IS
Information Systems
City University of Hong Kong
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Research degrees PhD & MPhil HKPFS-eligible

Train as an Information Systems researcher.

Top 5 worldwide in IS publications. #1 in Asia. Editorial roles at the discipline's top venues.

A research doctorate at CityU IS pairs you with a supervisor whose published work sits squarely in our five themes — and trains you in the standards a top-five department holds itself to. Many of our graduates go on to faculty positions across Asia and beyond.

Why CityU IS

The thing that's hardest to fake — research altitude.

Worldwide rank
Top 5
faculty publications in leading IS journals
Asia rank
#1
Information Systems research in Asia
Stanford Top 2% · 2025
4 named
Davison · Lau · Lee · Ma — recognised in the 2025 Scopus-based list
Supervision

Matched to your topic, not a queue.

Candidates are matched with a supervisor whose published work sits in one of the department's five research themes. The earlier you can articulate your topic — even a one-paragraph sketch — the better the match.

Browse faculty by area →
Editorial service

Your supervisors help steer the field.

IS scholars at CityU hold editorial roles at premier journals — editors-in-chief, senior editors, associate editors, and editorial-board members across the discipline's top venues. You learn what counts, from people who help decide.

Journal editorship list →
Funding

HKPFS-eligible, with university nomination.

The Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme covers a substantial monthly stipend and conference travel for outstanding research doctoral candidates from anywhere in the world.

For full HKPFS consideration, the university nomination window typically closes in early December for the following year's intake. Dates and exact stipend levels move year to year — confirm the live numbers below.

stipend + travel global eligibility December nomination window
Recommended sequence
  1. 01 Sketch your topic. Even a one-paragraph statement helps a supervisor judge fit.
  2. 02 Find a supervisor. Use the faculty discovery on the homepage; filter by research area; open a scholar's avatar to ask about supervision style and current student load.
  3. 03 First contact. Email your prospective supervisor with the topic sketch + a CV. Many will reply within a week.
  4. 04 Apply via the university channel. The Graduate School's portal handles HKPFS + standard PhD applications. Confirm current dates with isgo@cityu.edu.hk or ask the assistant below.
Ask the PhD avatar

Get a real answer to a real question — about your research direction, supervision, or HKPFS timing.

PhD & MPhil avatar · AI
ready

Ask the PhD avatar.

Try one of these to start, or type your own question below.