Why Choose the PolyU IRSS?
Direct PhD Exploration
Explore PolyU's excellence and experience the vibrant environment and advanced research facilities through engaging and focused activities.
Diverse PhD Pathway
Exceptional participants may be nominated for the prestigious Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) with a total package up to HK$1.7M (~US$217,700) or other PhD scholarship schemes.
Exclusive Mentorship Opportunity
Outstanding participants may be selected for a one-month research mentorship under a PolyU professor following the Summer School.
Global Academic Network
Build valuable connections with an elite international cohort from over 20 countries across five continents, as well as the wider PolyU academic community.Generous Sponsorship
Comprehensive support package includes free accommodation, cash allowance, and visa subsidy to each participant upon successful completion of the IRSS.About the IRSS 2026
Organiser: Graduate School, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
Venue: PolyU Hung Hom Campus, Kowloon, Hong Kong [MAP]
Programme Dates: 29 June - 9 July 2026
Target Participants
The IRSS welcomes exceptional international applicants who have a strong desire to pursue a PhD degree at PolyU. They should be:
- Full-time penultimate or final year undergraduates; OR
- Full-time students in a Master’s degree programme; AND
- Able to attend all sessions of the Summer School in person on campus; AND
- Proficient in English.
Selection Criteria
Applicants will be selected based on their academic excellence, research ability and experience, proficiency in English, personal qualities and skills, and other factors.
Fees
Application Fee: HK$500 (~USD65), non-refundable and non-waivable.
Programme Fee: Free
Financial Assistance
Complimentary Student Hall Accommodation
All participants will receive free accommodation with a package charge of HK$4,700 (~US$600) at the PolyU Student Hall with Wifi for the entire duration of the Summer School. Early admission or extended stays are not allowed.
Full Subsidy of Visa/Entry Permit Fee
The visa/entry permit fee of HK$330 (~US$40) will be fully subsidised for those who require a visa/entry permit to visit Hong Kong. The administration fee for applying visa/entry permit via PolyU is also waived.
Cash Allowance*
A cash allowance of up to HK$10,000 (~US$1,280) will be available to selected participants to support travel costs after they have fully attended the Summer School. This allowance will be allocated based on the departing countries (either the participants' home country or their current university location).
For participants nominated for the one-month research mentorship, an additional living allowance of HK$5,000 (~US$640) will be provided to support living costs during the extended stay.
* Participants are required to submit their flight ticket and boarding pass(es) when claiming the cash allowance.
* PolyU reserves the right to make the final decision on the sponsorship amount for each participant.
Programme at a Glance
The IRSS will take place from 29 June to 9 July 2026.
Date |
Activity |
| 29 June 2026 |
Student Hall check-in |
| 30 June - 8 July 2026 |
|
| 9 July 2026 |
Student Hall check-out |
All programmes of the IRSS will be conducted in English and the tentative programme is subject to change without prior notice.
Application Procedure
Step 1
Complete the online application form and submit it by 25 February 2026 at 12:00 noon (Hong Kong Time, UTC+8 hours). Applicants will get the application fee payment link and application documents upload link by email.
Step 2
Pay the application fee online and get the official receipt by email.
Step 2
Step 3
Step 3
Applicants are required to upload the following documents in ENGLISH and save all in ONE single PDF file under 5MB via the upload link within 2 days after submitting the application form:
- The latest Bachelor's and Master's degree (if applicable) academic transcripts/ academic reports listing GPA or class ranking AND the explanatory notes of the grading system (if the GPA is not on a 4.0 scale, an official proof of class ranking issued by the institution is highly preferable);
- Bachelor's degree award certificate showing the award classification (for Master's students only);
- Curriculum vitae (CV) that indicates their academic and research achievements, involvement in extra-curricular activities or community services, and exchange or internship/ placement participation;
- Application letter stating their research experience and strengths, aspirations and career plans, research areas and interests, reasons for applying for the Summer School and what is expected to gain from it;
- The latest official score report of English language tests such as IELTS and TOEFL (if any);
- Certificates of international or national merits (if any);
- Coloured passport-size photo (click HERE for the requirements); AND
- Official receipt of application fee payment issued by the Finance Office of PolyU.
The Graduate School will only process the application with a full set of required documents including the photo saved in ONE SINGLE PDF FILE.
Visa/Entry Permit
Who should apply for a visa/entry permit?
In general, it is applicable to those nationals who require a visa to visit Hong Kong. The Graduate School will assist the admitted applicants to apply for a visa/entry permit. Please click HERE to check the visa requirements for different countries and territories on the Hong Kong Immigration Department website.
When should apply for a visa/entry permit?
It normally takes 10 weeks for the Hong Kong Immigration Department to process the visa applications upon receipt of a complete set of application documents, therefore applicants are advised to prepare the supporting documents (click HERE for details) while waiting for the selection results of the Summer School to save time. The admitted students should follow instructions to start applying for the visa immediately after accepting the offer of the Summer School due to the tight schedule.
For Mainland Chinese applicants, they should reserve additional 2 weeks to apply for an Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao (EEP) (港澳通行證) and the relevant Exit Endorsement (逗留D簽) from their local authorities AFTER obtaining the Hong Kong visa.
Timeline of Actions
Actions |
Period (HK Time) |
|
Application |
By 25 February 2026 at 12:00 noon |
|
Selection Process |
March 2026 |
|
Email notification to admitted applicants in batches (Only successful applicants will be contacted) |
By 31 March 2026 |
|
Visa application for non-local participants who require a visa to visit Hong Kong (Takes approximately 10 weeks, depending on visa type) |
March - June 2026 |
| Arrival in Hong Kong |
On or before 29 June 2026 |
| International Research Summer School on PolyU campus |
30 June - 9 July 2026 |
PolyU will provide free student hall accommodation only during the Summer School. If you wish to come earlier or stay behind, please arrange your own accommodation. No exceptional request will be accepted.
Participants will be responsible for their own international and domestic travel expenses, including but not limited to air tickets, meals, local transportation as well as travel and medical insurance.
Non-local participants are strongly advised to purchase travel and medical insurance with adequate coverage before departing their home countries. If you are not a Hong Kong citizen, the medical charges are much higher and PolyU will not bear any of your medical or accidental expenses.
For those participants who require to apply for an entry permit/visa, they will need to courier (NOT by mail) the original hard copies of visa application documents to PolyU and the courier fee of international express will be borne by the participants.
Before the deadline of application, you could submit a NEW application form if you have filled in any incorrect information. You could also upload a NEW full set of supporting documents in ONE single PDF file. The latest submission will replace the previous one(s).
After the deadline of application, we may not accept any revision or additional documents as the selection process will start immediately.
After you are admitted and have received the Letter of Admission, you should start applying for the entry permit/visa (if required) immediately. The visa application requires your full cooperation and quick response otherwise it may cause any delay which will affect your participation. We came across cases that the visa was approved by the Hong Kong Immigration Department after the Summer School was commenced and the admitted students missed the whole programme.
You should also start planning your trip to Hong Kong including buying air tickets and travel insurance, looking for travel tips, etc. We will provide free accommodation at the Student Hall only during the period of the Summer School.
You may need to bring your own notebook computer to attend the Summer School.
If you have other questions not covered above, please email to gs.summer@polyu.edu.hk.
