What are the eligibility criteria for financial assistance for primary and secondary students?

Applicants may view the video clips for details of the financial assistance schemes for primary & secondary students.
 

Contents

• Student-applicant 
• Applicant
• The School Textbook Assistance (TA) Scheme
• The Student Travel Subsidy (STS) Scheme
• The Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges (SIA)

The Student Finance Office (SFO) administers a number of financial assistance schemes for needy primary and secondary students, including the School Textbook Assistance Scheme, the Student Travel Subsidy Scheme and the Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges. 

Applicants of the schemes must pass the means test  (please click here for details) and meet the following eligibility criteria: 　

Student-applicant

• A student-applicant must:
  • 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
  • attend a school belonging to one of the categories of schools as stipulated in the individual financial assistance schemes.
• 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.

Applicant

• Applicant must be the parent or legal guardian. Otherwise, applicant must explain in detail with proof why this cannot be complied with in the application form. Provided that the reason given is acceptable, the SFO will continue to process the application.
• Generally speaking, families in receipt of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) should apply direct to the Social Welfare Department (SWD) for school-related assistance for their children’s examination fees, expenses on textbook and stationery, transport fares, Internet access charges at home, etc. They do not need to submit an application for student financial assistance to SFO separately.

The School Textbook Assistance (TA) Scheme

The student-applicants must be Primary 1 to Secondary 6 students in government, aided, per caput grant schools and local schools under the Direct Subsidy Scheme for covering the costs of essential textbooks and miscellaneous school-related expenses.

The Student Travel Subsidy (STS) Scheme

The student-applicants must be receiving primary or secondary education or attending a full-time day course up to first degree level in a recognised institution, residing beyond 10 minutes walking distance from school and traveling to school by public transport.

The Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges (SIA)
The Subsidy Scheme for Internet Access Charges (SIA) provides subsidy to needy families whose children 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 (VTC) 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). The subsidy is granted on a household basis. Eligible families will receive a family-based flat-rate cash grant, regardless of the number of children in the family.