PhD Programmes in Hong Kong 2025

The hallmark of a world-leading doctoral programme is not only the research it generates but also the extent to which it provides graduates with outstanding career opportunities. The SHTM prepares students for leadership positions in their chosen careers by offering the world’s first professional D.HTM degree. The D.HTM programme has been designed for academics, senior industry executives and senior staff in governmental and non-governmental hospitality and tourism organisations. Since its inception in 2007, the programme attracts a range of professionals interested in augmenting their careers, from experienced practitioners and government representatives to academics. Its specific Asian focus, unique combination of subjects and research, and flexible delivery pattern enables industry professionals to develop their skills while remaining in the workforce.

The Fellowship provides a monthly stipend HK$HK$26,900 (approximately US$3,450) to each awardee for up to three years. PolyU achieves 66th in the QS World University Ranking 2022 and 51st in Linguistics in QS World University Ranking by Subject 2021. We invite students with academic excellence and are interested in conducting cutting-edge research in our research areas to apply.

The success of a research institution is largely due to its provision and training of young scholars. To provide leadership in developing future scholars in hospitality and tourism management, the SHTM offers research programmes leading to the Ph.D. in Hotel and Tourism Management degree. The School’s Ph.D. programme is designed for those who want to base their research on theoretical insights. It offers advanced training based on individual interests and career aspirations, allowing students to develop the ability to complete significant research in specific areas. Research collaboration between academic staff and students are encouraged by the School’s intellectual and support environment, with the results disseminated through scholarly publications and conference presentations. The critical mass of globally recognised researchers, together with the attractive stipend for research students and the unique “East meets West” environment, make our highly competitive research programmes very successful. Many of our Ph.D. graduates are now serving as faculty members in universities worldwide.

HKUST has been drawing the best doctoral students from around the world through the Hong Kong Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), established by the Hong Kong Research Grants Council.

The Ph.D. in Social Science prepares students who wish to pursue a career in academia, policy research or consultancy related to the affairs of society, polity, or economy, broadly conceived. As with MPhil students, Ph.D. students are assigned a thesis advisor and provided with a postgraduate studentship that carries with it the responsibilities of teaching/research assistance.

Teaching and research in the Department of Applied Psychology cover many exciting areas, including occupational health psychology, counselling psychology, applied social psychology, cross-cultural psychology, cognitive psychology, and human-computer interaction, etc.

Lingnan is now offering PhD programmes in Chinese for applicants who want to pursue research various areas.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility, driven by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. The University's unwavering commitment to excellence has earned international recognition, consistently ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide.

The Department of Electronic and Information Engineering (EIE) aims at solving complex problems with innovative ideas and at producing high-impact research that is relevant to industry and society. Major research endeavours within the Department are conducted within four research groups. The foci of these groups are nonlinear circuits and systems (including power electronics, wireless power transfer technologies, renewable energy systems, LED lighting systems, and complex networks), communications (including optical and wireless communications, vehicular communications, channel coding, optical sensor systems), multimedia signal processing (video and image coding, speech and pattern recognition, artifical intelligence and machine learning), and photonic systems and devices (microscopy techniques and photovoltaic devices). Other research topics include information security, bio-inspired optimization techniques and forensics. Currently, over a hundred funded research projects are being undertaken. These projects are funded by the Hong Kong government, the Chinese government or our industrial partners such as Huawei Technologies and PCCW/HKT. Most of the research students will receive financial support during their PhD study.

The Ph.D. in Public Policy program provides rigorous training in public policy research to academically outstanding students aspiring to pursue a career in policy research and teaching.

Internationally-experienced faculty members in the Department of Political Science have quality publication records and some are recognised as experts in their fields of study. Faculty members in the Department specialise in a wide range of sub-disciplines, such as the governance and politics of Hong Kong and China, Asian-Pacific international relations, regional and global politics. Particular strengths in instruction and supervision include governance of Hong Kong, Chinese reform politics, regionalism, sport-politics nexus, Chinese foreign and security policies, Korean peninsula politics, and democratisation in Asia.

The PhD programme in Architecture is a four-year research degree offering independent research in architecture, landscape architecture and urbanism. It is intended for persons who wish to enter teaching and advanced research careers with a commitment to make an original contribution to the field. The programme places emphasis on originality, significance, and methodology in topics engaging pertinent issues in Asia and China, as well as important intersections with international and cross-cultural contexts.

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU Presidential Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme) aspires to be an innovative world-class university with a strong sense of social responsibility, driven by its motto, “To learn and to apply, for the benefit of mankind”. The University's unwavering commitment to excellence has earned international recognition, consistently ranked among the top 100 universities worldwide. The PolyU Presidential Ph.D. Fellowship Scheme (PPPFS) is a prestigious admission scholarship that supports exceptional Ph.D. applicants in pursuing their research aspirations for the betterment of the world. It provides a maximum stipend of up to US$167,930, a tuition waiver, an eligible hall place for 1 year, and additional benefits. All full-time Ph.D. applicants will be considered for the PPPFS award automatically, without the need to submit a separate application.

The DFinTech Programme aims to educate top executives and business entrepreneurs who are interested in understanding the FinTech impacts on various industries. It has been designed to integrate academic study and management practice in a way which will form a significant part of an individual’s business career.

HKBU School of Business offers 4-year full-time PhD Programme across 5 main disciplines, including Accountancy and Law, Economics, Finance and Decision Sciences, Management and Marketing. Combining academic rigour with a resolutely international approach, the Programme aims at training students to become professors.