• Video about the TSFS and NLS (Produced by SFAA in the year 2011/12)

• Eligibility

• Details and Enquiries

• Calculation of Financial Assistance

• 2011/12 PolyU Programmes under the TSFS

• 2011/12 Grant and Loan Entitlement for PolyU Students

• 2011/12 Documents and Forms

• 2011/12 Briefing Sessions

• 2011/12 Application Period

• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers

Video about the TSFS and NLS (Produced by SFAA in the year 2011/12)

You (Eligible PolyU student) may be eligible for applying the TSFS if:

If you are eligible to apply for assistance under the TSFS in the 2011/12 academic year, you may also apply for subsidy under the Student Travel Subsidy Scheme (STS). Please refer to Appendix I of Part III of Guidance Notes for more details.

If you are eligible to apply for assistance under the TSFS in the 2011/12 academic year, you are also eligible to apply for loan(s) under the Non-means-tested Loan Scheme (NLS). The NLS provides　non-means-tested loan(s) to eligible students to settle their tuition fee payable. The maximum level of loan amount is equal to the tuition fees payable for the academic year. For details of the　NLS,　please refer to NLS Application Guidance Notes [NLS 111B(2011)]. (http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/eng/public/index.htm#nls).

If you have any arrears of grant and/or loan and/or student travel subsidy under any financial assistance/loan schemes administered by the government SFAA, your application for financial assistance/loan will be considered by the Controller, SFAA on individual merits.

(ii)

If there is change of your student status, you may no longer be eligible for the assistance under the TSFS. Upon the change is confirmed, you should immediately notify the SFAA in writing and be prepared for the repayment of the overpaid assistance, if any.

Details and Enquiries

For details of the TSFS, please visit the SFAA homepage at :

http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/eng/schemes/tsfs.htm

For enquiries (e.g. check progress of your application), you may wish to contact the SFAA :

Address : 11/F., Cheung Sha Wan Government Offices, 303 Cheung Sha Wan Road, Kowloon

              (near Shamshuipo MTR station)

Office hours : Mon - Fri  8:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.; except public holidays

24-hour automated enquiry hotline : 2802 2345

TSFS enquiry number during office hours : 2150 6000

TSFS fax number : 2519 8512

E-mail address : wg@sfaa.gov.hk

Calculation of Financial Assistance

Depending on your financial circumstances, you may be eligible for a grant and/or loan. You can calculate for yourself the likely amount that you might receive by assessing your Adjusted Family Income (AFI) against the Ready Reckoner.

The Ready Reckoner shows the percentage of the maximum financial assistance for your AFI group. The resulting amount will then be further reduced by the percentage set out against the Net Asset Value per family member as shown in the Sliding Scale of Asset Value for Discounting Grant and Loan Assistance.

If you wish to obtain a rough estimate of the amount of assistance that you could receive, you may refer to the calculator. 

2011/12 PolyU Programmes under the TSFS

All the full-time UGC-funded PolyU Programmes covered under the TSFS 2011/12 are stated on the Course Coding Sheet. You should check your course information stated on it for completion of Part E (Page 4) of the application form.

2011/12 Grant and Loan Entitlement for PolyU Students

For PolyU students, the level of grant and loan is calculated depending on the family's financial circumstances of the student's family (Basically it is subject to student's Adjusted Family Income (AFI) and family asset), the tuition fees payable and the discipline the student is studying.  You may refer to the Maximum Grant and Loan Levels for PolyU students in 2011/12 for details.

2011/12 Documents and Forms

All the following documents and forms related to the TSFS are downloadable at http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/eng/public/index.htm#tsfs

(1) TSFS - The Checklist on Photocopies of Documents Required [TSFS/RM(2011)]

(2) TSFS - Importance of Providing True and Complete Information [TSFS/OM(2011)]

(3) Guidance Notes [TSFS/1B(2011)] and Sample [TSFS/R2(2011)]

You must read the  Guidance Notes carefully before completing the application form.  Reference can also be drawn from the Sample.

(4) SFAA's Course Coding Sheet for PolyU Students

You should check your course information stated on the 2011/12 Course Coding Sheet for completion of Part E (Page 4) of the application form.

(5) Bank Code List

You can check the Bank Code of the bank you plan for payment disbursement for completion of Part D (Page 4) of the E-application form.

For applying TSFS 2011/12, you are required to submit your application by completing an E-form.  Both  Form G [TSFS/GB(2011)] and  Form S [TSFS/SB(2011)] can be downloaded from the SFAA website http://www.sfaa.gov.hk/eng/public/index.htm#tsfs.

You should save the downloaded E-form for future use.

To open/use/save/print the E-form, the computer should have installed Adobe Reader* (version 8.2 or higher) and Asian Fonts Packs (Chinese Traditional fonts for computer cannot be displayed with Chinese characters).  The download website is : http://get.adobe.com/tw/reader/.

* For system requirement of Adobe Reader, please visit website:

http://get.adobe.com/tw/reader/otherversions/. In case of enquiries, you may call the TSFS hotline at 2150 6000.

When using the E-form as a TSFS applicant, you:

(i)

must read carefully all the pages of the E-form (including Annex I and II which are not required to submit with application), the Guidance Notes [TSFS/1B(2011)] and the Sample [TSFS/R2(2011)] for reference in completing the Application Form;

(ii)

can make entry to the E-form with computer (starting from Page 3);

if you have input your name on Page 3, it will be shown on the top right-hand corner of Page 1 automatically;

if you have input your identity card number on Page 3, it will be shown on the bottom centre of every page automatically;

(iii)

can save the amended/updated E-form to your floppy disk/local hard-disk/USB or any storage device (please ensure your personal data is properly protected);

(iv)

must use computer to complete Page 3 and 4 and all the "mandatory fields" circled by red borders on the E-form, otherwise, Page 1 and Page 3 cannot be printed.  You can use the "Mandatory Field Check" button shown on the top of each page for checking yet to be completed fields.  For the other parts of the form, you can choose to complete them in block letters using black or dark blue pen;

(v)

whenever you find that the space for data entry is insufficient, you may click the "Add Page" button at the bottom of Page 2 and Pages 7 to 15 of Form G/Pages 7 to 9 of Form S.  The number of the additional page will be added with "A" for identification;

(vii)

should pay attention to the followings when printing the E-form:

ð

should use white colour A4 size paper and plain paper; no lined paper is allowed;

should print the E-form on one side of the paper only, and the form printed should not consist of half lines leaving the other half line to be matched from another page;

can choose to print either one page of the E-form.  But you should complete the input of Page 3, Page 4 and all the "mandatory fields" to print the Page 1 and Page 3 of the  Form G/Form S;

when SFAA receives the 2D Barcode page (Page 1 of E-form), the basic information (i.e. information which has been inserted in Part A to Part F of Form G (Page 3 to Page 4 / Section I and Section II Part A to Part F of Form S (Page 3 to Page 4) stores in the 2D Barcode will be transferred to SFAA's computer system through computer scanning.  Therefore, you must ensure that information contains in the 2D Barcode on Page 1, Page 3 and Page 4 is consistent.

For example, you find it necessary to amend information in Page 3/Page 4 after you have printed Page 1/Page 3/Page 4, you have to amend and save the E-form file with computer, then you should re-print Page 1/Page 3/Page 4 and submit these latest print-outs;

(viii)

should sign on the E-form upon completion;

(x)

Before submitting the TSFS application, please:

(i)

make sure that the information and supporting documents provided are complete and true*;

(ii)

(iii)

make use of the "Checklist" in the E-form (placed after Page 17 of Form G/Page 11 of Form S) to ensure that all supporting documents are attached;

keep a copy of the completed TSFS E-form and all submitted documents for future reference;

(7) Return of Employee’s Remuneration for the Year ended 31 March 2011 [TSFS/4(2011)]

Apart from downloading this form from the SFAA's webpage, PolyU applicants can also get it from SAO at Room ST314.

(8) Mailing Label & Register Label [TSFS/3(2011)]

PolyU applicants can get the label from SAO at Room ST314.

(9) Notification of Change of Personal Data [TSF/C/18A]  & Notification of Change of Institution/Course Data [TSF/C/18B]

Should there be subsequent changes in your information provided after the submission, e.g. you withdraw/defer/suspend study, you are not required to pay full amount of tuition fee, you change contact number/address, etc. you should immediately notify the SFAA in writing (you may use the above forms). For details, please refer to the Guidance Notes.

If any of the above briefing sessions will be cancelled due to the reasons like typhoon/Influenza, it will be announced on this webpage on or before the original scheduled date of briefing session. Please watch out for our notice nearer the time.

Enrollment :

In view of limited seats for each briefing session, you must register to reserve a seat via SAMS at https://www40.polyu.edu.hk/saosams/ 

Æ"Programme Registration" : "Development Programme/Fitness Room User Introductory Course" 
ÆLogin your Student Number & Pin 
Æ"Developmental Programmes" 
Æ"Programme Search" 
Æ"Programme Area" : "Scholarship & Financial Assistance"
ÆSelect which session you want to attend.

For enquiry, please call 3400 3134.

2011/12 Application Period

(1) For local full-time UGC-funded students admitted in 2010/11 and before
      (including research students admitted before March 2011)

The normal application period is over.  If you want to submit late application, you should write a letter addressed to the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) for explaining reason(s) of being late and submit it together with the completed E-form and all the supporting documents to SAO at Room ST314 (Submission time: Mon - Fri 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.; except Public Holidays) as soon as possible and in no case later than 30 December 2011.

(2) For new local full-time UGC-funded students admitted in 2011/12

Date   : 14 - 16 September 2011 (Wed - Fri)

Time   : 9:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m.  

Submission after the application period

If you want to submit late application, you should write a letter addressed to the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) for explaining reason(s) of being late and submit it together with the completed E-form and all the supporting documents to SAO at Room ST314 (Submission time: Mon - Fri  9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.; except Public Holidays) as soon as possible and in no case later than 30 December 2011.

(3) For new local full-time UGC-funded research students

If you attend a UGC-funded research programme that commences between March 2011 and February 2012, you should apply for financial assistance for the 2011/12 academic year. The deadline for application is one month following the commencement of the programme and in no case later than 31 Mar 2012.

Please bring along your completed E-form as well as all the supporting documents to SAO at Room ST314 (Submission time: Mon - Fri 9:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and 2:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.; except Public Holidays).  If you submit late application to SAO after the deadline, please attach a letter addressed to the Student Financial Assistance Agency (SFAA) to explain your reason(s) for being late with the supporting documents.