wfsfaa.gov.hk Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students Hong Kong : Working Family Agency

Name of the Organization : Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA)
Type of Facility : Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students FASP
Country : Hong Kong

Website : http://www.wfsfaa.gov.hk/sfo/en/postsecondary/fasp/overview.htm
Guideline : https://www.statusin.org/uploads/25815-FASPguideline.pdf
Application Form : https://www.statusin.org/uploads/25815-FASPform.pdf

Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students :

Overview :
** FASP provides means-tested financial assistance to needy full-time students pursuing locally-accredited, self-financing post-secondary education programmes at the level of associate degree, higher diploma or degree.

Related : WFSFAA Extended Non-Means-Tested Loan Scheme Hong Kong : www.statusin.org/24484.html

Eligibility :
** need to be a registered full-time student; aged 30 or below (i.e. born on or after 1 September 1985
** need to be engaged in full-time locally-accredited self-financing post-secondary education programmes at sub-degree (i.e. associate degree or higher diploma) or degree level.

** Locally-accredited programmes refer to those included in the “Register of Locally-accredited Programmes” recognised by the Secretary for Education.
** For the 2016/17 academic year, only programmes which have been included in the Register on or before 31 December 2016 will be covered by FASP.

** have not accepted financial assistance under any other publicly-funded student finance assistance scheme [e.g. the Continuing Education Fund (CEF)] for the programme / course 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 your home in Hong Kong continuously for three complete years immediately prior to the commencement of the course.

** This does not cover students staying in Hong Kong holding student visas.
** Your eligibility is restricted to only one eligible full-time course in any one academic year.
** If you are eligible to apply for assistance under FASP in the 2016/17 academic year, you may also apply for the loan under the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme for Post-secondary Students (NLSPS).
** If you attend face to face teaching programmes, you may also apply for subsidy under the Student Travel Subsidy (STS) Scheme.

** For students taking distance-learning programmes at the Open University of Hong Kong (OUHK), please also refer to the Supplementary Guidance Notes for FASP/NLSPS for Students Taking Distance-learning Programmes for the eligibility criteria and application procedures under FASP.

** Students pursuing distance-learning programme are not eligible to apply for the STS Scheme.

Application Procedures :
The application involves the following procedures :
1. Submission of Applications :
** Application forms can be obtained from your institutions.
** Please study the required documents and Guidance Notes carefully and return the completed form together with photocopies of supporting documents before deadlines.

2. Interview :
** Interviews may be arranged for you and your father or mother.
** You and your father or mother will be required to declare that the application information is true and complete.
** Please bring all the required documents to the interview when SFO staff may seek clarifications / additional information

3. Notification of Result :
** In general, if the information you provided is complete, you will be notified of the FASP result within two months from the date of the SFO’s acknowledging receipt of your application.
** However, the processing time will vary, depending on the particular circumstances of individual applications.
** The SFO will issue the first batch of notifications of result around mid-July 2016.

4. Checklist for Submission :
** Please prepare well-in-advance the documentary proofs you need to submit with your application.
** Early submission of application with complete information will facilitate the smooth processing and early payment of financial assistance, if any, to you.
** When you submit your application, you are also required to submit documentary proofs on personal information, family income and family assets.
** Please refer to The Checklist on Documentary Proofs Required for details.