e-Bulletin for Parents - 15 December 2023

Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors – Undergraduate (including Top-up Degree) Programmes

The Study Subsidy Scheme for Designated Professions/Sectors (SSSDP) will subsidise a total of 4 825 places in 52 undergraduate programmes, covering 3 305 places in 52 first-year-first-degree (FYFD) programmes and 1 520 places in 41 top-up degree (TUD) programmes of eight post-secondary institutions (including Caritas Institute of Higher Education, Hong Kong Chu Hai College, Hong Kong Metropolitan University, Hong Kong Shue Yan University, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Tung Wah College, UOW College Hong Kong and Vocational Training Council - Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong) for the cohort to be admitted in the 2024/25 academic year. The programmes and number of subsidised places, which fall under ten disciplines with keen manpower demand, namely architecture and engineering, computer science, creative industries, financial technology, health care, insurance, logistics, sports and recreation, testing and certification, and tourism and hospitality, are determined by the Education Bureau in consultation with relevant policy bureaux and departments.

In the 2024/25 academic year, the annual subsidy amounts for non-laboratory-based programmes and laboratory-based programmes are up to $45,810 and $79,770 respectively. The subsidy amounts are applicable to both new and continuing eligible students. The subsidy is tenable for the normal duration of the programmes concerned. Subsidised students will pay a tuition fee with the subsidy applied. Students in need may still apply for student financial assistance from the Student Finance Office of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency in respect of the actual amount of tuition fee payable.

Allocation of the subsidised first-year intake of the FYFD programmes will mainly go through the Joint University Programmes Admissions System (JUPAS); participating institutions are allowed to admit non-JUPAS local students via direct admission of no more than 20% of the subsidised places of each designated programme, and the non-JUPAS admission may take place in parallel with JUPAS admission. Non-JUPAS local applicants should refer to the relevant institutions’ websites for their admission arrangements including the commencement date and deadline of the application.

The subsidised places of the TUD programmes are allocated according to existing admission arrangements of the self-financing TUD programmes, i.e. through direct admission by institutions.

For details of the SSSDP, please visit www.cspe.edu.hk/sssdp.