The Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) is recruiting 90 academics through its “90 Scholars for 90th Anniversary” scheme, part of its Global Search for Excellence. The PolyU 90 Scholars global hiring scheme is open to established professors and to rising young researchers, at every rank from Assistant Professor to Chair Professor. Start-up grants are HKD 3 million or more for Assistant and Associate Professors and HKD 5 million or more for Professors, Chair Professors and Presidential Young Scholars. The THE Unijobs listing runs to 31 December 2027.
You apply online through PolyU’s Global Search page, choosing the department or school that fits your expertise, and you need a separate application for each unit. Below I explain the priority fields, the ranks and money on offer, the employment terms PolyU publishes, how to apply, how to write a strong research and teaching case, and which similar jobs in Hong Kong and the region are open now.
PolyU 90 Scholars global hiring scheme: key facts
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme | Global Search for Excellence: “90 Scholars for 90th Anniversary” |
| Run under | PolyU’s Strategic Hiring Scheme (SHS), with the Presidential Young Scholar Scheme (PYSS) for early-career stars |
| Number of posts | 90 academics in total |
| Ranks | Assistant Professor, Associate Professor, Professor, Chair Professor |
| Location | PolyU main campus, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong |
| Contract | Listed as permanent, full time (see the terms section: junior ranks usually start on fixed contracts) |
| Start-up grant, Assistant or Associate Professor (SHS) | HKD 3 million or more over the first five years |
| Start-up grant, Professor or Chair Professor (SHS) and PYSS | HKD 5 million or more over the first five years |
| PYSS salary | Annual package of not less than HKD 1 million |
| Other salaries | Not published |
| Visa sponsorship | Not mentioned in the advert |
| Posted on THE Unijobs | 10 March 2026 |
| Deadline | 31 December 2027 (end date of the THE listing; PolyU’s own pages give no closing date) |
| Enquiries | career@polyu.edu.hk |
Why PolyU is hiring 90 scholars
PolyU traces its history to the Government Trade School, opened in Wan Chai in 1937. It became Hong Kong Polytechnic in 1972 and a full university on 25 November 1994. The year 2027 is therefore its 90th anniversary, and the scheme takes its name from that date. PolyU’s own pages describe the aim as recruiting distinguished academics and rising young leaders to strengthen interdisciplinary research and education.
The university is large. Wikipedia, drawing on PolyU data, puts enrolment at about 33,900 students, and the president since July 2019 has been Professor Teng Jin-guang. PolyU says it ranks 50th in the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 52nd in the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities 2026 to 2027.
Priority fields
PolyU names nine priority areas. Applicants outside them are also welcome if their work is of strategic importance to the university.
- Artificial intelligence and related areas
- Robotics and embedded intelligence
- Microelectronics
- Aerospace technology
- Advanced manufacturing
- Life sciences
- Materials science
- New energy
- Architecture and urban sustainability
The participating units are spread across seven faculties (Business; Computer and Mathematical Sciences; Construction and Environment; Engineering; Health and Social Sciences; Humanities; Science) and three schools (Design; Fashion and Textiles; Hotel and Tourism Management). The application page lists 32 departments, schools and divisions, from Applied Mathematics to the School of Optometry and a Division of Artificial Intelligence and the Humanities.
Ranks and requirements
The 90 Scholars advert itself sets no formal qualifications beyond the priority fields. The rank you apply for shapes what the panel expects, and PolyU’s Presidential Young Scholar page gives the clearest guide:
- Assistant Professor (PYSS): PhD or postdoctoral research in a world-leading research group, and significant, world-leading research published as a main author.
- Associate Professor (PYSS): documented scholarly and professional achievements, an international reputation, and contributions to professional or public service.
- Professor and Chair Professor (SHS): PolyU does not publish separate criteria on these pages. In practice the panel will look for an established international record, research funding and leadership.
Each department advertises its own openings on PolyU’s jobs portal, and those adverts may add subject-specific criteria. Read the advert for your chosen unit before applying.
Salary, start-up grant and employment terms
PolyU does not publish a salary scale for the 90 Scholars posts. The only stated figure is for Presidential Young Scholars: an annual package of at least HKD 1 million. Treat everything else as negotiable and confirm it in your offer letter.
The start-up grants are generous for the region. They are paid over the first five years and can cover items such as two PhD students, equipment and research staff.
PolyU’s general terms for academic appointments (dated January 2025) are context for what the package may look like. They are not an offer for any specific post:
| Term | What PolyU’s general terms say |
|---|---|
| Assistant Professor contract | Initial 3-year contract with gratuity, renewable for another 3 years; regular (continuing) terms usually come with promotion to Associate Professor |
| Associate Professor | Either a contract of normally 3 years or regular terms |
| Professor and Chair Professor | Normally regular terms |
| Gratuity and retirement | Contract staff: end-of-contract gratuity plus University MPF contributions totalling 15% of basic salary. Regular staff: you pay 5%, PolyU pays 15% |
| Housing | Cash housing allowance if no University housing is provided; new arrivals may get a year in University House or nearby serviced housing |
| Medical and dental | Cover for staff, eligible spouses and dependent children |
| Annual leave | 22 working days, rising to 26 after 10 years |
| Relocation | Passage and relocation subsidy for appointees moving from outside Hong Kong |
| Salaries tax | Capped at the standard rate, currently 15% of net income |
The THE listing calls these posts permanent. Under the general terms, a new Assistant Professor would normally start on a fixed contract and reach continuing terms on promotion. Ask the department which applies to you.
Cost of living in Hong Kong
Housing is the biggest cost in Hong Kong, and rents near Hung Hom and across Kowloon are high by international standards. The housing allowance and the temporary University House stay matter far more than a small difference in salary. Ask HRO for the allowance figure for your rank before you compare offers.
Visa sponsorship
The advert does not mention visas. Non-residents need permission to work in Hong Kong, and universities normally support an employment visa application for staff they appoint. Confirm this with PolyU’s Human Resources Office when you receive an offer, and check processing times if you have a fixed start date in mind.
How to apply for the PolyU 90 Scholars scheme
- Choose your unit: open the Global Search “Job Openings and Application” page and find the department, school or division that matches your research.
- Read that unit’s advert: each unit links to its own posting on PolyU’s external jobs portal (jobs.polyu.edu.hk). Check the documents it asks for.
- Prepare your documents: PolyU’s Global Search pages don’t list a fixed set. Expect to need a full CV with publications, a research plan, a teaching statement and referee details. Follow the unit’s advert where it differs.
- Submit one application per unit: if your work fits two departments, apply to each separately.
- Say which scheme you are aiming for: if you are an early-career researcher hoping for PYSS, make your case for it in your cover letter.
- Keep the HRO contacts: general enquiries go to career@polyu.edu.hk. PolyU warns of scam emails and calls and says it never asks for payment during recruitment. Verify any doubtful message on +852 2766 5333 or hremail@polyu.edu.hk.
How to write a strong application
A strategic hiring panel is choosing people who will change a department, so your documents should show where your work is going as well as what you have done.
- Cover letter: name the unit, the rank and the scheme. Link your work to one of PolyU’s priority fields in the first paragraph.
- Research statement: past results in a page, then a five-year plan built around the start-up grant. Say what the two PhD students and the equipment would do.
- Collaboration: name at least two PolyU groups or centres you would work with. Interdisciplinary fit is a stated goal of the scheme.
- Teaching statement: the courses you could teach in that department, your methods and any evidence of results.
- Impact: PolyU presents itself as applied and industry facing, so include patents, industry projects or policy use where you have them.
A sample opening line, for illustration only: “I am applying for an Assistant Professorship in the Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering under the Presidential Young Scholar Scheme; my work on low-power AI chips fits PolyU’s microelectronics priority directly.” Adjust the department, scheme and topic to your own case.
What the selection process looks like
PolyU does not publish a timetable. Because the listing stays open to the end of 2027, departments are likely to review applications in rounds. In Hong Kong, faculty hiring commonly involves a departmental shortlist, an online or campus interview with a research seminar and often a teaching demonstration, then references and approval by a university-level committee. Senior and PYSS appointments may need extra approval. Ask the department about its review dates when you apply.
Common mistakes
- Applying to the scheme without picking a unit: every application goes to a specific department or school.
- Sending one generic letter to several units: each application is read by a different department.
- Ignoring the priority fields: you can apply from other areas, but you must explain why your work is strategic for PolyU.
- A vague research plan: panels want to see how you will spend HKD 3 million or 5 million.
- Falling for scams: PolyU never asks for fees. Anyone asking for payment is not PolyU.
Who should apply and who shouldn’t
You should apply if you have a strong publication record in one of the nine priority fields, or an excellent record in another field that fits a PolyU department, and you want a well-funded start in Asia. Strong postdoctoral researchers with lead-author papers from top groups are exactly who PYSS targets, and established professors will find the HKD 5 million start-up attractive.
You probably shouldn’t apply if you have no doctorate, few lead-author publications, or no clear research programme yet. A postdoctoral fellowship or a funded PhD is the better step. For funded PhD study in Hong Kong, the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme is the usual route, and our scholarships for African students guide lists other options.
Similar faculty jobs open now
| Role | Institution | Location | Salary | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Professor / Associate / Assistant Professor in Intelligent Railway Engineering | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | Hong Kong | Not stated | 21 March 2027 |
| Tenure-track Professor in Epidemiology (all ranks) | University of Hong Kong | Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong | Competitive | 28 April 2027 |
| Full / Associate / Assistant Professor in Artificial Intelligence | University of Macau | Macau | MOP 855,400 to 1,250,200 a year (taxable) | 22 December 2026 |
| Open rank faculty in Computer Science | MBZUAI | Abu Dhabi, UAE | Competitive | 30 June 2027 |
If you work in railway engineering, apply to both PolyU routes. The Macau post is the only one here with a published salary.
FAQs about the PolyU 90 Scholars global hiring scheme
What is the salary for PolyU 90 Scholars positions?
PolyU publishes only one figure: Presidential Young Scholars receive an annual package of at least HKD 1 million. Other salaries are not stated and are set at offer stage.
What is the deadline for the PolyU 90th anniversary hiring scheme?
The THE listing runs until 31 December 2027. PolyU’s own pages give no closing date, so apply early because posts may be filled in rounds.
How much is the PolyU start-up grant?
HKD 3 million or more for Assistant and Associate Professors under the Strategic Hiring Scheme, and HKD 5 million or more for Professors, Chair Professors and Presidential Young Scholars, spread over the first five years.
Can I apply to more than one PolyU department?
Yes. You submit a separate application to each school, department or division you want to be considered by.
Sources and updates
I checked these details on 29 October 2026 against the THE Unijobs listing for job 408414 and PolyU’s own Global Search for Excellence page, its job openings and application page, its Presidential Young Scholar Scheme page and its general terms and conditions for academic appointments (January 2025). History comes from PolyU’s 85th anniversary milestones page, and enrolment and leadership from Wikipedia’s PolyU article. PolyU has not published a salary scale for these posts, a review timetable or a fixed document list. I will update this page if the scheme changes or closes early.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
