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Education

Mainland University Study Subsidy

For the 2020-21 academic year, a means-tested subsidy of up to $16,800 or non-means-tested subsidy of $5,600 per year is provided to eligible local students pursuing undergraduate studies in designated Mainland institutions under the Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme. In 2019-20, around $41 million was granted in subsidies to 3,218 students, and in 2020-21, the scheme attracted about 4,300 applications.

Scholarships

Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence

The Hong Kong Scholarship for Excellence Scheme supports up to 100 local students per cohort to pursue undergraduate or postgraduate studies at world-renowned universities outside Hong Kong. It has awarded the scholarship to around 570 students and granted scholarships and bursaries totalling $258 million since inception in the 2015-16 academic year. Starting from 2019-20, the scholarship ceiling is set at $300,000 per student per annum. Students with financial needs may also apply for a means-tested bursary that provides up to $200,000 per annum to cover living and study-related expenses.

HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund and Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund

The $3.07 billion HKSAR Government Scholarship Fund awards scholarships to outstanding locals and non-locals studying in full-time, publicly funded programmes at sub-degree and degree level or above in the eight UGC-funded universities, the HKAPA and the VTC. A $3.52 billion Self-financing Post-secondary Education Fund provides scholarships and awards to outstanding students pursuing full-time, locally accredited self-financing sub-degree or undergraduate programmes, and supports worthwhile initiatives to enhance self-financing post-secondary education. In 2019-20, the two funds distributed 9,471 scholarships and awards.

Scholarship for Prospective English Teachers

The government's Scholarship for Prospective English Teachers aims to attract people proficient in English to pursue local bachelor's degree programmes and/or teacher training programmes majoring in English or a relevant subject which will qualify them to become English teachers on graduation.

Management of Schools

The Education Ordinance regulates school education services. Schools must comply with its provisions, including subsidiary legislation on the registration of schools, teachers and managers, health and safety requirements, fees and charges and teacher qualifications.

To implement school-based management, aided schools are devolved with considerable autonomy and funding flexibility. In return, they have to be more transparent and accountable in their operation and include all key stakeholders in their governance structure, including representatives of the school sponsoring body, the principal, elected teachers, parents and alumni, and independent members.

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