Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) was launched as a new initiative under the 2014 Policy Address to subsidise about 1 000 students per cohort starting from the 2015/16 academic year to pursue designated full-time locally accredited self-financing undergraduate programmes in selected disciplines. As announced in the 2017 Policy Address, SSSDP has been regularised from the 2018/19 academic year. Starting from the 2019/20 academic year, about 2,000 students per cohort will be subsidised to pursue designated full-time locally accredited self-financing sub-degree programmes in selected disciplines.

In consultation with relevant Bureaux, the Education Bureau determined the following disciplines which are under the coverage of the SSSDP in the 2020/21 academic year, namely Architecture and Engineering, Computer Science, Creative Industries, Health Care, Sports and Recreation and Tourism and Hospitality.

In the 2020/21 academic year, the Higher Diploma in Hotel and Tourism Management programme is under the coverage of the SSSDP. A subsidy of HK$21,400 will be provided to Year 1 and Year 2 students if they are local students and fulfill the specific entrance requirements of the programme.

For example, the tuition fee of the HDHTM programme is HK$54,780 in 2020/21 academic year, eligible student is required to pay an amount of HK$33,380 after the subsidy of HK$21,400.

last updated: 31 Aug 2020

To be eligible to apply for FASP from Student Finance Office (SFO) in the 2020/2021 academic year, students of the Higher Diploma programmes should:

• be a registered full-time student; aged 30 or below (i.e. born on or after 1 September 1989); &
• be engaged in full-time locally-accredited self-financing post-secondary education programmes at sub-degree or degree level; &
• not accepted financial assistance under any other publicly-funded student finance assistance scheme [e.g. the Continuing Education Fund (CEF)] for the programme covered by the application in the same academic year; and
• Have the right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong) or have resided or have had their home in Hong Kong continuously for three complete years prior to the commencement of the programme. This does not cover students holding student visas/entry permits, visas /entry permits under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates, dependant visas/entry permits which were issued to them by the Director of Immigration when they were 18 years old or above.

If students are eligible to apply for assistance under the FASP in the 2020/21 academic year, they may also eligible to apply for the loan under the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Post-secondary Students (NLSPS). Also students may also apply for subsidy under the Student Travel Subsidy (STS) Scheme if they attend face to face teaching programme.

last updated: 31 Aug 2020

To be eligible to apply for an NLSPS loan from Student Finance Office (SFO) in the 2020/2021 academic year, students of the Higher Diploma programmes should:

• be registered as a full-time student engaged in a locally-accredited self-financing post-secondary education programme at sub-degree or degree level; &
• have the right of abode in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (Hong Kong) or have resided or have had your home in Hong Kong continuously for three complete years prior to the commencement of the course. This does not cover students holding student visas/entry permits; visas/entry permits under the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates; or dependant visas/entry permits which were issued to them by the Director of Immigration when they were 18 years old or above.

last updated: 31 Aug 2020

For the programme registered under the Qualifications Register (QR), students are eligible to apply the Extended Non-Means-Tested Loan Scheme (ENLS) to cover their tuition fees payable in the 2020/21 academic year. Students are advised to visit the SFO’s website to understand the terms and conditions of the ENLS application.

last updated: 31 Aug 2020

For the programme under the coverage of Continuing Education Fund (CEF), students should be :

• Hong Kong residents who have the right of abode or the right to land or to remain in Hong Kong without restriction, i.e. “A” (right of abode), “R” (right to land) or “U” (remain in Hong Kong without restriction) should appear below the date of birth on the Hong Kong Smart Identity card, or holders of one-way permit from the Mainland China.
• Aged between 18 and 70 (i.e. before reaching the age of 71) both at the time when the CEF reimbursable course under application commences and at the time when an application for fee reimbursement is submitted, which should be within one year upon the successful completion of the CEF reimbursable course. Late applications will not be accepted.

last updated: 31 Aug 2020

The Student Travel Subsidy (STS) Scheme provides travel subsidy to needy students receiving formal primary, secondary education or attending a full-time day course up to first degree level in an acceptable institution, residing beyond 10 minutes walking distance from school and travelling to school by public transport.

To apply for the STS scheme from Student Finance Office (SFO) in the 2020/2021 academic year, students of the full-time programmes should:

• be an unmarried Hong Kong Resident; &
• have the 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

Students holding visitor visas, two-way exit permits, student visas only or who are dependents of student-visa / visitor-visa holders are not eligible to apply for student financial assistance.

last updated: 31 Aug 2020

Students of the full-time programmes, between the ages 12 and 25, are eligible to apply Personalised Octopus with “Student Status”. Students are required to return the College’s endorsed application form to the MTR Customer Services Centre or Concessionary Travel Office in Admiralty, Tai Wai or Siu Hong stations.

last updated: 31 Aug 2020