Programme Structure and Funding
The project is a full-time Ph.D. programme with a school year 3-6 (usually 4). Only 1 recruits.
Tuition fees and scholarships
Depending on the student ’ s condition and background, the following forms of admission may be available.
| Type of funding | Years of funding | Local students | Non-local students |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full UGC-funded studentship (full funding) | Full journey (usually 4 years) | Monthly allowance of approximately HK$ 19,000; full government exemption for tuition fees; actual net income of approximately HK$ 19,000/month, HK$ 228,000/ year | Monthly allowance approximately HK$19,000;school fees HK$47,000/ per year, to be paid out of the allowance; actual net income after school fees is approximately HK$15,000Month, HK$181,000Year |
| Partial support | 1–2 years, no funding for remaining years | Monthly allowance of approximately HK$ 19,000 for a financial period and exemption for tuition fees; no monthly allowance for a non-contributory period, which is still borne by the Government and is self-supporting | Net income after deducting tuition fees during the funded period is approximately HK$ 15,000/ month; no monthly allowance for unfunded periods. Tuition fees are based on the self-funded rate HK$ 94,000/ year, both subsistence and tuition fees are self-financed |
| Self-funded (self-funded) | Full | Monthly allowance; tuition fees HK$ 94,000/ year, fully self-paid. The local student fee exemption applies only to UGC-funded courses | No monthly allowance; tuition fees HK$ 94,000/ year, fully self-paid |
| HKPFS (Hong Kong Doctoral Fellowship) | Year 4 | Monthly allowance HK$ 28,400; full and separate coverage of tuition fees; annual HK$ 14,200 conference travel; 4 total HK$ 20,000 research funding; first year guaranteed accommodation | The criteria for funding are the same as for local students. |
Note: studentship allowance is the monthly amount of the tax; pre-candity is HK$ 18,930, which rises to HK$ 19,460 upon recognition of eligibility, and is taken as approximately HK$ 19,000. Tuition figures are AY 2026/ 27. HKPFS is highly competitive and requires a separate application through the RGC.
Entry Requirements
- Academic background: A bachelor’s degree (with evidence of research achievement or experience) or a master’s degree in psychology, cognitive neuroscience or a related field. Applicants with an undergraduate degree in computer science, engineering or another discipline may also apply if they have a foundation in psychology or neuroscience.
- Academic performance: Direct-entry PhD applicants with a bachelor’s degree: GPA of at least 3.8; Applicants who hold or are studying for a master’s degree: no fixed GPA requirement; research experience and research ability carry greater weight.
- Language requirements: TOEFL: 79 (before 21 January 2026: at least 18 in reading, listening and speaking, and 19 in writing), or 4.5 (after 21 January 2026: at least 4 in reading and speaking, and 4.5 in listening and writing); or IELTS: 6.5 overall, with no component below 5.5; Applicants who have earned a degree taught in English in an English-speaking country may apply for an exemption; TOEFL iBT Home Edition, TOEFL MyBest Score, IELTS Indicator, IELTS One Skill Retake and IELTS Online are not accepted.
- References: Two recommendation letters.
- Preferred skills: Applicants familiar with programming tools such as MATLAB and Python are preferred.
Application Materials
- Hong Kong identity card or other identification document or photocopy of a passport;
- Diploma/leaving diploma and report card;
- English report card;
- Other relevant test results (if applicable: GMAT, GRE);
- A letter of recommendation 2;
- Papers published (if any).
Application Period
Autumn admission. Applications are open on 9 1, the first round 12 1 (same scholarships) and the closing date for 4 15.
Application Process
Up to the end of the month of 10 applicants will submit their English curriculum vitae and related materials, and we will conduct a preliminary assessment 11 that will invite potential mentors to interview 12 prior to the end of the month and that will require the official submission of the application 12 through the network of officials to be interviewed by the College Admission Board for the following year
Time nodes
1 take-up notice for the following month 2–3
First round: 2025 9 1 12 1; first round: 2026 4 15
Tuition and Living Costs
Living costs
The RMB 10,000/ month and other living expenses 7,000–8,000/ month; the sum of the RMB 200,000/ month or more, depending on individual circumstances.
Career Prospects
Ph.D. in Psychology and Neurology, Hong Kong Baptist University, is highly competitive in the job market. Some of the results show that Hong Kong’s overall psychology doctorate graduates are highly visible in employment, and some of them show that their professional employment rate is 100, and is recognized for their solid research capacity and interdisciplinary perspective in an internationalized environment.
In the area of psychology and related social sciences, salary levels have risen steadily in Hong Kong in recent years, with some postgraduate subjects receiving an average annual salary of about HK$ 300,000, while in the field of neuroscience the average salary level is about HK$ 676,000. In terms of career choices, doctoral graduates mainly go to the following areas:
- Academia and higher education institutions: More than 40% of doctoral graduates opt for higher education or scientific institutions.
This includes post-doctoral research at local and Mainland colleges in Hong Kong, which eventually competes for a career sequence; or research scientists at platforms such as the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park, the National Focus Laboratory, which focuses on front-line research on topics such as brain awareness and mental health. - Clinical and medical services: Graduates can serve as clinical/educational psychologists in hospitals under the Hong Kong Hospital Authority, large non-governmental organizations or private psychiatric clinics, mainly in the areas of psychiatry, special education and community mental health.
In addition, some graduates enter the health sector for cognitive assessment, psychological intervention, etc. - Corporate psychology and business applications: With a deep understanding of decision-making behaviour, consumption motivations and team-building mechanisms, the prospects of doctoral graduates in the business sector are equally high.
This includes serving as a user experience researcher (UX) in transnational science and technology companies and Internet enterprises, as a user behavioral data analyst, as well as as as a human resources strategy adviser in financial markets, as well as as a data analysis scientist and an independent organizational psychology consultant. - Business and organizational psychology: the assessment tools developed by the Ph.D. in psychology have been able to develop and analyse data to enable them to be in a position at the forefront of job evaluation in business institutions, organizational efficiency improvement, human interactivity design and product strategy optimization.
