Tertiary Student Finance Scheme - Publicly-funded Programmes (TSFS)

If your family members are in employment , they may submit any of the following documents :

• A copy of the Tax Assessment and Demand Note for the 2023-24 financial year issued by the Inland Revenue Department (Form IRC6401);
• A copy of Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department's Employer's Return of Remuneration and Pensions form (IR56B)/ Notification by an employer of an employee who is about to cease to be employed (IR56F)/ Return of Payroll Emoluments for Civil Servant (IR56C);
• Photocopies of salary statements/ envelopes for the whole year;
• A photocopy of the passbook(s) indicating salary payments by autopay (please circle and underline the entries with appropriate remarks);

If your family members are business operators , they may submit the following documents :

• A Profit and Loss Account for the 2023-24 financial year verified by a Certified Public Accountant.
• If such a document is not available, you may prepare one on your own (some samples are provided). Please note that this arrangement is not applicable to limited companies.

If your family members are self-employed or in temporary and short-term employment , they may submit：

• Notification of Remuneration paid to persons other than employees (IR56M)
• If income proof is not available, list in writing all their sources of income or prepare a Profit and Loss account or an income statement (some samples are provided) on their own.

If you will receive studentship or incomes derived from appointments by institution in 2024/25 academic year, including the summer months of year 2024, you may submit the following document:

• A photocopy of employment letter / contract, certification letter from the employer, written proof issued by the institution or other incomes proof.

If your father does not have an employer, he is regarded as self-employed or operating his own business. He will have to furnish a Profit and Loss Account for the 2023-24 financial year prepared by a Certified Public Accountant or by himself for the SFO's consideration. (Please refer to the samples)

If income proof is not available, you may list in writing the various incomes in the Self-written Income Statement available on the WFSFAA’s website.

If the family member is operating a business, the following documents should be submitted：

1. The Business Registration Certificate of the company;
2. The company's Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet verified by a Certified Public Accountant as at 31 March 2024 to indicate its profit and net asset value. If the company's account closing date is earlier than 31 March, you can submit a Balance Sheet on an earlier date;
3. Generally speaking, Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheets verified by a Certified Public Accountant are acceptable. If such documents are not available, a self-prepared Profit and Loss Account and Balance Sheet should be provided. The samples are available at Appendices V and VI of Part III of Guidance Notes respectively for reference. Please note that this arrangement is not applicable to limited companies. If you have special reason for not being able to provide a Balance Sheet verified by a Certified Public Accountant for a limited company, please explain in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form.

Yes. Income of each family member refers to his/her total income, including leave pay, bonuses, cash awards, commission, tips, allowances, payment in lieu of notice and income earned from part-time employment, etc. Please input the concerned in "Step 6: Family income" of the application form.

After you commence full-time study in 2024/25, if you have no full-time job, it is not required to report the information. However, if you continue to have a full-time job, please state your full-time job in the 2024/25 academic year and your total full-time income for the whole 2023-24 financial year in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form, and provide the relevant income proof. The SFO will then take into account your income received in the preceding financial year for assessing your 2024/25 application for assistance.

The SFO will consider providing additional financial assistance to applicants who are receiving Disability Allowance. Please provide the information in "Step 2: Personal Particulars of Applicant" of the application form and enclose certifications.

No. If your family received CSSA throughout the assessment period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 or is receiving CSSA when you submit the application form, you may submit your application by using the Simplified Version Application Form for CSSA Families. It is sufficient for you to provide the following documents together with your application –

• Photocopies of the HKID cards of you and your family members (An applicant who was a successful applicant in the past three academic years under the SFO’s financial assistance schemes for post-secondary students and had submitted a copy of his / her own permanent HKID card and copies of his / her family members’ HKID cards together with his/her application is not required to submit a copy again provided that there is no change of the personal particulars of the applicant and his/her family member as shown on their HKID cards.); and
• A photocopy of your bank passbook or statement showing your full name and the number of your bank account for receipt of the financial assistance. An applicant who has no bank account is advised to open one as soon as possible and provide the bank account number and supporting documents together with his/her application.

The Simplified Version Application Form for CSSA Families is not applicable for you if –

• your parents have once received the CSSA but they neither received CSSA throughout the assessment period nor are receiving CSSA when you submit the application form; or
• you do not come from a single-parent family and only one of your parents is a CSSA recipient

You are required to report the information of your parents’ income and asset in the Full Version Application Form and provide relevant documentary proof.

If you come from a single-parent family and the parent who resides with you and supports your living is a CSSA recipient, you may submit your application by using the Simplified Version Application Form for CSSA Families and provide the relevant supporting document based on your family situation. For example, copy of Divorce Decree, sole custody order, address proof or death certificate etc.

Yes. If your parents have divorced, you should report the alimonies / contributions given by your father/ mother to your family in the 2023-24 financial year.

If you are not residing with your parents (except when you are living in a hostel/mini-hall), you should report the situation in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form. You should attach copies of documents in support of your family circumstances.

Please input the total income he received in 2023-24 financial year. Please input the employers' information and list out all the jobs in point form clearly in "Step 6: Family Income" of the application form. You should also list out his incomes under different employments in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form. Please attach copies of all of your father's income proof.

If your sister is unmarried and she is residing with your family, you should enter her personal particulars in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form. For details of employment, please enter the total income she received from all her employers for the financial year 2023-24 and the employers' information in "Step 6: Family Income" of the application form and list out her incomes under different employments in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form. Please attach copies of her income proof.

No. You need not include the amount of contribution made to MPF in the application form. If the income proof provided does not contain breakdown of the amount of MPF contribution, you may provide the annual MPF contribution statement to the SFO for calculation.

Yes. If others (including the other family members reported in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family member(s)" of the application form, siblings living away from you, divorced parents, relatives, friends, etc.) have paid any payment, such as mortgage payment, rental expenses, insurance premiums and/or loan repayments, etc. on behalf of your family, you should fill in the amount in the Section of "Contribution from Any Person(s) to You and/or Your Family" in "Step 6: Family Income" of the application form, and provide copy of documentary proof.

You should complete Section of "Income/ Study Information of Unmarried Sibling(s)" in "Step 6: Family Income" of the application form and submit relevant documentary proof if your sibling, who is residing with you, had received studentship ^Note or income / various allowances derived from appointments by institution in the 2023/24 academic year. Please also report in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form whether the family member concerned will continue to receive such income / studentship in the 2024/25 academic year. You may submit photocopy of employment letter / contract, certification letter from the employer, written proof issued by the institution or other income proof.

If your sibling has been unemployed for the period between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024, please state in the self-prepared income statement or "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form the period(s) of and the reason(s) for unemployment. Your sibling may submit the income details from the Inland Revenue Department or provide other information/ documents (such as termination letter, if any) to support the unemployment status.

Only the medical expenses incurred by the applicant or his/her family member who is chronically ill are deductible. Other expenses, such as repayment of loan, cannot be deducted. However, you can inform the SFO in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form that your family member has secured a loan and attach documentary proof.

Yes. Applicants must submit copies of bank statements to facilitate the SFO's vetting of their applications. Your father will have to apply to the bank for copies of the lost statements and submit them to the SFO as soon as possible. Please provide photocopies of documents that can identify the name of the holder of the account and the account number (e.g. the first page of a savings passbook) and photocopies of all bank accounts or monthly statements that can show all transactions for the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Yes. You should report the balance of these accounts ending 31 March 2024 in "Step 11: Family Assets - Other Assets" of the application form.

When filling in the application form, an unmarried applicant is required to report the details of all the properties occupied by you and your parents, including the first home (whether it is owned or rented). You are not required to report the market value of the first home as at 31 March 2024. However, if your family owns a second property, you must report the market value of the second property in "Step 10: Family Assets - Property / Land/ Carpark, Vehicle /Vessel and Business Undertakings" of the application form.

Other than the first home, an applicant needs to provide the following documentary proof for his/her properties:

1. Documents certifying the ownership of the properties such as purchase and sales agreements, assignments and deeds, etc.
2. Mortgage documents (if applicable) indicating the outstanding loan amount as at 31 March 2024.
3. Any one copy of the “Demand for Rates” from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 of the property. If there is no “Demand for Rates”, please explain in Step 12 “Additional Information” of the application form.
4. If a family member’s share of the property is less than 100%, please furnish proof.

Yes. Assets including those in Hong Kong and outside Hong Kong should be reported in the application form.

Generally speaking, you should be able to obtain an estimation of the price from banks or real estate agents.

If you or your parents (or your spouse, if you are married) have a joint account with other members of your family or with other persons, you should report at the Section of " Joint Accounts " in "Step 7: Family Assets - Bank Deposits" of the application form and fill in the name of the family members or the names of those other persons. Please also input the balance of the account as at 31 March 2024.

Yes, assets in possession as at 31 March 2024 must be reported in Steps 7 to 11 of the application form. However, you may report the change in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form.

Applicants must submit copies of bank statements to facilitate the SFO's vetting of their applications. You will have to apply to the bank for copies of the lost statements and hand them to the SFO as soon as possible. All applicants must submit photocopies of all savings/ time/ current/ club deposits and integrated accounts in local and foreign currencies as supporting documents at the time of application. The photocopies must bear the name of the account holder, the account number and transaction records from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 and be submitted with their application form. Please do not photocopy two passbooks on the same piece of paper.

You should explain your relationship with your parents in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form and state whether you are financially dependent on them. Having regard to the circumstances of individual cases, the SFO will decide on how your family income and assets should be assessed.

Yes. Any insurance policy(ies) (savings / investment-linked insurance policy(ies) with cash value and dividends) held by you and/or your parents (no matter who the insured person / beneficiaries are) as at 31 March 2024 should be reported in "Step 9: Family Assets - Insurance Policies" of the application form.

No. If you are single, you only have to report your own assets and those of your parents in the application. If you are married, you will have to report your assets and those of your spouse in the application. Nevertheless, if there are assets belonging to you and/or your parent(s) but entrusted to your siblings / grandparents or others, these assets should also be reported.

The loan incurred by any family member cannot be deducted from total amount of family's asset. However, you can inform the SFO in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form that your family member has secured a loan and attach documentary proof.

Generally speaking, a married applicant is only required to provide information about his/her spouse and children. The spouse's income should be reported in "Step 6: Family Income" of the application form, and the assets owned by the applicant and his/her spouse should be reported in accordance with Steps 7 to 11 of the application form. If you are receiving any contributions / support from other parties, please report this in the Section of "Contribution from Any Person(s) to You and/or Your Family" in "Step 6: Family Income" of the application form.

If you are not residing with your parents, you should give the reasons in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form. Unless you are not dependent on your parents for living, you should still give the personal particulars on your parents in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form and their incomes and assets details in Steps 6 to 11 of the application form. Information about your elder brother and his wife should be given in the Section of "Other Family Members" in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form.

If your paternal/maternal grandparents resided in a home for the elderly from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 and the expenses were wholly paid by your parents for an aggregate period of 6 months or more, please provide the information in Section of "Dependent Grandparent(s)" in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form. You are required to attach all the receipts issued by the home for the elderly in the 2023-24 financial year.

Strictly speaking, only the applicant, his/her parents, his/her unmarried siblings and paternal / maternal grandparents who are residing with the family are considered to be family members. Other family members are classified as "Other Family Members" in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form. You should, therefore, provide the information of your elder sister and her husband in the Section of "Other Family Members" in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form.

You should provide your mother and your siblings' information by completing Section of "Other Family Members" in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form. However, if your parents are staying outside Hong Kong for employment purpose, you still have to provide their personal particulars in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" and information of their income and assets in Steps 6 to 11 of the application. Please also state their place of work in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form.

You should include them under Section of "Other Family Members" in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form. Family members who are not Hong Kong residents will not be regarded as family members. However, if your father/mother has to support the living of your family members in the Mainland or any other places, you may give the details (such as your father's monthly contribution to your mother/siblings in the Mainland, your mother’s/siblings’ age and employment status, etc.) in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form. The SFO will consider if there are any special elements that warrant special treatment.

You should explain in detail in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form the following：

1. When and under what circumstances (for instance, emigration by means of investment or family reunion) they emigrated and to which country, and whether they still have properties/assets in Hong Kong;
2. When did you return to Hong Kong (if applicable) and how you maintain your living in Hong Kong;
3. Whether your parents, other family members / relatives or friends provide you with any financial assistance. Please state the current amount of contribution that you are receiving and the amount you received from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

If your sibling returned to Hong Kong before 31 March 2024, his/her information and his/her income from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 should be reported in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" and "Step 6: Family Income" of the application form. You should also provide documentary proof to prove his/her period of study abroad.

You should report the information of the unmarried sibling(s) residing with your parent(s) in the Section of "Unmarried Sibling(s)" in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form and the Section of "Income/Study Information of Unmarried Sibling(s)" in "Step 6: Family Income" of the application form.

Any person who is not a family member but has resided with you and/or your parents will be regarded as “Other Family Members”. Information about your aunt and her family should be given in the Section of “Other Family Members” in "Step 4: Personal Particulars of Family Member(s)" of the application form. Please state the total amount of contributions (e.g. tuition fee, pocket money) given by members of this section or any other person for the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Please provide details in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form and submit relevant supporting documents, e.g. police report, letter written by social worker, etc. You can also attach a letter detailing your situation. Having regard to the circumstances of individual cases, the SFO will decide on how your family income and assets should be assessed.

Generally speaking, if any of your family members are receiving Disability Allowance given out by the Social Welfare Department, their medical expenses are deductible. As for other illnesses, they will be considered on a case-by-case basis. You should obtain medical certification from a hospital / clinic / registered medical practitioner and provide all the relevant receipts on expenses issued by a hospital / clinic / registered medical practitioner for the period from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Please list out in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form, with explanations the documents that will not be able to submit with the application and state when the documents will be available. You must take the initiative to submit the documents once they are available. If you fail to report the required information in the application form or provide the required supporting document at the time of application, and the information/supporting document is only reported/provided upon the SFO's enquiry, this would be treated as a misrepresentation and/or omission in the application. The SFO may reject your application. Please refer to The Checklists on Photocopies of Documents Required [TSFS/RM (2024)] which can be downloaded from the SFO's webpage.

To enable the SFO staff to contact you, you may give your hostel address in the Section of "Correspondence Address" and your parents' address in the Section of "Residential Address" in "Step 5: Address(es)" of the application form.

If you have already submitted an application, you should notify the SFO immediately by submitting the duly completed Form Notification of Change of Institution / Course Data (TSFS/C/18B)(Paper Form / Online Form#) which can be downloaded from the WFSFAA website. The SFO will take note of the change upon receipt of your notification. You do not have to submit a fresh application.

If you are married / separated / divorced / widowed but still have to support your parents, you may give the details (e.g. monthly contribution by the applicant) in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form for the SFO's consideration of your financial position.

Under normal circumstances, you should apply for review within 3 weeks from the date of issue of the notification of result. However, if there is a substantial change to the family and financial circumstances after the submission deadline of the application for review, which you consider may significantly affect the support you may obtain from the family, you may still apply for review. Nevertheless, the application for review must be submitted to the SFO within the following deadline:

1. within 3 weeks from the date of issue of the notification of result; or
2. on or before 31 March 2025, whichever is later.

Relevant supporting document should be provided at the time of submitting the application for review.

You should print the application form and declaration and delivered to him for signature. Otherwise, your application will not be accepted. However, if you cannot obtain your parents' signature because of other special reasons (such as bad relationship with your parents, your parents getting divorced), you should give the reasons in detail in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form. The SFO will consider the reasons on a case-by-case basis. If you fail to give any explanation, the SFO may have to return the declaration to you for your parents' signature and re-submission. This will delay the processing of your application. You must not sign the declaration on behalf of others, such an act is an offence under the Crimes Ordinance.

If the number of family members (referring to the parents, unmarried sibling(s) residing with an unmarried applicant and/or his/her parents and dependent grandparents; if the applicant is married, "family members" refers to his/her spouse and/or child(ren)) changed after 31 March 2024 (e.g. an unmarried sibling residing with the family moved away / got married or a family member passed away), you should state it in "Step 12: Additional Information" of the application form and provide the SFO with the relevant document(s). If the number of your family members changed after submission of the application, you should inform the SFO in writing immediately, and forward the relevant supporting document(s) to the SFO. The SFO will consider if any special treatment is warranted on a case-by-case basis.

Students taking up an exclusively University Grants Committee (UGC)-funded or publicly-funded student place of a recognised course and meeting other eligibility criteria may apply for financial assistance under the TSFS. If you are eligible to apply for financial assistance under the TSFS, in general you will not be eligible for CSSA. Starting from April 2014, the SWD has included post-secondary students of CSSA families in the calculation of rent allowance such that CSSA families’ entitlement to rent allowance will not be affected if they have members receiving post-secondary education. If you have financial difficulties in the period between cessation of CSSA and disbursement of financial assistance from the SFO, applicant of the CSSA case concerned may approach staff of the responsible Social Security Field Unit under the SWD for assistance. Under the special arrangement, CSSA can continue to be paid to the student in need on a “loan” basis, and applicant of the CSSA case concerned has to refund the CSSA payment received on a “loan” basis during that period once the student has received financial assistance from the SFO.

To ensure that the financial circumstances as reported in the application are true and complete, the SFO will make enquiries on transactions shown in bank statements. To speed up the processing of your application, you are advised to give explanations beside the transactions and provide documentary proof as far as possible, in particular for an amount of $100,000 or more (which may be fixed deposits); any other deposits of odd cents (which may be interest from time deposits or dividends from stocks and shares); and other regular cash / cheque deposits (which may be contributions / remittance from relatives or income from part-time jobs). If situation warrants, the SFO may still have to ask you for clarifications and documentary proof on the bank transactions.

Generally speaking, government subsidies of regular assistance schemes are not counted as family income but are not deductible from the family assets of an applicant. As for one-off government subsidies, they are generally not counted as family incomes and family assets of the relevant year.