ENG-2015 — Page 169

7

Education

20,900 students sitting public examinations. In addition, the government disbursed school- based and district-based grants to support needy students' whole-person development.

Financial Assistance for Post-secondary Education

Means-tested grants and low-interest loans are offered to eligible full-time students pursuing eligible courses at UGC-funded or publicly funded institutions. In the 2014-15 academic year, some 26,800 students received $1,025 million of grants and $239 million of loans. Eligible students pursuing locally accredited, self-financing full-time post-secondary programmes are also provided with means-tested grants and low-interest loans. In the 2014-15 academic year, $1,106 million of grants and $200 million of loans were provided to around 23,000 students.

Non-means-tested loans operating on a no-gain-no-loss and full-cost-recovery basis are available to students pursuing eligible publicly funded or self-financing post-secondary programmes, and eligible professional or continuing education courses. In the 2014-15 academic year, more than 29,300 people received loans amounting to $1,460 million.

Travel subsidies totalling $150 million were provided to about 48,800 students of post- secondary institutions.

Yi Jin Diploma and Evening Secondary Courses Tuition Fee Reimbursement

Eligible Yi Jin Diploma students and those on designated evening secondary education courses may receive reimbursement of 30 per cent of the tuition fee, with an additional amount for those who pass a means test.

Grants for Programmes Below Sub-degree Level

Students who are eligible to receive a full or half means-tested grant under SFO and are pursuing eligible programmes below sub-degree level will be entitled to reimbursement of all or half of the tuition fee respectively. For programmes of one year or longer, they may also receive all or half of the flat-rate academic expenses grant.

Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme

The Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme provides a means-tested subsidy of up to $15,000 per year to needy students to pursue undergraduate studies under the Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions. In 2014-15, over $3 million was granted in subsidies to 263 students. For 2015-16, 336 new applications were received. Of those, subsidies were granted to 216 students as at December 2015.

Scholarships

Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme

In November 2014, the government launched the Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme (HKSES) to support local students pursuing undergraduate or postgraduate studies outside Hong Kong. All awardees will receive a non-means-tested scholarship to cover their tuition fees, subject to a ceiling of $250,000 per annum. Financially less well-off students may also apply for the means-tested bursary, subject to a ceiling of $200,000 per annum. The

133