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Financial Assistance Schemes for Primary & Secondary Students

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wg_sfo@wfsfaa.gov.hk

Overview

The Student Finance Office administers various financial assistance schemes for needy primary and secondary students, including the School Textbook Assistance (TA) Scheme, the Student Travel Subsidy Scheme and the Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges (SIA). Please click here for details of the schemes.

Frequently Asked Questions

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School Textbook Assistance (TA) Scheme
Is there any application deadline for the School Textbook Assistance (TA) Scheme? Will application submitted after the deadline be accepted? 
The deadline for the application of TA is 31 October 2024 for the 2024/25 academic year. Applicants should submit the "Household Application for Student Financial Assistance Schemes" on or before the said deadline. Otherwise, the TA will generally not be released even if applicants can pass the means test.
Can applicants apply for the TA from the Student Finance Office (SFO) if they have already received it from either Social Welfare Department, the Hong Kong Jockey Club or other public and private organizations?
No. The applicant should not apply for the TA from the SFO if they have already received similar assistance from public and private organizations or the school that the student is attending. Applicants who are in receipt of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance should apply for school-related expenses from Social Welfare Department. There is no need for them to apply for student financial assistance from the SFO.
If a student-applicant changes school during the school year after receipt of the TA and is required to buy new books, can he / she re-apply for the TA?
No. Each student-applicant will be eligible for the TA once only in each school year if he / she can pass the means test.
Can school repeaters apply for the TA?
Yes.
Are applicants passing the means test of the SFO eligible for the TA?
The TA Scheme is only applicable to needy primary and secondary students in government, aided, per caput grant schools and local schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme. Students attending the above-mentioned schools and passing the means test of the SFO will be disbursed with TA if they are not in receipt of the same type of subsidy from any public or private organizations or schools.
What criteria are adopted to adjust the amount of the TA? How to determine the TA grant rates for various class levels? 
The TA grant rate consists of two components, namely the "Textbook grant" and the "Flat-rate grant." "Textbook grant" is determined based on the actual textbook expenditure for Primary 1 to Secondary 6 as surveyed by the Consumer Council before the commencement of each school year. As for "Flat-rate grant", it is revised annually according to the movement of the Composite Consumer Price Index.
Apart from subsidizing the purchase of textbooks, will the TA subsidize other school-related expenses?
Apart from the “textbook grant” for purchasing essential textbooks, the TA Scheme also includes the "Flat-rate grant" to cover miscellaneous school-related expenses (including the school uniform, the stationery and other expenses).
Student Travel Subsidy (STS) Scheme
What are the eligibility criteria for the Student Travel Subsidy (STS)?
Needy students, attending primary or secondary school or a full-time day course up to first degree level in a recognised institution; residing more than 10 minutes’ walking distance away from their schools; and who need to travel to school by public transport are eligible for the STS. Students who wish to apply for the STS must fulfill the following criteria:
  • Applicants must pass the means test;
  • The student-applicants must be unmarried Hong Kong Residents, with right of abode, right to land or valid permission to remain without any condition of stay (other than the limit of stay) in Hong Kong, and should provide copy of relevant supporting document. Students holding visitor visas, two-way exit permits, student visas or who are dependents of student-visa / visitor-visa holders are not eligible to apply for student financial assistance; and
  • The schools the student-applicants are attending must belong to the STS category.
Can the students attending evening courses apply for the STS?
No. Only needy students attending primary or secondary school or a full-time day course in a recognised institution can apply for the STS.
How to calculate the amount of the STS?
The subsidy is calculated on the basis of the average unit fare relevant to the districts in which the student studies and resides during term-time and it is not in a form of actual reimbursement.
The student changed school / residential address after the “Household Application for Student Financial Assistance Schemes” was submitted to the Student Finance Office (SFO). Will it affect the amount of the STS which has already been released?

As the subsidy is calculated on the basis of the average unit fare relevant to the districts in which the student studies and resides during term-time, the subsidy will be re-calculated.

For Changed school :Please notify in writing either by fax or mail to the SFO with the following details including (1) new school; (2) application number / applicant’s HKID card number and (3) copies of supporting documents (if applicable).

For Changed Residential Address:After the removal, please notify the SFO in writing either by fax or mail with the following details including (1) the removal date; (2) application number / applicant’s HKID card number and (3) copy of address proof (e.g. leases, water/electricity/gas bill etc.).

Outstanding balance will be arranged to the designated bank account if the re-calculated STS is upward adjusted. In case the re-calculated STS is downward adjusted, the overpaid STS will be recovered.

If the student drops out during the school year, will a part of the STS be released?
All students who dropped out during the school year should immediately notify the Student Finance Office. The STS will be re-calculated with reference to the drop-out date. Since the STS has been arranged in one lump sum to the designated account, the applicant may have to refund the overpayment of STS to the Government after the re-calculation.
Is the "Correspondence Address" same as "Residential Address" on the application form?
"Correspondence Address" is not necessarily the same as "Residential Address". “Correspondence Address” refers to the address that the Student Finance Office is able to contact the applicant by mail.
Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges (SIA)
What are the eligibility criteria for the Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges (SIA)? 
Needy families, who wish to apply for the SIA (granted on household basis) to meet the Internet access charges for e-learning at home for their children, must fulfill the following application criteria:
  • Applicants must pass the means test;
  • The student-applicants must be unmarried Hong Kong Residents, with right of abode, right to land or valid permission to remain without any condition of stay (other than the limit of stay) in Hong Kong, and should provide copy of relevant supporting document. Students holding visitor visas, two-way exit permits, student visas or who are dependents of student-visa / visitor-visa holders are not eligible to apply for student financial assistance; and
  • Families with children who are full-time students receiving education at primary or secondary level, or full-time students pursuing Diploma of Applied Education (DAE) programmes or equivalent courses of the Vocational Training Council.
How can the SIA be used? 
Parents can use the SIA to meet the Internet access charges for e-learning at home for their children, for example, the charges on broadband Internet service or SIM cards provided by operators of fixed or mobile telecommunications services.
What is the assistance amount for the SIA in the 2024/25 school year? 

Full rate of subsidy for SIA in the 2024/25 school year is $1,700 per household while the half rate is $850 per household.


If there are two children in a family, can the family receive the SIA twice within a school year?
No. The SIA is granted on a household basis. Eligible families will receive a flat-rate cash grant, regardless of the number of children in the family.
If a child in a family changes to another school in the 2024/25 school year, can the family receive the SIA again because of changing school?
No. Each eligible family could only receive the SIA once within a school year. In other words, a family would not be disbursed with the SIA twice due to change of schools or other reasons.
Can a family currently in receipt of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) apply for the SIA from the Student Finance Office (SFO)?

Families currently in receipt of the CSSA should apply directly to the Social Welfare Department (SWD) for school-related assistance for their children’s Internet access charges at home for the 2024/25 school year. They do not need to submit application to the SFO.

If children of a family are not covered by the CSSA and the family had NOT been disbursed with the school-related expenses and SIA by the SWD in the 2024/25 school year, such family may submit application to the SFO.

Please note that each family can only receive the SIA once in the 2024/25 school year. They cannot receive the SIA from the SWD and SFO concurrently in the same school year.

The Examination Fee Remission Scheme (EFRS)
Are the school candidates attending evening courses / private schools / Diploma of Applied Education / Diploma Yi Jin programme eligible for Examination Fee Remission for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination? 

Evening Courses : Yes, but the applicants have to attend evening courses in designated centres that are quality-assured and commissioned by the EDB, namely Designated Evening Adult Education Courses, and sitting for the examination as school candidates. Other evening school students are ineligible for EFRS.

Private Schools: Yes, but the student-applicants have to attend Secondary Six in private schools approved by the EDB or in other day schools operating formal curriculum, and sitting for the examination as school candidates. Other students attending non-formal curriculum are ineligible for EFRS.

Diploma of Applied Education / Diploma Yi Jin ： No.

Can repeaters apply for the Examination Fee Remission for the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE)?
Since the 2011/12 school year, needy first-time repeaters attending Full-time day school / Designated Evening Adult Education Courses are eligible for EFRS, provided that they are school candidates in the first examination entry (regardless of whether they have received examination fee remission in that entry) and sit for the same examination for the second time as school candidates in the immediate following examination year. Students sitting for the HKDSE Examination as private candidates are ineligible to apply for EFRS.
How to apply for the Examination Fee Remission for the HKDSE?

"Examination Fee Remission Scheme" is a means-tested subsidy scheme. For applicants who submitted “Household Application for Student Financial Assistance Schemes” and are granted with "FULL" or "HALF" assistance level, their children can apply for EFRS through their attending schools to the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) at the time of registration of the public examinations.

HKEAA normally issues the examination circular to schools around September each year to invite school candidates to apply for EFRS when making registration of HKDSE examination. For enquiry, please contact HKEAA at 3628-8860.