HKQF - Designated Support Schemes for QF

Upon the establishment of the QF Fund on 1 September 2014, the "Designated Support Schemes for QF" has incorporated the previous "Qualifications Framework Support Schemes (QFSS)" with some operating parameters relaxed to support various stakeholders to participate in QF. These Schemes include:

For Education and Training providers (including organisations offering in-house training programmes)

Accreditation Grant Scheme for Self-financing Programmes

Accreditation Grant Scheme for Self-financing Programmes covers the fees for accreditation exercises, including Initial Evaluation, Institutional Review, Learning Programme Accreditation and Learning Programme Re-accreditation.

Eligibility

Providers and qualifications concerned must be successfully accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications
Programmes / qualifications concerned must be registered in the Qualifications Register
Applicable to self-financing programmes

Level of Subsidy

Scope	Non-profit-making Providers	Other Providers
Initial Evaluation / Institutional Review ^@ Fees	100%	50%
Learning Programme Accreditation / Learning Programme Re-accreditation Fees
Specification of Competency Standards-based / Specification of Generic (Foundation) Competencies-based programmes ^#	100%	50%
Other Programmes	70%	35%

Guidance Notes

pdf version

Application Forms

QFF-AG pdf version word version

Guideline Featuring QF in Certificates New

Samples of Certification of Supporting Documents New

For accreditation exercises completed before 1 September 2014 (according to the date of the Summary Statement of Accreditation Approval issued by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications), the level of subsidy under the former Qualifications Framework Support Schemes (QFSS) will apply. Enquiries on subsidies under the QFSS may be addressed to Further Education Division of Education Bureau (Telephone no. : 3509 7425 , Fax no. : 2899 2967).

@ Institutional Review (IR) include IR for registration under the Post Secondary Colleges Ordinance and IR for private university title.

# Self-financing programmes refer to programmes other than publicly-funded programmes offered by the eight institutions funded by the University Grants Committee, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, Vocational Training Council and Prince Philip Dental Hospital.

Accreditation Grant Scheme for Programme Area Accreditation

Accreditation Grant Scheme for Programme Area Accreditation covers the fees for Programme Area Accreditation and Periodic Institutional Review.

Eligibility

Programmes and qualifications concerned must be successfully accredited by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications

Level of Subsidy

Scope	Non-profit-making Providers	Other Providers
Programme Area Accreditation / Periodic Institutional Review Fees	70%	35%

Guidance Notes

pdf version

Application Forms

QFF-PAA pdf version word version

Guideline Featuring QF in Certificates New

Samples of Certification of Supporting Documents New

Specification of Competency Standards (SCS)-based / Specification of Generic (Foundation) Competencies (SGC)-based Courses Development Grant Scheme

SCS-based/SGC-based Courses Development Grant Scheme provides a one-off grant for development of SCS-based/SGC-based courses with class started.

Eligibility

Newly developed SCS-based / SGC-based courses with class started
Courses / qualifications concerned must be successfully accredited
Must be registered in the Qualifications Register

Level of Subsidy

Scope	Credit Size	Level of Subsidy
Newly developed SCS-based courses with class started	12-35 QF credits	$30,000 per course
Newly developed SCS-based courses with class started	36 QF credits or above	$50,000 per course
Newly developed SGC-based courses with class started	6-17 QF credits	$20,000 per course
Newly developed SGC-based courses with class started	18 QF credits or above	$40,000 per course

Guidance Notes

pdf version

Application Forms

QFF-SCS/SGC pdf version word version

Samples of Certification of Supporting Documents New

Qualifications Register Subsidy Scheme

Qualifications Register Subsidy Scheme covers the fees for registering and hosting qualifications and their associated programmes in the Qualifications Register (QR).

Eligibility

All qualifications and their associated programmes registered in QR

Level of Subsidy

Registration Fees	Hosting Fees
100%	100%

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) Support Scheme

For Industry practitioners

Eligibility

Practitioners successfully passed the RPL assessments

Level of Subsidy

100% of RPL Assessment Fees. To be reimbursed in two stages:

Successfully passed RPL assessments
- 75% of RPL Assessment Fees
Completed a QF-recognised training course
- the remaining 25% of RPL Assessment Fees

Enhancement Measures of RPL Support Scheme

From 1 December 2019*, all RPL applicants can apply for full reimbursement of assessment fees in a lump sum after obtaining the Statement of Attainment (SOA). All applications should be submitted within two years from the date of issuance of SOA. Late applications will not be accepted.
For those who have successfully applied for RPL on or before 30 November 2019 and wish to apply for either full or partial reimbursement of assessment fees, please submit applications on or before 30 November 2021. Late applications will not be accepted.

* It refers to the date applicants submit RPL application forms to assessment agencies or the postmark date on envelope.

Application

Application for Reimbursement of RPL assessment fees should be submitted to the Qualifications Framework Secretariat. Please click here for application details.

For Assessment Agencies (AAs) and Collaborating Organisations

Scope	Accreditation Grant/Assessment fee to AAs/collaborating organisations	Start-up Grant to AAs	Annual Maintenance Grant to AAs	Subsidy to AAs
Eligibility	‧　First time and subsequent accreditation ‧　Successful accreditation by the Hong Kong Council for Accreditation of Academic and Vocational Qualifications (HKCAAVQ) ‧　Appointed by the Secretary for Education (SED)	‧　Successful accreditation by HKCAAVQ (first-time accreditation) ‧　Appointed by SED	AAs starting from the 2nd year of the appointment	Appointed by SED
Level of Subsidy	100% of accreditation / re-accreditation and assessment fee	Up to $500,000 per AA per industry for the actual expenditure	Up to $300,000 per AA per industry for the actual expenditure	$600 for each new application of RPL cluster processed
Application	For application and enquiries, please contact Further Education Division of Education Bureau (Telephone no.: 3509 7425, Fax no.: 2899 2967).

Administrative Guidelines for the Use of the Accreditation / Start-up / Maintenance / Retainer / Annual Maintenance Grants to RPL AAs

Guidelines Appendix

Application Forms

Accreditation Grant and/or Start-up / Maintenance / Retainer / Annual Maintenance Grant to RPL AAs
QFF-RPL AA pdf version word version

Subsidy for Clusters Processed by AAs
QFF-RPL AA (Cluster) pdf version word version

Samples of Certification of Supporting Documents New

Support Scheme for Recognition of Professional Qualifications under HKQF

For Assessment Agencies

Scope	Non-profit-making Organisations	Other Organisations
Accreditation/re-accreditation fee	100%	50%
Accreditation fee for subsequent inclusion of additional qualifications	100%	50%
Application	For application for reimbursement and enquiries, please contact Further Education Division of Education Bureau (Telephone no.: 3509 7425, Fax no.: 2899 2967).

Application Form

QFF-PQAApdf version word version

Samples of Certification of Supporting Documents New