Introduction

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) have launched the HKU-BICI Entrepreneurship Joint Educational Placement Programme for PhD in 2023/24 to nurture future talents in pursuing forward looking research and transferring fundamental technological achievements into real productive forces.  

Apart from the traditional PhD training, students admitted under this programme will be engaged in practical entrepreneurship training on real-world projects to equip students in developing their global perspective, entrepreneurial spirit, creative thinking, research commercialisation, and professional knowledge and expertise.  

The programme is open for application all year round.

Distinctive Features

Students admitted to this full-time programme will receive:

• Joint supervision from HKU and BICI
• Practical entrepreneurship training
• Financial support throughout the four years of study
• Full access to the academic and research facilities in HKU and BICI

Key Research Areas

• Optoelectronics
• Materials
• Environment Engineering
• Biomedical Engineering
• Intelligent Manufacturing

Admission Requirements

Applicants shall meet the minimum admission requirements of both HKU and BICI. Prospective students will be assessed through a joint selection process and shall be recruited jointly by HKU and BICI. Please click here for admission requirements of HKU; and here for admission requirements of BICI.
 

Duration

The normal duration of the joint educational placement for PhD programme is 4 years. Students are required to register as a full-time 4-year PhD student at HKU and to meet the HKU’s minimum residency requirement.   Admitted students are expected to spend 2 years at HKU (1^st-18^th months and 43^rd-48^th months), and 2 years at BICI (19^th-42^nd months).

Mode of Study

Students in the programme will follow the Regulations and Procedures of the PhD programme at HKU including coursework requirement, progress monitoring, etc, and take innovation and entrepreneurship courses and carry out practical project-based training at BICI’s research centres in Beijing or Guangzhou together with peers across universities and disciplines.  The actual arrangements will be subject to prior consent between the supervisors of HKU and BICI.

The below diagram outlines the programme’s unique dual-track training model. Click here to learn more about BICI’s innovation and entrepreneurship course.

Award of Degree

Students who meet the degree requirements of HKU will be conferred a single Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree by HKU, and be awarded a certificate by BICI in fulfilling its relevant requirements. The joint education nature of the award will be indicated on the HKU transcripts and BICI certificates issued to the students. 
 

Tuition Fee 

Students are required to pay the composition and other fees as required by HKU during the entire programme.  Please click here for further information. 
 

Financial Support

Admitted students will receive scholarships for up to four years provided by BICI. During the student’s study period in HKU in Hong Kong, students will receive scholarships in accordance with the standard HKU Postgraduate Scholarship (PGS) rate (HK$18,390 per month for 2023/24). During the residency at BICI or BICI’s designated project locations, the scholarships will be granted by BICI in accordance with its regulation and policies (up to RMB 20,000 per month).
 

Application

Applications are accepted all year round and considered in batches.

Interested applicants should contact the proposed supervisor at HKU and obtain his/her consent in advance before submitting an online application.  A list of potential co-supervisors from BICI can be found on its website.  In the online application form, please specify that you would like to be considered for the “HKU-BICI Entrepreneurship Joint Educational Placement Programme for PhD” under ”Section 1: Programme Apply For”.

Applicants should also complete (i) an additional Application Form in simplified Chinese, (ii) a Study Plan in consultation with their intended supervisors and (iii) a Chinese CV. If some of the required supporting documents are not available at the time of submission, please upload the documents to the Online Application System once the document is available. The reviewer(s) will consider your application based on the documents submitted and it is your responsibility to provide sufficient information.

Competition is keen, only a small number of high-calibre students will be accepted in each academic year.  Please refer to the suggested timeline below and submit your application as early as possible. Applications will only be considered if there are vacancies left in the later rounds.

Enquiries

HKU Collaborative Innovation Center (HKUCIC)
Ms. Celia Ying: cyying@hku.hk

Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) 
Ms. Claire He: icollege@jingjinji.cn
 

Download areas

• Chinese Application Form
• Study Plan

FAQs

• FAQs for applicants
• FAQs for supervisors

About BICI

Beijing Institute of Collaborative Innovation (BICI) is an international, non-governmental, non-profit innovation platform established in 2014. With offices in Beijing, Silicon Valley, London, and Hong Kong, BICI is committed to building a global collaborative innovation system, transferring university fundamental scientific and technological achievements into real productive forces, and serving the sustainable development of mankind. For more information, please visit BICI’s website.