursework results and performance in any academic-related duties assigned. Individual Departments/Schools may stipulate additional requirements.

PhD students may be granted the studentship for a maximum of four years (irrespective of their entry qualifications), and the studentship award period should not exceed the students’ stipulated study period. In the 2024/25 academic year, the studentship Basic Rate is HK$18,700 per month (~US$2,397) and Advanced Rate is HK$19,200 per month (~US$2,462). Studentship is subject to revision in September of every year, and any revision to the rate will apply to both current and new students.

Studentship recipients are normally required to undertake not more than 10 hours per week on average of teaching and/or research support duties, as assigned by their respective Departments/Schools. They shall not engage in any paid employment without the prior approval of SGS.

^All candidates are eligible to apply for government-funded places which are supported by UGC/government funds. Government-funded students will be eligible for consideration of various financial awards funded by UGC/government funds.

Research Tuition Scholarship

(Applicable to government-funded students only)

Candidates with outstanding academic performance will be considered for a Research Tuition Scholarship, which is in the form of an exemption of the tuition fees.

Only full-time research students are eligible to apply for the Scholarship. If granted a Scholarship, the student will be exempted from paying one year’s tuition fees. The award period should not exceed students’ stipulated study period. All eligible new students will be considered for the Scholarship award when their research degree programme applications are reviewed. Separate applications are not required.

Conference Grant

(Applicable to government-funded students only)

After confirmation of candidature and within the normal study period, UGC-funded and Non-UGC/Institutional funded research students can apply for conference grants for attending local and overseas conferences. The maximum value of a grant is HK$10,000 (~US$1,282).

Research Activities Fund

(Applicable to government-funded students only)

After confirmation of candidature and within the normal study period, UGC-funded and Non-UGC/Institutional funded research students can apply for funding support to undertake research related activities outside Hong Kong, which are beneficial and related to their MPhil/PhD studies. The monthly allowance is HK$5,000. Depending on the university/institution to be visited and the visit duration, the maximum cumulative amount of funding provision during the entire candidature of study may be up to HK$60,000 (~US$7,692).

Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarships

(Applicable to government-funded students only)

CityUHK offers Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarships to encourage outstanding international students to undertake MPhil or PhD studies at the University with a view to promoting academic exchange and enhancing the international mix of the University’s student population.

The Scholarship covers students’ tuition fees and on-campus hostel accommodation expenses in their first year of their research studies (equivalent to approximately HK$95,496 (~US$12,243). If granted a Scholarship, the above-mentioned expenses will be off-set by the award.

Government Grants and Loans and External Financial Awards/Assistance

(Applicable to all local students)

The Government and the University offer various kinds of grants and loans to help students who are in financial need. Various external financial awards and forms of assistance are also granted on the basis of academic merit or financial need.

Annual Tuition/Continuation Fees (normally adjusted in September every year)

Tuition Waiver for Local Research Postgraduate (RPg) Students

The University Grants Committee (UGC) has introduced a ‘Tuition Waiver Scheme’ (‘The Scheme’) for all local students enrolled in full-time UGC-funded Research Postgraduate (RPg) programmes in local institutions, to cover their tuition fees with effect from the academic year 2018-19 (i.e. from July 1, 2018).

This Scheme provides non-means-tested funding to all current and new local students from all disciplines of study enrolled in full-time UGC-funded RPg programmes. Eligible students do not need to apply for the Scheme.

For more information of Tuition Waiver Scheme for Local Research Postgraduate Students, please refer to: http://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/funding_opport/tws.html