How to claim reimbursement of course fee under Continuing Education Fund?

Form

 Applicants are required to complete the “Continuing Education Fund Application Form” [SFO 313 (2022)] (Reference can be made to “Continuing Education Fund Guidance Notes for Application” [SFO 312_E (2022)].

(Note: Applicants should send the Application Form to the institution(s) / course provider(s) concerned for certification before submitting the application.) 

Supporting documents

Applicants have to submit copies of the following supporting documents:

1. Hong Kong Smart Identity Card;
2. One-way Permit (if applicable);
3. Documentary proof of tuition fees paid;
4. Documentary proof of successful completion of the course(s) (e.g. a certificate of completion, a letter or a transcript from the institution / course provider certifying that the applicant has passed the relevant course assessment and attendance requirements.);
5. Front page of the bank passbook or bank statement showing the applicant’s name, account number and bank name / bank code (only saving / current accounts are accepted; please note that credit card accounts, fixed deposit accounts, foreign currency accounts and loans accounts are not acceptable. The name of the applicant on the account must be exactly the same as the name on the HK Smart Identity Card.); and
6. For those applicants studying language proficiency course, they are required to submit copies of the following documents in relation to the benchmark test / examination (if applicable):
   (a) Benchmark test / examination result of passing a specific benchmark test / examination (if applicable) at the specified (or higher) level; and
   (b) Documentary proof of benchmark test / examination fee paid 
   (Note: Benchmark test / examination alone are not reimbursable under Continuing Education Fund (CEF). Eligible applicants can apply for fee reimbursement of benchmark test / examination only if his / her claim is accompanied with a claim on relevant CEF language proficiency course. Only the examination fee contributing to passing the specified benchmark examination at the specified (or higher) level can be reimbursed. Also, applicants must not have obtained any other public funds or assistance under any other publicly-funded financial assistance schemes for the same examination fee.) 

Means of submission

Electronic application 
Applicants may complete and submit the online application form through “GovHK”. After the online submission of the application form and the required documents, applicants are required to print a hard copy of the form and sign the Declaration at Part D or print a hard copy of the form with digital signing using “iAM Smart+”, and then submit the form to the institution / course provider concerned for certification to prove that the applicants have successfully completed the course(s) concerned.  The original of the signed and certified application form should be submitted to Office of the Continuing Education Fund (OCEF) within one month after online submission.

Paper-based application
Applicants can also submit their paper-based applications to OCEF in person or by mail, or place their paper-based applications in the designated drop-in boxes. The date of receipt of the application by OCEF will be taken as the date of application submitted.

Office of Continuing Education Fund:

• Address:  Units 07-11, 25/F., CDW Building, 388 Castle Peak Road, Tsuen Wan, New Territories      
• Office hours: Mondays - Fridays: 8:45 am – 1:00 pm; 2:00pm - 5:45 pm; Saturdays, Sundays / Public holidays: Closed
• Phone no.: 3142 2277
• Email address: cef_sfo@wfsfaa.gov.hk

Drop-in boxes: 

• Near the main entrance of the Office of the Continuing Education Fund
  Opening hours: Mondays to Sundays, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00.p.m.
• Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon
  • 11/F Student Finance Office: Mondays to Fridays (except public holidays), 8:45 a.m. - 1:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m. - 5:45 p.m.
  • G/F lift lobby (outside office hours): The public can enter the building through the side entrance near the security counter.

Processing time

Notification of result will be issued within 6 weeks from the date of receipt of the application for existing CEF account holders or 8 weeks for applicants who submit an application for the first time, subject to the provision of complete and accurate information.  If the application is approved, the subsidy will be disbursed by direct credit to the applicant's bank account within two weeks from the date of the notification. 

In case the CEF reimbursement has to be made to offset the Extended Non-means-tested Loan Scheme loans borrowed by the applicant for paying the tuition fee for the same course, the processing time will be longer.