PolyU offers different scholarship schemes including fellowships to eligible FT RPg students on the basis of academic merit. These fellowships and scholarships aim to allow the FT RPg students to fully focus on their studies. Since the awardees are FT RPg students instead of employees of PolyU, the fellowships and scholarships will not be subject to taxation.

The DoRPgS will determine a period for which RPg students to receive a monthly stipend. Normally, the period for Scholarship will not exceed the normal period of study.

RPg students who cannot complete their studies by the end of the period during which the Scholarship is provided, the DoRPgS may extend the Scholarship under justified exceptional circumstances, e.g., when the delay in the completion of study is due to factors beyond the control of RPg students and/or the Chief Supervisor or when new developments in the research will help improve the quality/outcome of the research study, the student concerned may apply for an extension of the Scholarship for a period beyond his/her normal period of study. The student concerned and/or his/her Chief Supervisor should provide sound justification and a detailed study plan for consideration and approval. The DoRPgS, in consultation with D/SRC can approve an (aggregate) extension of Scholarship for up to 12 months for RPg students, regardless of the source of funding support, whereas FRC/SB can approve an extension of longer than 12 months.

Below are the general terms and conditions* for the scholarship holders:

1. The scholarship package, which can be inclusive of a monthly stipend, a cash award or a tuition fee waiver (if applicable), shall initially be fixed at a rate applicable to the year of admission, and will be subject to review and adjustment. The taking up of the Scholarship implies acceptance by the awardee of any adjustments to the scholarship package approved by PolyU during the scholarship period.
2. The scholarship package will normally be awarded on an academic year basis.
3. The scholarship package can be terminated at any time if the awardee’s registration as an MPhil/PhD student is terminated either by PolyU or by the scholarship holders. The provision of the scholarship package is not guaranteed and is also subject to the scholarship holders having satisfactory performance and conduct as well as availability of funding.
4. Scholarship holders are expected to devote full-time effort to their studies on campus. They are not permitted to take up any employment with PolyU or with any other employers, or engage in any other activities that make them unable to devote full-time effort to their studies unless special approval is granted, upon the recommendation of the Chief Supervisor, by the GSB via the relevant DoRPgS, D/SRC and FRC/SB. Applications should be made using Form GSB/61. Should the scholarship holders be found to be undertaking/have undertaken an employment without prior approval of PolyU, their scholarship package will be suspended immediately.
5. Scholarship holders will receive certain training as assigned by the HoD/DoS in consultation with the Supervisor(s) in their Department/School for not less than 100 hours per year for teaching and professional service.
6. PolyU reserves the right to revise the scholarship package and the above conditions.
7. The scholarship package will be paid to RPg students until the end of their normal period of study or until the date of approval for an award by the GSB within the normal period of study, whichever is the earlier.
8. If an RPg student starts his/her studies at the commencement of a semester/term, he/she will be eligible for receiving the monthly stipend from the date he/she commences his/her studies. If an RPg student starts his/her studies on any day after the commencement of a semester/term, he/she will start to receive the monthly stipend from the first day of the next month.

* The terms and conditions may be changed from time to time by PolyU. In the event that changes are made, the updated terms and conditions shall prevail.