1. Research Support Fund
Eligibility
Full-time PhD or MPhil students receiving full studentship during the normal study period are eligible to apply for reimbursement of prescribed research student expenses. BNBU and self-funded students are not applicable.
Funding Support
The prescribed research student expenses and their maximum amounts to be supported are as follows:
|
Supported items |
Max. Supported Amount* |
|---|---|
|
A. Conference/Seminar B. Non-local International Research Learning Experience C. Other (Field Trip, Study Tour, etc.) |
PhD students : Max. HK$25,000 MPhil students: Max. HK$15,000 (Multiple claims are allowed if there is an available balance) |
*The enhanced entitlement will apply to newly admitted studentship recipients from the 2026/27 cohort onwards, as well as existing studentship recipients after deducting claims made before AY2026/27. Students who do not receive studentship support throughout the entire normal study period, will be eligible to claim funding on a pro-rata basis corresponding to the period during which they receive studentship support.
2-Staged Procedures for Reimbursements
The reimbursement of the above expenses has two stages (see Application Procedures):
*Late application will not be processed.
#Please note that the Finance Office will not accept reimbursement applications if more than 180 days elapse between the payment date and the reimbursement approval date. If your study leave exceeds 180 days, you may wish to submit two separate applications: one for the outbound airfare and another for the remaining expenses, such as accommodation and inbound airfare, where applicable.
It is important that the supporting documents provided are relevant, arranged and numbered in chronological sequence, and printed in Chinese or English as far as practicable. Otherwise, your application will be withheld from processing. Incomplete application will delay the process and may result in the denial of your reimbursement application.
2. Global Research Fellowship Scheme
The Global Research Fellowship Scheme (GRFS) aims to support eligible PhD students in undertaking non-local research attachments or research internships at designated institutions.
Eligibile Students and Nomination Conditions
- The student should be enrolled in a full-time PhD programme at the University.
- The student should be a studentship recipient with satisfactory academic progress.
- The student should undertake an in-person research attachment or research internship at a designated institution for a duration of at least one month.
- The research attachment or research internship should be completed during the student’s normal study period and normally no later than the end of the academic year following the application year.
- Retrospective nominations will NOT be considered.
Eligible Institutions
- Member institutions under the University’s International Advisory Board for Graduate Studies
|
Adelaide University |
Cornell University |
McGill University |
|
Nanyang Technological University |
National University of Singapore |
The Australian National University |
|
The University of Western Australia |
University of Science and Technology of China |
Zhejiang University |
- Eligible universities under the HKSAR Immigration Department's Top Talent Pass Scheme in recent three years (excluding local institutions)
The aggregate list of eligible universities can be found here.
Nomination and Funding Support
Faculties/Schools (Faculties) will be assigned nomination quotas each year based on their RPg student population.
Students interested in applying should contact their respective Faculty/School for nomination details.
- Up to HK$60,000 per student.
- Basic economy-class return airfare on an actual-cost basis.
- Subsistence allowance based on the rates published by the HKBU Finance Office to cover accommodation, meals and local transportation during the attachment/internship period.
- Funding will normally be provided on a 2:1 matching basis, with the University contributing two-thirds of the award and the remaining one-third matched by the relevant Faculty or Principal Supervisor.
- Each student may be granted funding support for one research attachment or research internship only.
- The student is required to submit the GRFS Completion Report within two months after completing the research attachment/internship. Funding will normally be disbursed upon receipt and acceptance of the Completion Report.
Enquiries
For further information on nomination arrangements and application procedures, please contact your Faculty/School.