Financial Fortune Teller
Get a sneak peek into your financial future to see how well you are saving and planning for retirement.
Need help budgeting your money?
See our tips on budgeting
Student Loans
Students enrolled on higher education courses in Hong Kong may apply for loans from the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) to meet the cost of their studies.
But if a borrower is not careful, the years after graduation could be burdened by unnecessary debt. Student loans can add up very quickly. And they all have to be paid back.
Loans for Full-time Students
The SFAA administers loan schemes for full-time students enrolled on recognized courses at local universities and higher-education institutions, supplementing grant payments. Student loans are not means-tested, unlike grants.
Students need to submit loan applications annually for each year of their studies, subject to the maximum loan ceiling. They need to check with their academic institutions on the deadlines for submitting applications.
Interest is payable on the loans after they have been drawn down, while students will also need to pay administration fees for each separate loan application. The SFAA will disburse the agreed loans directly to the students' academic institutions in installments.
Students have a maximum of 15 years to repay their loans and the interest accrued. Repayment by monthly installments will begin after the completion of the applicant's studies, or if studies were terminated before the scheduled completion.
Loans for Non-full-time Students
Students who study on eligible academic and vocational courses on a part-time basis locally may also apply to the SFAA for loans. Such loans have similar terms as those administered by the SFAA for full-time students.
Non-government loans
Apart from the SFAA, some charitable foundations and funds also offer student loans. These include:
- The Hong Kong Rotary Club Students' Loan Fund
- Sing Tao Charitable Foundation Students' Loan Fund
Please check with the providers of student loans for terms and conditions.
Sources: Student Financial Assistance Agency
