Other Opportunities
HKSAR Government Subsidy
To encourage PolyU undergraduate students to participate in various short-term non-local activities available, the HKSAR Government is offering financial support to eligible students undertaking eligible activities in 2026/27. Activities should be related to the discipline(s) of the degree being pursued.
The following four schemes are exclusive to one another; students may only receive one of these schemes at a time for each activity. Subsidies will be awarded to eligible students participating in eligible activities.
Means-tested Schemes
- Scheme for Subsidy on Exchange (“SSE”);
- Scheme for Means-tested Subsidy on Exchange to “Belt and Road” Regions (“Means-tested SSEBR”);
Non-means-tested Schemes
- Scheme for Non-means-tested Subsidy on Exchange to “Belt and Road” Regions (“Non-means-tested SSEBR”);
- Non-means-tested Mainland Experience Scheme (“Non-means-tested MES).
Eligibility
|
Undergraduate Full-time Student |
Means-tested Schemes |
Non-means-tested Schemes |
||
|
SSE^ |
Means-tested SSEBR+^ |
Non-means-tested SSEBR+ |
Non-means-tested MES |
|
|
Local Student with Student Financial Assistance* |
Y |
Y |
Y |
Y |
|
Local Student without Student Financial Assistance* |
N |
N |
Y |
Y |
|
Non-local Student |
N |
N |
N |
Y |
|
Maximum Number of Applications throughout the Student’s Undergraduate Studies |
1 |
2 (two different “Belt and Road” Regions) |
1 |
1 |
* Recipient of grant under the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme – Publicly-funded Programmes by the Student Finance Office (SFO) of the Working Family and Student Financial Assistance Agency (WFSFAA); OR your family member is a recipient of the Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA).
+ Participated in an eligible activity/programme in “Belt and Road” Regions (except in Chinese Mainland, Taiwan, China and Macao, China).
^ Subject to the maximum amount of subsidy discounted by the latest level of student finance or the adjusted financial assistance level of 50%, whichever level is higher throughout their studies at the same level.
Eligible Activities
- This Subsiy supports physical non-local learning activities only.
- Fee-paying short-term programmes listed on Global Classroom and Exploring China or activities endorsed by academic units.
- Programme-related study tours or field trips arranged by academic units. Endorsement from the academic unit is required.
- International competition or conference that is reputable/influential in the field and is beneficial to students in terms of personal, academic and professional development. Endorsement from the academic unit is required.
- This Subsidy is only applicable to the eligible activities listed above. For students participating in Student Exchange Programmes, applications for the HKSAR Government Schemes should be submitted through the funding application provided by GEO.
|
HKSAR Government Subsidy |
Destination |
Required Duration of Activity (Excluding Traveling Time) |
|
SSE |
Anywhere outside Hong Kong |
14 days or above |
|
Means-tested SSEBR |
5 days or above |
|
|
Non-means-tested SSEBR |
5 days or above |
|
|
Non-means-tested MES |
Chinese Mainland |
3 days or above |
Subsidy Amount
Means-tested Schemes
The Subsidy amount is calculated by applying the approved level of student finance to the maximum level of subsidy based on the latest available application result from SFO. The financial assistance level to be adopted in the calculation of the amount of financial assistance will be adjusted upward to 50% if the level of student finance assistance approved by SFO is lower than 50%.
|
Formula = (Destination + Duration) x Grant % (in HK$) |
||||||
|
Destination |
Subsidy Amount |
+ |
Required Duration of Activity (Excluding Traveling Time) |
Subsidy Amount |
x |
Financial Assistance Level proportion (%) of Grant approved as advised by SFO |
|
Asia (incl. Middle East) |
3,000 |
5-13 days* |
3,500 |
|||
|
Africa |
7,000 |
14-28 days |
6,000 |
|||
|
Oceania & Europe |
8,000 |
29-90 days |
10,000 |
|||
|
North America |
9,000 |
91-180 days |
25,000 |
|||
|
Central & South America, & Caribbean |
15,000 |
Over 180 days |
45,000 |
|||
*Applicable to Means-tested SSEBR only.
Non-means-tested Schemes
|
Formula = (Destination + Duration) |
||||
|
Destination |
Subsidy Amount |
+ |
Required Duration of Activity (Excluding Traveling Time) |
Subsidy Amount |
|
Asia (Incl. Middle East; Excl. Taiwan, China & Macao, China) |
900 |
3-13 days* |
1,050 |
|
|
5-13 days# |
1,050 |
|||
|
Africa |
2,100 |
14-28 days |
1,800 |
|
|
Oceania & Europe |
2,400 |
29-90 days |
3,000 |
|
|
Central & South America, & Caribbean |
4,500 |
91-180 days |
7,500 |
|
|
Over 180 days |
13,500 |
|||
*Applicable to Non-means-tested MES only.
#Applicable to Non-means-tested SSEBR only.
Application Details
|
Activity Happens in |
Semester 1 and Winter Break (1 September 2026 to 10 January 2027) |
Semester 2 and Summer Term (11 January to 29 August 2027) |
|
Application Period |
1 - 30 November 2026 |
15 May – 15 June 2027 |
|
Application Instruction |
Individual Application
Students submit a complete application to GEO with proof of acceptance to, or enrolment in, the offshore learning activities.
Online application form(for activities that take place in Semester 1 and Winter Break)
Group Application For students participating in the same programme/activity as a group, the relevant Academic Units (Faculty/School/Department) should complete and submit application to GEO. The online group application form (for activities that take place in Semester 1 and Winter Break) will be sent separately to academic units. |
|
|
Result Announcement |
Late January 2027 |
To be announced |
|
GEO will notify individual students/ academic units of the application results. |
||
|
Report Submission |
15 February 2027 |
To be announced |
|
Individual Application Students submit full activity reports and official transcripts/certificates of completion in electronic copy to GEO. A report submission link will be provided to successful applicants.
Group Application Academic units submit activity reports to GEO for each group of students. The report template will be provided to successful applicants. |
||
|
Fund Disbursement |
by 31 March 2027 |
To be announced |
Guidelines and Rules
- GEO reserves the right to adjust the pre-approved financial support as necessary.
- Applicants must meet all eligibility criteria prior to approval for the Subsidy.
- If any student withdraws from the approved activity at any time (before or during the activity), their eligibility to receive the Subsidy for that activity will be forfeited.
- Subsidy is limited and may be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.
- The final decision is subject to the review of the application and the necessary documents submitted by the specific deadline.
