Summer Research Programme 2025

The Summer Research Programme 2025 will be open for applications on January 2, 2025 (10am Hong Kong Time GMT+8).

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) Summer Research Programme (“the Programme”) 2025 is a 10-week intense research training programme with networking and extra-curricular activities for elite students around the world who are interested in pursuing research postgraduate studies at HKU.

Benefits for Participants

One-to-one mentorship with an eminent professor
Successful applicants will be supervised by an eminent professor in HKU to plan and carry out a research project. The Programme office will help participants match with mentors based on participants’ given priorities and research interest.

Scholarship for participants
A scholarship of HK$10,0001 will be awarded to each participant upon successful completion of the Programme.  

Financial support 
Financial support of airfare up to HK$5,0001, and university accommodation up to HK$5,0001 will be provided on a reimbursement basis.
(Students residing or currently studying in Hong Kong are only eligible to receive financial support for university accommodation.)

Prizes and awards for top performers
Prizes and awards will be available for top performers in the Programme.  

Possible conditional offer for an HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship 
A small number of participants with outstanding performance and excellent academic records may be awarded a conditional offer of the HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship to pursue PhD studies at HKU upon completion of the current studies.  The HKU Presidential PhD Scholarship is the most prestigious entrance scholarship to attract top students from around the world to pursue full-time PhD studies at HKU. The scholarship package includes up to HK$433,300 (US$55,560) in the first year, and up to HK$413,300 (US$52,990) in each of the subsequent years during the normative study period.  

1 The amount may be adjusted pending approval of budget.
 

Selection of Participants

Target participants
Outstanding undergraduate students in year 3 and year 4 with CGPA 3.6 or above (or equivalent)
Outstanding students in Master’s degree programme with a Bachelor’s degree in 1st Class Honours (or equivalent)

Selection criteria
- Outstanding academic performance
- Strong interest in research postgraduate studies
- Previous research experience
- Interest in interdisciplinary studies
- High English proficiency
- Mature and independent

Proposed Faculty, Department, Field of Study, and Mentor(s)

Each participant of the Summer Research Programme will be affiliated to an academic unit and mentored by a professoriate staff. 

You have to indicate your proposed faculty/interdisciplinary area, department and field of study in the application based on your research interest. The list of faculties, schools/departments and interdisciplinary research areas can be found at: https://gradsch.hku.hk/prospective_students/research_areas.

You are strongly encouraged to propose one or more than one professoriate staff (mentors) you would like to work with in your application. Some of our distinguished professors have already expressed strong interest in meeting and working with outstanding students in this Programme. You may find the lists of potential mentors HERE.  In the case that the potential mentors or research areas/topics on the lists do not match with your area(s) of interest, you may search for other potential mentor(s) from the faculty/departmental homepages and the HKU Scholars Hub and submit your application for the Programme.

You are also encouraged to contact the proposed mentor(s) before submitting an application.

Online Application

The online application system will be open from January 2, 2025 (10am Hong Kong Time GMT+8) to February 3, 2025 (5pm Hong Kong Time GMT+8).  The application fee (non-refundable) is HK$300.  

Required information/documents for the online application:
- Personal and academic information
- Proposed faculty, department, field of study and mentor(s)
- Personal statement (300-500 words) describing: your reason(s) for applying to the HKU Summer Research Programme; what do you hope to gain from this experience; your short and long-term career goals; and the HKU Programme(s) that interest you.
- Research interest (100-200 words): Visit the homepage of your proposed faculty/department/unit and describe the research topic(s) that interest you, and the area(s) that you would like to focus on if you are admitted to the HKU Summer Research Programme 2025.
- Supporting documents
  o    passport size photo
  o    your CV highlighting your academic achievement, research experience, and professional credentials 
  o    final/latest transcript and certificate of your Bachelor’s programme 
  o    final/latest transcript and certificate of your Master’s programme (if any) 
  o    result of your English language proficiency test (for applicants from institutions outside Hong Kong where the language of instruction and examination is not entirely in English)

Timeline
Timeline Work

January 2, 2025 (10am HKT) –

February 3, 2025 (5pm HKT)

 Application period
February – mid-March 2025 Selection
Mid-March 2025 Announcement of results
Mid-March – mid-April, 2025 Visa application for non-local students (8-10 weeks)
June 2 – August 8, 2025

Summer Research Programme at HKU


Note:  Week 1 and Week 2 of the Programme (i.e. June 2 – 15, 2025) can be conducted via online.  All participants are required to attend the Programme in person at HKU starting from Week 3 until the end of the Programme (i.e. June 16 – August 8, 2025).  For participants who cannot come to Hong Kong on or before June 16, 2025 due to final examination, joining the Programme via online until completion of examination is subject to prior approval of the Graduate School.  
Programme Highlights

- Individual research work with guidance of the mentor
- Project presentations 
- Research skills lectures and seminars 
- Teambuilding workshops
- Programme opening and completion ceremonies 
- Networking and extra-curricular activities 

Detailed programme will be available in due course.  

FAQ

Q1.    Can I apply for Summer Research Programme if I am just a Year 2 undergraduate student?
If you are an outstanding student with excellent academic achievement, or you have ample research experience, you are encouraged to submit an application though senior years’ undergraduate students might have a slightly higher priority to be selected.

Q2.    I haven’t taken the English Language proficiency test, am I eligible to apply for the Summer Research Programme?
You can still apply for the Summer Research Programme if you have not yet taken the English Language proficiency test, although that would be one of the considerations when selecting candidates for the Programme.  

Q3.    My official transcript will not be ready before the application deadline.  What should I do?
Please upload the latest transcript available in the Summer Research Programme Online Application System.  

Q4.    How much is the application fee and how should I pay for it?
The application fee is HK$300. You can settle the application fee online by different payment methods including Credit Cards (Visa, Master, UnionPay and JCB), WeChat Pay (HK & China Wallets for PC web-browser only), Alipay (HK & China Wallets) and Faster Payment System (FPS) through the Summer Research Programme Online Application System. The application fee is non-refundable.  Payment made via other means (e.g. cash) will not be accepted.

To proceed to payment of application fee and submission of application, you have to click ‘Pay Application Fee and Submit’ in the application form. After the application fee payment is authorised, an application number will be assigned to the application. You will also receive an acknowledgement email from the system on the next day after submission.     

Q5.    Can I submit the latest information after submission of application?
Applicants are strongly advised to submit all documents via the Summer Research Programme Online Application System because Faculties and Departments will start considering the application right after the application deadline.  

Q6.    Will there be selection interviews for the Programme?
Selection interviews, if any, will be arranged by the host Faculty/Department.  You will be contacted by the proposed faculty via your registered email address should there be any interviews be held during January/February 2025.

Q7.    Are University accommodations guaranteed if I am admitted to the Programme?
All participants can book for university accommodation at a discounted rate. However, the accommodation period is fixed and participants cannot choose the hall.  The booking information will be sent to participants in due course.  

Visa Application for Non-Local Students

All students without the right of abode/right to land in Hong Kong must apply for a student visa for the purpose of education from the Hong Kong Immigration Department.  Admitted students should submit the visa application, if needed, immediately after you are admitted to the Programme.  Click here for details about student visa application. For inquiries, please visit this page.

Acknowledgement

The Summer Research Programme 2025 is funded by the University of Hong Kong Foundation for Educational Development and Research.