The Faculty of Law of The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK LAW) is one of the world’s leading law schools. It was ranked the ‘Most International Law School Worldwide’ in the 2018 Times Higher Education World University Ranking: Law. The Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) conducted by the University Grants Council in 2014 recognized CUHK LAW as Hong Kong’s best law faculty in terms of research. In the 2020 RAE, CUHK LAW again leads the law domain with 83% of its research activities being rated as 4 star (‘world leading’) and 3 star (‘internationally excellent’).
CUHK LAW is inviting applications for admission to its prestigious PhD in Laws programme. Admitted students will receive generous funding for the normative study period of the PhD (3-4 years) through one of the following admissions tracks: (1) Hong Kong PhD Fellowship (HKPFS) or (2) the CUHK Postgraduate Studentship.
If admitted through the HKPFS you will receive a monthly stipend of HK$28,400 and full tuition fee waiver. Additional support, in the form of generous annual conference and research-related travel allowance of HK$14,200 for up to three years and lodging allowance (HK$40,000 for lodging in the first year of study and HK$20,000 thereafter) is also provided. CUHK also guarantees on-campus accommodation to those admitted via HKPFS and who timely apply for halls. On-campus hostel fee will be waived in the first year.
If admitted through the CUHK Postgraduate Studentship, awardees will receive a monthly stipend of HK$19,100 for the normative study period of the PhD and, for local students, full tuition waiver. Funding for conferences is also available. PhD applicants who are nominated to the Research Grants Council by CUHK but not selected for HKPFS will be offered an additional award of HK$80,000 over their PhD study, subject to satisfactory study progress.
Prospective applicants are encouraged to apply. To be eligible for either funding mechanism, in addition to demonstrating English proficiency, students must possess a Juris Doctor (JD) degree, or a Master of Laws (LLM) degree, or an equivalent degree (including non-law related), with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above, awarded by a recognized university.
CUHK LAW is able to accommodate a wide range of research proposals. Details on CUHK LAW professors and their diverse research interests can be found here: https://www.law.cuhk.edu.hk/app/people/
You can also view the profile of our current PhD students here: https://www.law.cuhk.edu.hk/app/research-students/
Details of the admission requirements and application procedures can be found here: https://www.law.cuhk.edu.hk/app/study-with-us/doctor-of-philosophy-in-laws-phd
To apply for admission starting in the 2026-27 academic year,
HKPFS applicants:
CUHK Postgraduate Studentship applicants:
- Main round: 1 December 2025 (You are strongly encouraged to apply by this deadline. Most, if not all, research students are selected from the main round.)
- Clearing round: 31 March 2026 (Applications in clearing round will only be considered subject to availability of places.)
For enquiries on these admissions tracks, please contact rpg.law@link.cuhk.edu.hk.
