Letters | PhD fellowship scheme holds a key to Hong Kong’s education hub dream
Readers discuss the experience of international PhD students in Hong Kong, hospital fees, and Mark Carney’s Davos speech
With its international outlook, English-language universities, and strong ties to both the Chinese mainland and the wider world, Hong Kong is well positioned to rival other aspiring education hubs. As Western countries tighten immigration and cut higher education funding, Hong Kong’s appeal is growing. Yet, strategic policies are vital to fully realising these ambitions.
The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) is central to this vision. Established by the Research Grants Council in 2009, the HKPFS aims to attract “the best and brightest” doctoral students worldwide. For 2026-27, the scheme will support 400 new fellows, offering generous stipends and travel allowances for research activities.
As a former HKPFS recipient, I led a multicultural research team to explore what draws students to Hong Kong, their experiences here and their career trajectories. Through a survey and interviews with current students and graduates across all eight public universities, we gained unique insights.
HKPFS draws a diverse and talented group: our survey identified students from 43 nationalities, with nearly half holding master’s degrees from the top 100 global universities. Yet, for many non-mainland Chinese students, Hong Kong remains a less obvious choice compared to Western destinations – a leap off the beaten track.