Apart from the prescribed fees, it is very difficult to estimate the education expenses for a full-time research student as they are mainly related to the research area and individual needs. Students may draw reference that the maximum academic grant offered under the HKSAR Government’s Tertiary Student Finance Scheme - Publicly-funded Programmes (TSFS) in 2011/12 is around HK$7,980 to HK$12,460 for most disciplines and around HK$36,270 for design discipline.

Full-time UGC-funded research students are eligible to apply for PolyU Student Halls of Residence subject to availability. The hall daily lodging fee at the moment is HK$40 for double occupancy in Hunghom Hall while that in Homantin Hall, which will fall into operation by August 2012, will be made available in Hall Homepage in due course: www.polyu.edu.hk/sao/hall.

Non-local students should be aware of the high living costs in Hong Kong, and that the estimated total cost of accommodation, meals, local transport, laundry and personal expenses will be around HK$72,000 to HK$100,000 per academic year. However, students have to note it is only a rough estimate because the cost of living varies from person to another depending on the type of accommodation selected and other factors.

Non-local students are not eligible for financial assistance from PolyU or the HKSAR Government. Therefore, they should secure sufficient funds before embarking on their programmes.