Who are eligible?
To encourage interdisciplinary exchange and promote a diverse mix of students, the RPg Summer School welcomes all local and non-local applicants who are:
- year 3 or year 4 or final year undergraduate students of any discipline; or
- students in master’s degree programme.
Priority will be given to students who plan to apply for admission to RPg programmes in September 2024.
How to apply?
The application is open from 30 January to 5 March 2023 at 23:00 hour (Hong Kong Time). Applicants are required to upload the following supporting documents in ENGLISH and in PDF format when completing the application form:
- Bachelor's degree award certificate (for master's students);
- The latest bachelor's and master's degree (if applicable) academic transcripts/ academic reports;
- 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 they are interested to explore, the reasons for applying for the RPg 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); and
- Certificates of international or national merits (if any).
Applicants will be selected based on their academic excellence, research ability and experience, proficiency in English, personal qualities and skills, and other factors.
** There is a non-refundable application fee of HK$300 and no tuition fee will be charged. **
What do we offer?
Nomination for a preliminary offer of admission to research studies
Outstanding participants may be nominated for a preliminary offer of admission to research postgraduate programmes, with the support of various fellowship and scholarship schemes including the prestigious PolyU Presidential PhD Fellowship Scheme (PPPFS).
Up to HK$10,000 Summer School Scholarship for each participant
A Summer School Scholarship of HK$5,000 will be provided to each participant who has completed the RPg Summer School by attending all sessions. If the participant accepts an official offer for any RPg programme of PolyU, he/she will receive another HK$5,000.
Consultation with professors in different research areas
Participants will have opportunities to meet professors during the consultation sessions to discuss their PhD application, receive professional advice on their research proposal, and possible referral to potential supervisors.
Free student hall accommodation during the RPg Summer School
We provide free accommodation at the PolyU Student Hall that covers the whole period of the RPg Summer School.
Option to join the PolyU International Summer School (ISS)
After completing the RPg Summer School, participants could continue with the ISS from mid-July to mid-August 2023 to earn undergraduate credits by registering for credit-bearing subjects as a fee-paying student. Participants should submit a separate application to the PolyU Global Engagement Office directly and details could be found here. We will provide additional student hall accommodation during the transition period between the two summer schools.
Subsidy of study visa application fee
All study visas should be applied via PolyU and we will subsidise the visa application fee for admitted students.
** PolyU reserves the right to change the offers and participants affected will be informed as soon as possible. **
Programme at a glance
The RPg Summer School will take place from 2 July to 15 July 2023. PolyU reserves the right to change the programme and participants affected will be informed as soon as possible.
| Date | Activity |
| 2 July 2023 |
Student Hall check-in |
| 3 - 12 July 2023 |
** All participants attend the common sessions to learn skills which are applicable to different disciplines. |
| 13 July 2023 |
Project presentation |
| 14 July 2023 |
Closing and guide to applying for PhD studies at PolyU |
| 15 July 2023 |
Student Hall check-out for those participants who only join the RPg Summer School |
| 17 July 2023 |
Student Hall check-out for those participants who continue with the PolyU International Summer School (ISS) |
Timeline of actions
| Step |
Period |
|
Open for application |
30 January - 5 March 2023 |
|
Selection |
March 2023 |
| Notification of offer to admitted applicants |
Late March 2023 |
| Study visa application for non-local students (at least 8 - 10 weeks) |
April - June 2023 |
| Arrive in Hong Kong |
On or before 2 July 2023 |
| RPg Summer School at PolyU campus |
2 July - 15 July 2023 |
Who should apply for a study visa?
All students without the right of abode/ right to land in Hong Kong must apply for a study visa for the purpose of education. The Graduate School will assist the students who are admitted to the RPg Summer School to apply for a study visa.
When should apply for a study visa?
It normally takes 8 to 10 weeks for the Hong Kong Immigration Department to process the study 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 RPg Summer School to save time.
Once the applicants are admitted and receive the Letter of Admission, they should immediately fill in the Study Visa Application Form and scan the form and supporting documents to the Graduate School for checking BEFORE sending the original signed form and hard copies of supporting documents to Hong Kong by courier (e.g. SF Express, DHL, FedEx) or registered mail.
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.
PolyU will provide free student hall accommodation during the RPg Summer School. Participants will be responsible for their own international and domestic travel expenses, 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.
After you are admitted and have received the Letter of Admission, we will provide guidelines for you to prepare the project presentation which will be taken place at the end of the RPg Summer School.
You are also required to bring your own notebook computer to attend the RPg Summer School.
For other enquiries, please contact the Graduate School of PolyU at gs.summer@polyu.edu.hk.
Sharing from 2022 Participants
It was an honour to attend the two-week RPg Summer School, and I benefited greatly from it. I met many friends from the same major and the consultation with faculty members impressed me the most. Through online meetings with professors, I received a lot of helpful advice that definitely strengthened my confidence in applying for PolyU's PhD programme.
Yao Lei
I spent a delightful July at the RPg Summer School. Some students and graduates shared their schooling and job search experiences which were insightful for my future plan. Most importantly, I could discuss with different professors and the prospective supervisors were very generous in addressing my concerns and providing me with valuable suggestions.
Ling Yuewei
During this two-week journey, I was impressed by the advanced research accomplishments that PolyU has achieved in recent years and the resources available to the PhD students. Through close conversations with the professors, I was grateful for their sincere care and genuine advice provided. It is definitely a precious opportunity that you shall not miss!
Tong Yao
It’s a real pleasure to take part in the RPg Summer School at PolyU which was well-organized and inspiring. For me, there are two significant takeaways. The first is meeting lots of brilliant and creative students and faculties. And the second is the career planning session helped me to strengthen my confidence in pursuing my research interests.
Luo Yi
I could join the PhD application process earlier and knew more about the relevant PhD programme. Meanwhile, it allowed me and my potential supervisor to have a deeper understanding of each other's research interests and themes. The RPg Summer School also gave us training so that we could master the skills of writing research proposals in a short time.
Zou Runqi
Participating in the RPg Summer School was an impressive and warm "learning journey" for me! Current students gave us a rough understanding of daily life at PolyU and outstanding alumni offered career planning advice. Communicating with patient professors and excellent students from diverse backgrounds greatly benefits me. Join it, and you won't regret it!
Li Xinrui
