Introduction of CEF
The Continuing Education Fund (CEF) subsidises adults with learning aspirations to pursue continuing education and training. Eligible applicants may submit unlimited number of claims for reimbursement of fees up to a maximum sum of HK$20,000 within one year upon successful completion of CEF reimbursable courses and before reaching the age of 71. The co-payment ratios by learners (i.e. the percentage of fees to be borne by learners) for the first HK$10,000 subsidy is 20% of the course fee and that for the second HK$10,000 subsidy is 40% of the course fee.
For applicants who have opened a CEF account before 1 April 2019, they are also eligible for claiming the additional HK$10,000 subsidy and the unused balance (if any) of the original subsidy of HK$10,000 regardless of whether their accounts were closed in the past. The co-payment ratios are same as above.
CEF Course List
Eligibility
Persons who meet the following criteria can apply for CEF:
- Hong Kong residents who have the right of abode or the right to land or to remain in Hong Kong without restriction, or holders of one-way permit from Mainland China;
- Aged between 18 and 70 (i.e. before reaching the age of 71) both at the time when the CEF reimbursable course under application commences and at the time when an application for fee reimbursement is submitted, which should be within one year upon the successful completion of the CEF reimbursable course;
- Have enrolled in and paid the tuition fee for the CEF reimbursable course; and
- Have not obtained any other public funds or assistance under any other publicly-funded financial assistance schemes for the same course.
Reimbursement Procedures
With effect from 1 April 2019, applicants who apply for CEF for the first time are only required to complete Application Form [SFO 313 (2020)], which is a combined application form for both account opening and fee reimbursement. This combined form is also applicable to applicants who have opened a CEF account before 1 April 2019 to apply for fee reimbursement only.
CEF Reimbursable Courses
CEF reimbursable courses cover all eligible courses registered under the Qualifications Register (QR), including Specification of Competency Standards-based (SCS-based) courses; Specification of Generic (Foundation) Competencies-based (SGC-based) courses; and non SCS / SGC-based courses which are divided into 14 classified Areas of Study and Training (The programmes funded by University Grants Committee and provided by Employees Retraining Board are not included.)
View Reimbursable Course List
View List of Course Providers
For further information, visit Continuing Education Fund Website.
