How to apply?
Entrance Requirements
Candidates for the PhD degree should:
- hold a higher degree by research (or equivalent qualification) in Physics or related fields from a recognised university; or
- hold a Master’s degree (or equivalent qualification) in Physics or related fields from a recognised university; or
- hold a Bachelor’s degree with first-class honours (or equivalent qualification) in Physics or related fields from a recognised university; or
- be a current MPhil student in Physics or related fields in the University who is seeking transfer to PhD candidature.
Equivalent qualifications mentioned above include relevant professional qualifications and other scholarly achievements recognised by the University.
English Proficiency Requirements
Applicants from an institution where the language of teaching is not English should satisfy the minimum English proficiency requirements specified by both the University and the College.
In general, applicants should obtain:
- a minimum total score of 79 (in one single internet-based test) in TOEFL; or
- a minimum overall band score of 6.5 in IELTS; or
- a minimum score of 490 in the Chinese mainland’s College English Test Band 6 (CET6).
TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years from the test date and must be valid at the time of submission of application.
To learn more about the entrance requirements and English proficiency requirements, please visit the website of Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies.
Application Procedures
Students interested in any of the related fields should contact and discuss with their potential supervisors. The applicant is advised to obtain the consent of one of the academic staff members to be his/her supervisor before submitting the application.
For further details of application procedures, please visit the website of Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies.
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship
Applicants who could demonstrate outstanding qualities of academic performance, research ability & potential, communication & interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities & societal responsibilities are encouraged to apply for admission through “Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme”.
Click here for further details about this Scheme.
Financial Support
Postgraduate Studentship
(applicable to government-funded students only)
Postgraduate Studentship is granted on the basis of academic merit. Full-time research degree students who have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree with upper second-class honours (or equivalent) or a good master’s degree before admission are eligible to apply for the Studentship. (Exemption from the above may be considered if the student has a good publication record.)
Eligible new full-time students will be considered for the award of the Studentship 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 Qualifying Examination.
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.
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 Advance 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 up to 10 hours per week on average of teaching and/or research support duties, as assigned by the Department. They shall not engage in any paid employment without the prior approval of the University.
Research Tuition Scholarship
(applicable to government-funded students only)
Students with outstanding academic performance may also apply for the Research Tuition Scholarship, which is in the form of an exemption of the tuition fees. The Scholarship can be held concurrently with the Research Studentship.
Conference Grants
(applicable to government-funded students only)
To help widen students’ academic exposure, CityUHK offers Conference Grants to support students to attend local and overseas conferences. The maximum grant value is HK$10,000 (~US$1,282).
Research Activities Fund
(applicable to government-funded students only)
Research students can apply for funding support to undertake research related activities outside Hong Kong that are beneficial and related to their research 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.
Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme
Applicants who could demonstrate outstanding qualities of academic performance, research ability/potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities are encouraged to apply for admission through “Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme”. The Fellowship provides awardees with a monthly stipend of HK$28,100 (~US$3,602.5) and a conference and research related travel allowance of HK$14,000 (~US$1,790) per year for a maximum of three years. For Fellowship awardees who are admitted to a 4-year PhD programme, CityUHK will provide a monthly studentship at the same level as the RGC Fellowship for their fourth year of study.
In addition to the monthly stipend offered by the Scheme, each awardee of the CityUHK Fellowship will receive the “Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies Entrance Scholarship” (around HK$95,496/~USD12,243), which covers students’ full-time tuition fees and on-campus hostel accommodation expenses in their first year of research studies.
Click here for more details about the Fellowship Scheme.
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 on Tuition Waiver Scheme for Local Research Postgraduate Students, please refer to UGC's website.
For further details about scholarship, financial aid & fees, please visit the website of Chow Yei Ching School of Graduate Studies.
