e-Bulletin for Parents - 22 August 2025

Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme Opens for New Applications

The Mainland University Study Subsidy Scheme (MUSSS) aims to support Hong Kong students in pursuing undergraduate studies on the Mainland and ensure that no students will be deprived of post-secondary education opportunity due to a lack of means. MUSSS comprises two components: “means-tested subsidy” (eligible students who have passed a means test will receive either a full-rate subsidy or a half-rate subsidy, depending on their needs) and “non-means-tested subsidy”. The subsidy is granted on a yearly basis, and the subsidised period is the normal duration of the undergraduate programme pursued by the student concerned in a designated Mainland institution. Eligible applicants can only receive either a means-tested subsidy or a non-means-tested subsidy in the same academic year.

MUSSS is not subject to any quota. For the 2025/26 academic year, there are 201 designated Mainland institutions. The subsidy will be disbursed to eligible students based on the distance between the location of their institutions and Hong Kong, which will be grouped under the following three categories:

Students meeting the following criteria may apply for the “means-tested subsidy” for the 2025/26 academic year:

having right of abode ^Note(1) or right to land in, or have entered Hong Kong on One-way Permits;
having received and completed senior secondary education in Hong Kong ^Note(2); and
pursuing undergraduate studies in any of the 201 designated Mainland institutions in the 2025/26 academic year^Note(3).

Students meeting the following criteria may apply for the “non-means-tested subsidy” for the 2025/26 academic year:

having right of abode ^Note(1) or right to land in, or have entered Hong Kong on One-way Permits;
having received and completed senior secondary education in Hong Kong ^Note(2);
pursuing undergraduate studies in any of the 201 designated Mainland institutions in the 2025/26 academic year ^Note(3); and
(1) attained “3322” ^Note(4) or “332A” ^Note(5) in the Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education Examination (HKDSE), i.e. attained Level 3 in Chinese Language and English Language, Level 2 in Mathematics, and Level 2 in Liberal Studies or “Attained” in Citizenship and Social Development; OR
(2) pursuing studies in Huaqiao University through “Pilot Scheme on the Articulation of Hong Kong Sub-degree Graduates to Huaqiao University”; OR
(3) admitted to a Mainland institution through the “School Principal Nomination Scheme” under the “Scheme for Admission of Hong Kong Students to Mainland Higher Education Institutions”.

Note:

A student who is expected to receive his/her right of abode within the 2025/26 academic year may also apply.
To also cover schools for Hong Kong children on the Mainland listed under the HKDSE Participating School List published by the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority. For the 2025/26 academic year, HKDSE graduates from Shenzhen Hong Kong Pui Kiu College Longhua Xinyi School, Affiliated School of JNU for Hong Kong and Macao Students, Minxin Hong Kong School (Guangzhou Nansha) and Affiliated School of JNU for Hong Kong and Macao Students (Dongguan) are eligible to apply provided that they also fulfill other criteria listed under “Eligibility” of MUSSS.
Not applicable to the following students enrolled in dual/joint bachelor’s degree programmes or any course/study programme leading to the award of a bachelor’s degree by a partner institution of a designated Mainland institution upon graduation:
(i) who are studying in non-designated Mainland institutions or partner institutions outside Hong Kong under programme arrangements during the 2025/26 academic year; or
(ii) who were first admitted by Hong Kong post-secondary institutions and subsequently admitted by designated Mainland institutions for the aforementioned programmes.
Applicable to HKDSE results obtained in or before 2023.
The Citizenship and Social Development subject replaced the original Liberal Studies subject in the 2024 HKDSE. The scoring criteria for the Citizenship and Social Development subject is “Attained” and “Not Attained”, with “A” representing “Attained”. The HKDSE results obtained in 2024 or later have been revised to be “332A”.

Eligible students are required to submit their applications via the MUSSS Electronic Application Platform (https://musss.edb.gov.hk) or send the completed application forms and relevant supporting documents by post to EDB on or before 13 October 2025.

Details of MUSSS (including the list of designated Mainland institutions) are available at the EDB website (https://www.edb.gov.hk/musss).

Enquiries should be directed to 2827 1112 or musss@edb.gov.hk.