Fulbright-RGC Hong Kong Research Scholar Award Program 2021/2022

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The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau and the Research Grants Council (RGC) of the HKSAR Government are pleased to invite young scholars enrolled in PhD programs at UGC-funded institutions in Hong Kong to apply for the Fulbright-RGC Hong Kong Research Scholar Awards to conduct research in the United States.

Funded by RGC in partnership with private donors, the Fulbright-RGC Hong Kong Research Scholar Award provides US$1,810 per month, which may be augmented by studentship funds provided by home universities in Hong Kong. Grant duration ranges from six months to ten months, as justified in the application proposal. Research programs in the United States can begin anytime in September of the award year. Fulbright research scholars will not enroll for courses or matriculate at the American host university. Although regular tuition fees will be waived, the host universities may charge visiting scholar affiliation fees and insurance premiums for the visiting Fulbright scholar. The Fulbright scholars are expected to return to Hong Kong after the award period to defend their PhD dissertations at their Hong Kong universities.

Application Guidelines:

Applicants must be permanent residents of HKSAR or Chinese citizens, who are currently enrolled in PhD programs at UGC-funded institutions in Hong Kong.

  • Applicants should have completed at least two years of full-time advanced study in Hong Kong prior to their planned departure for the U.S.
  • Applicants should have strong English language proficiency and good health
  • All academic disciplines are eligible for this fellowship program.

Online application deadline is October 31, 2020. Interview of finalists will be held in the fall and the award announcement will be made in early 2021.

To access online application forms for the award, please see the official online application for Foreign Fulbright Program.

For further application information and instructions, please see Application Instructions (PDF 796 KB).

For inquiries, please email Fulbright-HK@state.gov


faq : Fulbright-RGC Hong Kong Research Scholar Award Program
  • The Fulbright-RGC Hong Kong Research Scholar Award Program is a collaborative program between the U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong & Macau (USCG) and the Research Grants Council (RGC) of the Hong Kong Government.
  • It supports young Hong Kong scholars to undertake research activities at American universities and research institutes. This program is overseen by USCG and funded by RGC in partnership with private donors.
  • Applicants must be permanent residents of Hong Kong SAR or Chinese citizens.
  • Applicants must be currently enrolled in PhD programs at any of the University Grants Council (UGC)-funded institutions in Hong Kong.
  • Applicants should have completed at least two years of full-time advanced study in Hong Kong prior to their planned departure for the United States.
  • No, you cannot. Applicants must be permanent residents of HKSAR or Chinese citizens under all circumstances.
  • No, you cannot. This program is only for applicants who are currently enrolled in PhD programs at UGC-funded institutions in Hong Kong.
  • The award will provide US$1,810 per month to support living costs throughout the entire grant period; and a round-trip international economy class air-ticket between Hong Kong and the United States.
  • However, the award may be augmented by studentship funds provided by home universities in Hong Kong or by other scholarships.
  • Fulbright research scholars will not enroll for courses or matriculate in the host American university. Although regular tuition fees will be waived, the host universities may charge visiting scholar fees.
  • Other fees as deemed necessary by host universities may be charged, such as insurance premiums as a number of university may pre-emptively require students to enroll in the school’s own health insurance program.
  • Yes, you can augment the basic award with your own studentship funds as provided by the home universities in Hong Kong for post-graduate students or by other scholarships.
  • Yes, you may still apply, but you will need to prove that you have enough personal funds to support yourself during the time in the United States. The Fulbright-RGC Hong Kong Research Scholar Awards will provide US$1,810 per month throughout the awarded grant period.
  • The grants range from six to ten months.
  • The online application cycle usually starts in July of each calendar year.
  • Deadline is usually in late October of each calendar year. Exact date will be announced when application cycle commences.
  • Shortlisted applicants will be invited for an interview in December.
  • Successful applicants will be notified in the following spring after submission of application.
  • Deadline of the application cycle 2021/2022 is October 31, 2020.
  • Yes, you must choose your own preferred institutions for placement. Please check with your Hong Kong supervisor for advice and suggestions regarding which U.S. universities / professors you should put down as your top three choices.
  • You don’t need to get an advance approval but if you prefer, you may contact your first choice of university to see if the professor is willing to be your mentor during the proposed research program period at the time of application. If you receive positive feedback, please notify us to include this information with records of email exchanges in your application package.

Other Questions
  • Supposedly, when you applied for PhD programs at UGC-funded institutions, your qualifications and transcripts have been thoroughly verified by your home university, you therefore do not need to request a new set of transcripts but please upload these transcripts and certificates onto the application system.
  • We do require your official transcript for your PhD study. Please upload the materials to the system.
  • English versions of certificates and transcripts are preferred as the Academic Review Committee and the Fulbright Advisory Committee may include non-Chinese members.
  • No need to print out the forms. Simply enter the contact information of your referees and the system will invite them to submit a reference letter for you.
  • At least one reference letter should come from your PhD supervisor in Hong Kong.
  • Awardees may begin their programs in the United States from September 2021 onwards but not any earlier.
  • All awardees are expected to complete their programs by the end of June 2022.
  • In this case, you should consider extending your PhD study because the program requires all awardees to return to Hong Kong after the award period to defend their dissertations for their PhD degree from their Hong Kong university.
  • This program aims to benefit thesis writing (e.g. through their research activities in the United States or the assistance of U.S. mentors / scholars), awardees are expected to return to Hong Kong after the award period and defend their dissertations for their PhD degree from their Hong Kong universities.
  • As a Fulbright scholar, you will be traveling to the U.S. on a J-1 visa. Certain exchange visitors (J-1) are subject to a two-year home-country physical presence requirement which requires the visa holders to return to her/his home country for at least two years at the end of the exchange program. This is also known as the foreign residence requirement under U.S. law, Immigration and Nationality Act, section 212(e). If a person is unable to return to her/his home country to fulfill the two-year requirement, s/he must obtain a waiver approved by the Department of Homeland Security prior to changing status in the U.S. or being issued a visa in certain categories for travel to the U.S.
  • Yes, but you’ll need to cover all of their expenses including travel, living, insurance, etc.
  • Same as you, they will also subject to the two-year home-country physical presence requirement of J-1 visa.
  • All awardees are expected to return to Hong Kong after the award period and defend their PhD degree dissertations from their Hong Kong universities.
  • As a requirement for all exchange visitor visa holders, all awardees are required to return to Hong Kong after the award period according to the two-year rule as above-mentioned.

Inquiries, please email Fulbright-HK@state.gov

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