e-Bulletin for Parents - 26 July 2024

Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme Opens for New Applications

The Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS) aims to support Hong Kong students in pursuing undergraduate studies on the Mainland and ensure that no students will be deprived of post-secondary education opportunity due to a lack of means. MUSSS comprises two components: “means-tested subsidy” (eligible students who have passed a means test will receive either a full-rate subsidy or a half-rate subsidy, depending on their needs) and “non-means-tested subsidy”. The subsidy is granted on a yearly basis, and the subsidised period is the normal duration of the undergraduate programme pursued by the student concerned in a designated Mainland institution. Eligible applicants can only receive either a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy in the same academic year. MUSSS is not subject to any quota.

For the 2024/25 academic year, there are 197 designated Mainland institutions. The means-tested subsidy and the non-means-tested subsidy will be disbursed to eligible students based on the distance between the location of their institutions and Hong Kong, which will be grouped under three categories, category (I) for distances less than 450 km, category (II) for distances between 450 km and 1 000 km as well as category (III) for distances over 1 000 km. Details of the subsidy rates under the different categories will be announced later.

Students meeting the following criteria may apply for the “means-tested subsidy” for the 2024/25 academic year:
(a) having right of abode ^Note(1)or right to land in, or have entered Hong Kong on One-way Permits;
(b) having received and completed senior secondary education in Hong Kong ^Note(2); and
(c) pursuing undergraduate studies in any of the 197 designated Mainland institutions in the 2024/25 academic year.

Students meeting the following criteria may apply for the “non-means-tested subsidy” for the 2024/25 academic year:
(a) having right of abode ^Note(1)or right to land in, or have entered Hong Kong on One-way Permits;
(b) having received and completed senior secondary education in Hong Kong ^Note(2);
(c) pursuing undergraduate studies in any of the 197 designated Mainland institutions in the 2024/25 academic year; and
(d)(1) attained “3322” ^Note(3) or “332A” ^Note(4)in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), i.e. attained Level 3 for Chinese Language and English Language, Level 2 for Mathematics, and Level 2 in Liberal Studies or “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development; OR
(d)(2) pursuing studies in Huaqiao University through “Pilot Scheme on the Articulation of Hong Kong Sub-degree Graduates to Huaqiao University”; OR
(d)(3) admitted to a Mainland institution through the “School Principal Nomination Scheme” under the “Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions”.

Note:
(1) A student who is expected to receive his/her right of abode within the 2024/25 academic year may also apply.
(2) To also cover schools for Hong Kong children on the Mainland listed under the HKDSE Participating School List published by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. For the 2024/25 academic year, HKDSE graduates from Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School and Affiliated School of JNU for Hong Kong and Macao Students are eligible to apply provided that they also fulfill other criteria listed under “Eligibility” of MUSSS.
(3) Applicable to HKDSE results obtained on or before 2023.
(4) Citizenship and Social Development subject replaced the original Liberal Studies subject in the 2024 HKDSE. The scoring criteria for the Citizenship and Social Development subject is “Attained” and “Not Attained”, with “A” representing “Attained”. The HKDSE results obtained in 2024 or later have been revised to “332A”.

Eligible students are required to submit their applications via the MUSSS Electronic Application Platform (https://musss.edb.gov.hk) or send the completed application forms and relevant supporting documents by post to EDB on or before 13 September 2024.

Details of MUSSS (including the list of designated Mainland institutions) are available at the EDB website (http://www.edb.gov.hk/musss).

Enquiries should be directed to 2827 1112 or musss@edb.gov.hk.