HKU Foundation Publication Award for Research Postgraduate Students 2025

To: All PhD and MPhil Students 

Awards for Research Postgraduate Students

I am pleased to invite applications from research postgraduate (RPg) students for the following awards funded by the HKU Foundation: 

HKU Foundation Publication Award for Research Postgraduate Students 2025 

2. The HKU Foundation Publication Award gives due recognition to RPg students who have published a journal article of exceptional quality.  Up to twenty awards, in the form of a cash prize of HK$5,000, can be made each year to RPg students who have published a journal article of exceptional quality in a research area related to the thesis study.

3. For the 2025 awards, the nominated journal articles must have been published during the preceding calendar year, i.e. between January 1 and December 31, 2024; and the by-line must show clearly that the candidate’s affiliation is HKU.  For journal articles bearing multiple publication dates, the date on which it is firstly published or made publicly available, either online or in print, should be counted.  Applicants must be a current PhD or MPhil student and have completed at least one year of study on February 28, 2025.

HKU Foundation First Year Excellent PhD Award 2024/25

4. The HKU Foundation First Year Excellent PhD Award was established in 2023 to give due recognition to PhD students who have excellent performance during the probationary period.  The excellent academic performance can be demonstrated by publications or other forms of research outputs, prizes/awards, patents, or other notable form of demonstration of accomplishments.  The Award shall be in the form of a certificate and a cash prize of HK$5,000.  Up to fifteen awards may be made each year. 

5. All PhD students whose probationary period has been confirmed in 2024 can apply for the 2024/25 awards.  Applicants should submit a completed application form, a two-page CV, and supporting documents to the faculty office/independent institute.

6. RPg students who are interested to apply for the Awards should submit applications to the Faculty Office by February 28, 2025.  The terms of reference of the Awards and application forms are posted on the Graduate School homepage

7.  For queries, please contact the Graduate School at gradsch@hku.hk.  I look forward to receiving your applications. 


Professor Max Shen
Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research) and
Dean, Graduate School

c.c.   Supervisors of RPg students