| name | rgc-policy |
| description | Hong Kong RGC 2026/27 policy quick reference for GRF and CRF proposals. Covers eligibility, funding limits, proposal structure, evaluation criteria, and key policy updates. |
| version | 0.1.0 |
RGC 2026/27 Policy Quick Reference (GRF & CRF)
Always refer to the official RGC website (https://www.ugc.edu.hk/eng/rgc/) for the most current guidelines.
Overview of RGC Funding Schemes
The Research Grants Council (RGC) of Hong Kong administers several competitive funding schemes. The two most common are:
General Research Fund (GRF)
- Purpose: Supports investigator-initiated research across all disciplines
- Eligibility: Full-time academic staff at UGC-funded institutions (or equivalent)
- Duration: Typically 24–36 months
- Funding: Generally HK$500,000–HK$1,500,000 (varies by discipline)
- PI limit: No strict age limit; must hold an eligible appointment
- Application cycle: Annual, typically due around December–January
Collaborative Research Fund (CRF)
- Purpose: Supports collaborative and cross-institutional research
- Types:
- Group Research: Multi-PI, cross-institutional projects
- Equipment Grant: Major research equipment shared across institutions
- Duration: Typically 36–60 months
- Funding: Generally HK$2,000,000–HK$10,000,000+ depending on scope
- Requirement: Must involve investigators from at least two UGC-funded institutions
- Application cycle: Annual, typically due around February–March
Other RGC Schemes (for reference)
| Scheme | Target |
|---|
| Early Career Scheme (ECS) | Junior faculty within first 3 years of appointment |
| Theme-based Research Scheme (TRS) | Large-scale strategic research, HK$30M–50M |
| Research Impact Fund (RIF) | Translational research with societal impact |
| Humanities & Social Sciences Prestigious Fellowship | Distinguished HSS scholars |
| Research Fellow Scheme (RFS) / Senior Research Fellow Scheme (SRFS) | Outstanding mid-career / senior researchers |
| Postdoctoral Fellowship Scheme (PDFS) | Postdoctoral researchers |
GRF Proposal Structure
A standard GRF proposal includes:
- Cover Page — Project title, PI details, institution, budget summary
- Research Plan (max 15 pages, including references)
- Objectives
- Background / Literature Review
- Research Methodology and Plan
- Significance and Value
- Timetable / Milestones
- References (included within the 15-page limit)
- PI's CV and Track Record — Publications, grants, supervision record
- Budget and Justification — Personnel, equipment, travel, consumables
- Ethical Review — If applicable (human subjects, animal experiments)
Important Formatting Rules
- Page limit: 15 pages for the research plan (including references)
- Font: Typically Times New Roman, 12pt, single-spaced (check current guidelines)
- Margins: Standard (usually 2.5cm or 1 inch)
- Figures and tables count toward page limits
CRF Proposal Structure
CRF proposals generally follow a similar structure but with additional requirements:
- Cover Page — Project title, PI and Co-PIs from multiple institutions
- Research Plan (max 20 pages for Group Research, including references)
- Objectives and Rationale
- Literature Review
- Research Design and Methodology
- Role of Each Participating Institution / Investigator
- Significance and Expected Impact
- Timetable / Milestones
- Collaboration Justification — Why cross-institutional collaboration is essential
- CVs of All PIs and Co-PIs
- Budget and Justification — Itemized by institution
- Letters of Support (if applicable)
Evaluation Criteria
GRF Review Criteria
Proposals are assessed by expert reviewers and panel members on:
| Criterion | Weight (approx.) |
|---|
| Academic merit and scientific significance | High |
| Novelty and originality | High |
| Clarity and feasibility of research plan | High |
| Competence of PI (track record, publications) | Medium-High |
| Appropriateness of budget and timeline | Medium |
| Broader impact / significance to field | Medium |
CRF Additional Criteria
- Quality and necessity of inter-institutional collaboration
- Complementary expertise of the research team
- Shared infrastructure or equipment utilization
- Potential for building research capacity in Hong Kong
Common Reasons for Rejection
- Lack of novelty or incremental contribution
- Poorly defined research questions
- Methodology not sufficiently detailed or justified
- Weak track record relative to proposed scope
- Budget not well justified
- Poor writing quality / unclear presentation
- Missing or inadequate literature review
- Overambitious scope for the funding period
Key Policy Points
Eligibility
- PI must hold a full-time academic position at a UGC-funded institution
- For GRF: PI can submit multiple proposals but typically only one is funded per round
- For CRF: Must involve PIs from at least 2 UGC-funded institutions
- For ECS: PI must be within first 3 years of first full-time academic appointment
Concurrent Funding
- Applicants may hold multiple RGC grants simultaneously
- Must declare all existing and pending grants in the application
- Overlap in scope with existing projects must be clearly addressed
Research Integrity & AI Usage
- All proposals must adhere to RGC's guidelines on research integrity
- AI tools may be used to assist with literature review, editing, and formatting
- AI-generated content must be clearly disclosed
- PI bears full responsibility for the accuracy and originality of all content
- Fabrication, falsification, and plagiarism are strictly prohibited
Budget Guidelines
- GRF: Personnel (RA/postdoc), equipment, consumables, travel; no PI salary
- CRF: Similar categories, budget split across institutions
- Equipment requests should be well justified with quotes
- Travel must be directly related to the research project
Review Process
- Administrative Check — RGC Secretariat checks completeness and eligibility
- External Review — Sent to 2–4 external reviewers (international experts)
- Panel Review — Discipline-specific panels discuss and rank proposals
- RGC Approval — Final funding decisions
Timeline (approximate)
| Stage | Typical Timing |
|---|
| Call for proposals | September–October |
| Submission deadline | December–January (GRF), February–March (CRF) |
| External review | February–May |
| Panel meetings | May–June |
| Results announced | June–July |
| Project start | January of following year |
UGC-Funded Institutions
The eight UGC-funded institutions eligible for RGC funding:
- City University of Hong Kong (CityU)
- Hong Kong Baptist University (HKBU)
- Lingnan University (LU)
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)
- The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK)
- The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU)
- The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST)
- The University of Hong Kong (HKU)
Additionally, the Hong Kong Academy of Sciences (HKAFS) and HKUST(GZ) may have specific eligibility under certain schemes.
Useful Links
