*********************************************************
The Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) announced today (August 31) the application arrangements of the Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students (FASP) and the Non-means Tested Loan Scheme for Post-secondary Students (NLSPS) for the 2001/02 academic year.
The Financial Assistance Scheme for Post-secondary Students (FASP) provides means-tested financial assistance to needy full-time students pursuing accredited, self-financing post-secondary education programmes leading to a qualification at or above the levels of higher diploma, associated degree and/or professional diploma. The scheme aims to ensure that no eligible students are denied access to post-secondary education because of lack of financial means. Financial assistance is in the form of a grant or a loan to assist needy students in the payment of tuition fees.
Students may be eligible for assistance if they:
(a) are registered full-time students, aged 25 or below during the calendar year 2001 (i.e. born on or after January 1, 1976);
(b) have not obtained or will not obtain any sub-degree or above qualification for the academic years preceding their intended programmes to be covered by these applications;
(c) pursue accredited post-secondary programmes in the 2001/02 academic year; and
(d) have the right of abode in Hong Kong or have resided or have had their home in Hong Kong continuously for three complete years immediately prior to the commencement of the course.
Students can obtain application forms from their institutions. The completed forms together with photocopies of supporting documents should be returned through the institutions, which will forward the applications and supporting documents to the SFAA for processing.
If applicants wish to apply for Student Travel Subsidy Scheme (STS), please complete the relevant parts of the application forms.
Completed applications should reach the Agency either within one calendar month from the commencement date of the programme, or within one calendar month from the date of course accreditation, or before September 30, 2001, whichever is the latest. Institutions may set an earlier deadline. Applicants should observe the deadline for submission to the institutions.
Applicants should ensure that they have submitted all the required documents with their applications. If the information provided is incomplete, the processing time of the application will be delayed.
Besides the FASP, full-time students who are eligible for assistance under the FASP may concurrently apply for loans under the NLSPS. NLSPS loans are used to complement the FASP to meet two types of costs - tuition fees and basic living expenses. The amount for living expenses is $33,420 in the 2001/02 academic year. If students apply for both schemes simultaneously, they can complete the relevant part of the FASP's application form. If students wish to apply for the NLSPS only, they should complete another application form which is specifically designed for the application of NLSPS only. The application deadline of the NLSPS is either within one calendar month from the commencement date of the programme, or within one calendar month from the date of course accreditation, or before December 31, 2001, whichever is the latest.
Enquiries about the two Schemes should be addressed to the SFAA, 12th floor, Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon. The enquiry hotlines of the FASP and the NLSPS are 2152 9000 and 2152 6222 respectively. Students are also encouraged to obtain further information through SFAA's 24-hour automated enquiry hotline: 2802 2345 or SFAA's homepage at http://www.info.gov.hk/sfaa/.
End/Friday, August 31, 2001
NNNN
