Grants and Scholarship

A wide range of grants and subsidies are available from the Hong Kong Government to help residents meet the cost of education at all levels – from pre-school to tertiary. The Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) is the main body responsible for the administration of financial aid for education.

Pre-school Grants and Subsidies
Parents may apply to the SFAA for subsidies to help pay their children's kindergarten fees under the Pre-primary Education Voucher Scheme. Applicants are not subject to means testing, but they need to check that their children's kindergartens are participating in the scheme.

The SFAA also offers subsidies for children's kindergarten fees under the Kindergarten and Child Care Centre Fee Remission Scheme. This program is designed to supplement the voucher scheme, and is intended for lower-income families. Applicants for the fee remission scheme will be means-tested.

Primary School Grants and Subsidies
Parents of primary school students may apply to the SFAA for subsidies to help pay for the cost of textbooks, commuting, public examination fees and residential subscriptions to Internet access. Applicants will be means-tested to determine eligibility and the level of payouts.

Secondary School Grants and Subsidies
Similarly, the SFAA also offers subsidies to parents of secondary school students to meet the costs of textbooks, commuting, public examination fees and residential Internet subscriptions, subject to means testing. Applicants will be means-tested to determine eligibility and the level of payouts.

Students enrolled on the Yi Jin Diploma program may apply to the SFAA for reimbursement of tuition fees, subject to performance requirements. Applicants will be means-tested to determine eligibility and the level of reimbursement.

Tertiary-level Grants and Subsidies
Full-time post-secondary students may apply to the SFAA for grants to help pay for tuition fees, academic expenses and travel costs. Eligible students must be enrolled on a recognized academic program at an accepted local university or higher-education institution. Applicants will be means-tested to determine eligibility and the level of payouts. In addition to grants and subsidies, students may also apply to the SFAA for loans to cover living expenses.

Scholarships
In addition to grants provided by the SFAA, residents may also apply for financial support from scholarship programs including:

• Grantham Scholarships Fund - this fund offers grants to students at local secondary schools and some approved vocational courses
• Sir Edward Youde Memorial Fund - this fund offers grants to students at local and overseas universities
• Scholarship for Prospective English Teachers - this fund offers financial support for students training to be English-language teachers

Sources: Student Financial Assistance Agency, Education Bureau