MPhil-PhD in Information Engineering

Admission and Application

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS)

Important Dates (for 2027-28 entry)

Official Application Deadline1 December 2026
Review of Applications will start from15 November 2026

Application Procedure

General background

  • Established by the Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong in 2009.
  • Aimed at attracting the best and brightest students in the world to pursue their PhD studies at one of Hong Kong’s universities
  • Applicants must demonstrate outstanding qualities of academic performance, research ability/potential, communication and interpersonal skills, and leadership abilities.
  • Starting from the 2020-21 intake, all PhD candidates who are nominated to Research Grants Council (RGC) by CUHK but not selected for HKPFS will be offered a regular PhD place with the CUHK Vice-Chancellor PhD Scholarship.

Benefits

Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme

  • Annual stipend of HK$344,400 (~US$44,200) up to HK$1.38 Million (~US$176,620) during the student’s normative study period.
  • A conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,400 (-US$1,850) per year up to HK$87,600 (~US$11,230) during the student’s normative study period.
  • Only 3 course duties during normative study period.

The CUHK Vice-Chancellor HKPFS Scholarship

  • A tuition fee waiver up to HK$198,000 (~US$25,390) for their whole normative study period.
  • An award of HK$40,000 (approx. US$5,130) for lodging in the first year of study and HK$20,000 in the subsequent years during the normative study period.
  • The on-campus hostel fee will be waived in the first year of study.
MPhil-PhD Programmes

Important Dates (for 2027-28 entry)

Main Round Application Deadline1 December 2026
(Preferred by 15 November 2026)
For Clearing Round*31 March 2027

* Applications in Clearing Round will only be considered subject to availability of places.

Application Procedure

Admission requirements

  1. Bachelor’s degree in Computer / Information / Electronic or related engineering or science fields
    • from a recognized university with honors not lower than Second Class; or
    • from an honors programme of a recognized university, with an average grade not lower than B; or
    • from a programme of study in a tertiary educational institution and obtained professional or similar qualifications equivalent to an honors degree;
    • conditional offer will be given to applicants who are expected to receive the Bachelor’s degree in the current academic year.
  2. Fulfill the English Language Proficiency Requirement:
    • obtained a degree from a university in Hong Kong1 or taken a degree programme of which the medium of instruction was English; or
    • achieved scores in the following English Language tests2 as indicated:
      • TOEFL: 79 of 120 / 4.5 of 6 (Internet-based/Home Edition);
      • IELTS (Academic): 6.5 (Test Centre based/Online);
      • GMAT (Verbal): Band 21 (Verbal);
      • GMAT Focus Edition: Band 78 (Verbal), or
    • obtained a pass grade in English in one of the following examinations:
      • Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination (AS Level);
      • Hong Kong Higher Level Examination;
      • CUHK Matriculation Examination;
      • General Certificate of Education Examination (GCE) Advanced Level (A-Level)/Advanced Subsidiary Level (AS-Level); or
    • achieved Level 4 or above in the English Language subject of the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (HKDSE) Examination; or
    • obtained a recognized professional qualification, provided that the examination was conducted in English.

Note:

  1. This is based on the understanding that English is the medium of instruction of degree programmes offered by universities in Hong Kong. Moreover, graduates from universities in Hong Kong should have fulfilled the English language requirements of the institution concerned when they were admitted to the degree programmes. The CUHK Graduate School may request applicants to provide additional supporting documents to prove their English proficiency.
  2. TOEFL and IELTS are considered valid for two years from the test date. GMAT is considered valid for five years from the test date.

Benefits

Postgraduate Studentships (PGS)

  • Available for most full-time students to cover the tuition and basic living expenses
  • PGS holders must assist in the teaching and research work of the Department.
  • There are two types of PGS:
    • Department funded PGS – student can choose any professor in the Department as supervisor, subject to mutual agreement.
    • Research grants funded PGS – the grant owner would serve as the supervisor.

Application Procedure

Step 1

Create an account at the Online Application System for Postgraduate Programmes. Fill out online application and settle the application fee by credit payment.

Step 2

For full-time research doctoral applicants, they are required to invite at least THREE referees to complete the Confidential Recommendations Report. After successfully submitted the application, applicants can input information of the referees through the Online Application System for Postgraduate Programme. The University will send invitations for confidential recommendations to the referees.
For applicants applying for other postgraduate programmes, the number of referees required is TWO and the same procedures as above apply.

Step 3

Upload scanned copies of the following supporting documents to the CUHK Online Application System by the working deadline. Otherwise, the applications may not be further processed. Please check the details about Documents Required before submission.

Shortcuts: For all applicants | For applicants from Chinese Mainland

For all applicants
  1. Copies of Degree Certificate (for degree holder only)
  2. Copies of certificates of academic/professional qualifications (if available)
  3. Original and complete official transcripts and grading schemes of all tertiary level studies. Any missing study periods should be supported with valid documents
  4. Original official letter or explanation notes of the official grading schemes (成績等級與績點換算關係表) (if not attached to the official transcript)
  5. All documents, including transcript and certifying letters, must be issued by the appropriate offices, i.e. the Registry (教務處), Undergraduate Office (本科生院), Graduate School (研究生院) or Archives Office (檔案館) with their official stamps
  6. Original valid official score report (TOEFL/IELTS-Academic/GMAT-Verbal) sent directly from the test organizationto the University (HKPFS only accepts score report of TOEFL or IELTS) University’s institution code: 0812
  7. Detailed list of awards and scholarships with supporting documents (e.g. award certificates, official website or email announcement, etc.)
  8. A photocopy of Hong Kong Identity card or other identity document
  9. Curriculum vitae – mark the area of interest (from those listed in the link) for consideration by the appropriate panel members
  10. A two-page Statement of Purpose / Research Statements
For applicants from Mainland Chinese universities

Items (a) – (j) listed above, and the following:

  1. Copies of Mainland ID card and Hong Kong and Macao Travel Permit (if applicable)
  2. Applicants studying at Mainland Chinese universities are required to provide the Online Verification Report of China Higher Education Student’s Academic Transcript (中國高等學校學生成績驗證報告) with grading scheme issued and shared by CHSI (學信網): https://www.chsi.com.cn/xlrz/rhsq_index.jsp.
  3. Applicants studying at Mainland Chinese universities are required to provide a valid Chinese & English version of Online Verification Report of Student Record (教育部學藉在線報告) issued by the CHESICC (學信網): https://www.chsi.com.cn/xlcx/bgys.jsp.
  4. Applicants who obtained degrees from universities in Mainland China are required to provide a valid Chinese and English version of Online Verification Report of Higher Education Qualification Certificate (教育部學歷證書電子註冊備案表) and a valid Online Verification Report of Higher Education Degree Certificate (中國高等教育學位在線驗證報告) issued by the CHESICC (學信網) : https://www.chsi.com.cn/xlcx/bgys.jsp.
  5. Applicants who obtained degrees from universities in Mainland China are required to provide copies of official Chinese version of Degree Certificate (學士學位証書) and Academic Credential (畢業証書) with photos.
  6. Applicants from Mainland Joint programmes of Chinese-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools (CFCRS) (中外合作办学) are required to provide detailed information about the programme and a valid proofing document (中外合作辦學境外學歷學位證書認證) generated from the CFCRS platform (中华人民共和国教育部中外合作办学监管工作信息平台): https://www.crs.jsj.edu.cn/.

Step 4

Send the soft copies of the supporting documents listed in point 3 (item a to p) above by email () to the Division of Information Engineering.

Step 5

Concurrently, please mail the official documents marked “original” in point 3 (with official stamp in a sealed envelope) to the following address:

Division of Information Engineering (MPhil-PhD in Information Engineering)
Room 834, 8th Floor, Ho Sin Hang Engineering Building
The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong

*** Please always quote the Application No. in all correspondence. ***

For further enquiries about the programme and admission, please check here.

Overview

Research Areas

Admission and Application

Programme Requirements

Postgraduate Courses

Postgraduate Student Handbook