Frequently Asked Questions
Research Postgraduate
6
FAQs
A. General Information
1. What are the differences between research postgraduate programmes [Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or Master of Philosophy (MPhil)] and taught postgraduate programmes?

In terms of research postgraduate programmes, a PhD or MPhil degree is awarded to a student who, upon completing an approved programme of study and research, submits a thesis presenting the results of his/her research and satisfies the examiners in an oral examination (and other examinations if required) in matters relevant to the subject of the thesis. For more study information about Research Postgraduate programmes, please click here.

Taught postgraduate programmes focus more on coursework, and some may require students to complete a dissertation. For more information about Taught Postgraduate programmes, please click here.

2. What are the entrance requirements for PhD or MPhil admission? What are the English language requirements?

Please click here for the University’s admission requirements and English language requirements.

3. When does the new academic year start?

Please click here for details.

4. Can I enrol in more than one programme at the same time?

While registered as a candidate for a research degree at PolyU, if you wish to apply for concurrent registration in another programme of study leading to an award from PolyU or elsewhere, you must obtain prior written permission from the University. Failure to obtain such approval may lead to disciplinary action, including the discontinuation of your study at PolyU. Please click here to download the application form for concurrent enrolment.

5. How much is the tuition fee?

Please click here for information on the tuition fee.

6. Am I eligible for a fellowship/scholarship?

Please click here to learn more about fellowship and scholarship.

7. Can I choose self-financed?

You can indicate your preference for receiving an admission offer with a scholarship or not on the online application for the question 'Do you intend to accept the offer if no research studentship is provided?'.

8. Am I eligible to apply for Halls of Residence accommodation?

Full-time research students are eligible to apply for accommodation in PolyU's Student Halls of Residence, subject to availability. Please click here for details of Halls of Residence accommodation.

9. How are non-local students defined?

Please click here for more information.

10. Are non-local students allowed to enrol in study programmes in Hong Kong?

All non-local students who are admitted to study programmes in Hong Kong must obtain a student visa before departing for Hong Kong. You should not travel to Hong Kong without a valid student visa.

For more information, please check the FAQ on Visa Matters for Non-Local Students (click here).

11. Is financial assistance available for non-local students?

No. Non-local students are not eligible for financial assistance from PolyU or the HKSAR Government. Non-local students are therefore advised to secure sufficient funds before enrolling in a study programme at PolyU.

12. Can non-local students take up internships and part-time jobs?

According to the Hong Kong Immigration Policy, non-local students enrolled in full-time locally accredited programmes at undergraduate level or above are allowed to take up internships, part-time on-campus employment and summer jobs. Please click here to view the Immigration Policy on Study. However, research students receiving scholarship/fellowship or financial assistance from the University are not allowed to take up any employment without prior approval.

B. Before You Apply
13. When should I submit an application? What application materials should I prepare?

Please check the application periods (click here) and the Guidelines for Submitting Supporting Documents (click here). Some academic departments/schools may have specific requirements, please check the Supporting Documents for Application (click here). All supporting documents should be uploaded to RPgAdmission.

14. What are the procedures for submitting an application?

Please view the application procedures (click here) and create an account in RPgAdmission to start your application.

15. How many research areas can I select in an application?

You can select up to two areas of research for each programme offered by one academic department.

16. Can I apply to more than one department?

Yes. You may apply to more than one department as long as you submit separate applications. For each department to which you apply, you must pay the required application fee, upload supporting documents and invite referees by the required deadline.

17. Do I need to contact a supervisor in advance before applying?

Applicants are advised to contact a potential supervisor before submission of an application. However, you can still submit an application without identifying a potential supervisor. You may also contact the host academic department (click here) if you have any difficulties in searching for a potential supervisor in a related research area.

18. Can I change my programme choice after submission?

You are not allowed to change your programme choice after your application has been submitted. You may submit another application as long as you pay the required application fee, upload supporting documents and invite referees by the required deadline.

19. Can I edit my proposed research plan/vision statement after submission?

After submission, you are not allowed to edit your proposed research plan/vision statement. Please proofread your input and supporting documents thoroughly before submission.

20. Is there a standard format for writing a research?

Please use the standard form (Form GSB/1A) to submit your research proposal.

21. Will PolyU accept an application and supporting documents prepared and submitted by an agent or consultant?

PolyU has no financial arrangements or special relationships with agents who assist in the preparation and submission of applications for a fee. You must complete and submit your own application and provide your own personal details. Please find the Guidelines for Submitting Supporting Documents (click here).

22. Do I have to list all of the schools and institutions I have attended?

Yes. You must list all of your undergraduate and postgraduate studies in your online application.

23. How much is the application fee and how should I pay it?

The application fee for admission to research postgraduate programmes in 2025/26 is HK$300. This fee is non-refundable and non-transferable. You must settle the application fee upon submission of your online application. Otherwise, your application will not be further processed. You are advised to use Visa or MasterCard to do so. Please click here to view the details of available payment methods.

24. What should I do if I have not yet received my results/transcript(s)/certificate(s) when I submit an application to PolyU?

If you have not yet received your results/transcript(s)/certificate(s) when you apply to PolyU, please indicate the date on which they will be available in your application. You should update your results and upload your final official transcript(s), certificate(s), and/or test score report to your application once available.

25. Should I provide the application documents in English?

If the supporting documents are not in English or Chinese, you must provide officially translated documents in English with the original documents.

26. Is it necessary to provide information on my academic referees with my application?

If you choose to apply for the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), you must invite two academics who are familiar with your academic performance and achievements to complete online academic referee's reports before the HKPFS application deadline. Proposed supervisor(s) from the PolyU, proposed supervisor(s) from the partner institution (if any), and persons from non-academic background are not considered as appropriate academic referees.

 

After you have submitted your online application, a system-generated email invitation will be sent to your referees inviting them to complete an online academic referee's report. Please provide complete and accurate information on your referees, including their email addresses under a university or an organization, in your online application.

 

If you choose to apply for admission to a research postgraduate programme at PolyU, please refer to Supporting Documents for Application (click here) and check whether the programme in which you are interested requires you to provide details of the academic referees you have nominated to complete online academic referee's reports before the application deadline.

27. When should my referees submit their online academic referee's reports?

After submitting your application, your referees will receive an invitation email with a link to complete an online referee's report. The link will remain active for one month. Please complete your application as early as possible to allow sufficient time for your referees to complete the report. 

For applications to the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS), you should advise your referees to submit their online academic referee reports by the HKPFS application deadline, i.e. no later than 1 December. This will ensure that departments can review all the necessary materials promptly. 

28. I have/will have a degree for which English was/is the language of instruction at a recognised university. Do I still need to take the IELTS/TOEFL test to meet the English language requirements?

Applicants with a degree for which English was the language of instruction at a recognised university are regarded as meeting the English language requirements.

If you have obtained, or will obtain, a degree for which English was/is the language of instruction at a recognised university, please upload the official document issued by the host institution (for example, transcript or testimonial) which indicates English was/is the language of instruction to your online application.

29. Are there any requirements for the IELTS and TOEFL sub-scores?

No. Please click here to view the English language requirements for admission.

30. Can I take an online IELTS/TOEFL test to meet the English language requirements?

Only tests taken at a test centre and scores in one single attempt are accepted. Please click here to view the English language requirements for admission.

31. Do I need to send the originals of my supporting documents to PolyU by post?

No. You do not need to send the originals of your supporting documents to PolyU by post at the application stage.

32. Can I make changes to my application or submit supporting documents after submission?

No. Once the application is submitted, amendment is not allowed. You should proofread your input and supporting documents thoroughly before submission. Any errors or incorrect information provided in your online application may cause delays in processing your application or lead to the rejection of your application.

Still, you may email the supplementary information/documents to the host academic department for their consideration. Please click here for the contact details of the relevant academic departments.

33. How should I upload my supporting documents? What format should they have?

Please ensure that your documents conform to the following specifications:

 

  • Encrypted or password-protected files are not accepted. 

  • Only PDF format is accepted.

  • Each file may not exceed 10MB.

C. After You Have Applied
34. Where will I find my application number?

An application number will be assigned to you and shown on your online application once you have successfully submitted your application.

35. Why has one of my referees not received an email invitation from PolyU?
  • Check if your referee's email address has been input correctly.
  • Ask your referee to check his/her junk/spam mail folder for the email.
  • Use the "Resend" function to send another email invitation to your referee (Application Progress > Application > Academic Referee Status > Action > Resend). 
36. How will I know if my referees have successfully submitted their online academic referee's reports to PolyU?

You can check the status via RPgAdmission system (Application Progress > Application > Academic Referee Status).

37. When will I be notified of an admission offer? How will I know if I have been accepted for admission?

Admission offers will normally be made between February and June (for September entry), June and October (for January entry), and November and February (for May entry). 

You may log in to RPgAdmission to check your application status (e.g., notification of interview/test and admission offer) at any time.  If you wish to check the progress of your application, you may directly approach the academic department concerned.  Please click here for the contact details of the relevant academic departments.

If you are given an offer or a conditional offer of admission, you will receive an email notification and a Notice of Offer via RPgAdmission.

 

38. When will the results of applications to the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme be announced?

The results of applications to the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme will be announced around April/May on the Research Grants Committee (RGC)'s website. Successful candidates will be notified by the RGC via email.

D. When You Receive an Admission Offer
39. What should I do to accept an admission offer?

You should indicate your acceptance and pay a registration fee of HK$5,000 (for 2025/26 admission) before the payment deadline specified in the online Notice of Offer via RPgAdmission. This registration fee is non-refundable and non-transferrable. It will be credited to your tuition fee, which will be payable upon your admission to the University. For scholarship recipients who are not required to pay a tuition fee, the registration fee will be refunded after commencement of study at PolyU.

 

Requests to waive or defer payment of the registration fee will not be considered. The failure to pay the registration fee by the stipulated deadline will result in the lapse of your admission offer.

40. How will I know if I receive a fellowship/scholarship?

If you are awarded a fellowship/scholarship, the fellowship/scholarship package will be stated in your Notice of Offer. 

41. When should I submit my student visa application?

If you are admitted, you will find more information on how to apply for a student visa in your Notice of Offer via RPgAdmission. PolyU will sponsor your student visa application and provide relevant assistance.

As it may take at least 6 weeks (even a longer time during the summer peak season) for the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region to process your student visa applciation, you should submit your completed student visa application form with all the required supporting documents to the Academic Registry of PolyU by express post within 10 working days of the issuance date of the offer or conditional offer of admission. The guidelines for applying for a student visa can be downloaded from the Notice of Offer.

Please note that the Immigration Department may not accept student visa applications from certain nationals. Please click here to visit the Immigration Department's website.

42. Do I need to provide proof of financial means with my student visa application?

The Hong Kong Immigration Department requires all non-local students to provide proof of their ability to pay tuition fees and living expenses upon submission of their student visa applications. This proof can take the form of personal or family bank letters/bank statements.

If you are awarded a fellowship/scholarship by PolyU upon admission, you will need to indicate the monthly amount under Section 7, “Financial Situation of Applicant”, of the student visa application form and provide a copy of the Notice of Offer as financial proof when applying for a student visa.

43. How can I check the status of my student visa application?

You can check the latest status of your student visa application via RPgAdmission from time to time (Application Progress > Registration Preparation > Student Visa Application).

44. When can I receive my e-Visa?

Once your visa application is approved, you will receive an email notification on how to download your e-Visa from the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s website. However, if you are given a conditional offer, you will only receive the email notification after you have met the condition(s) of your admission offer.

45. Do I need to submit originals of my academic certificates and full official transcripts? How should my academic certificates and full official transcripts to complete the qualification verification?

Please refer to the Guidelines on Submission of Required Documents for Qualification (link) for details. Please note that all qualifications(except those obtained from PolyU) mentioned in your application should be submitted for verification. Failure to do so or any discrepancies found may lead to nullification of your offer and registration at the University. Fees paid will not be refunded. You can only proceed with online programme registration after completion of qualification verification and approval of student visa application (if applicable).

46. What should I do if I have received a conditional offer of admission?

To fulfil the condition(s) of your offer, you must upload the official documentary proof of your final degree results and/or English language test score report and update the final degree results and/or English test scores via RPgAdmission before the deadline specified in the online Notice of Offer.

47. What if I cannot provide official documentary proof(s) to fulfil the admission condition(s) by the deadline?

If you cannot provide official documentary proof(s) to fulfil the admission condition(s) stipulated in the Notice of Offer, your offer of admission will become null and void.

48. How should I submit my original test score report (i.e., GMAT, GRE, IELTS or TOEFL)?

If your score reports can be verified online, you should inform the relevant test/examination provider to release the right to PolyU to verify your results online. PolyU’s institutional code is CB8 for GMAT, 3404 for GRE and 0732 for TOEFL.

 

IELTS score report could be verified online without an access code. You are therefore not required to request IELTS to send us the hard copy report unless you are asked to do so.

 

If your score reports CANNOT be verified online, you should ask the relevant test/examination provider to send us the official result slip for our verification.

49. How can I check the status of qualification verification?

You can check the latest status of qualification verification via RPgAdmission from time to time (Application Progress > Registration Preparation > Qualification Verification).