The Grant was set up with donations raised by the Village CARE Campaign in 2019. A group of HKBU alumni pledged a sum donation in support of students with special educational needs (SSEN). The Grant represents a way to show the alumni’s gratitude to their alma mater, an encouragement for the next generation of students to thrive in their own way.
Through the applicants’ participation or organization of local or global activities/projects:
1. To enhance the overall competences of SSEN.
2. To enhance the sense of belonging, support and care of SSEN.
Full-time HKBU students studying UGC-funded or self-financed sub-degree or above level programmes, registered with special educational needs, as categorised as follows:
1. The proposed activities or projects must meet the objectives of the Grants as listed in the objectives above. The activities may include participation or organization of local or global experiential programmes, service-learning opportunities, short-term overseas study or service trip, language courses taken in Hong Kong, sports/music/arts or other skills training/courses taken in Hong Kong, etc.
2. No retrospective application will be considered.
3. Multi-application is accepted on different nature of proposed activities/projects in each academic year.
Open application
1. Applications will be assessed on the basis of the followings:
2. Preference will be given to eligible applicants who have never received any SEN- related funding before.
3. Up to ten per year subject to the availability of the funding source.
4. Maximum Fundable Amount
5. Eligible applicants can apply for grants to support their learning activities/projects in different types more than once. A separate application for grants should be made for each learning activity/project.
HKBU Alumni Gratitude Grant (AGG) supports outside-of-classroom learning activities offered by HKBU Departments, Offices, student bodies and external organisations, which fall under the scope of the Grant. Suggested learning activities shall include, but not be limited to the following:
| Category | Remarks |
|---|---|
Thematic training events with topics related to SEN/disability/inclusion/equal opportunity | NA |
| Short-term overseas study or service trip, training programme, competition or conference |
|
| Language learning courses |
|
| Sports/music/arts or other skills training/courses |
|
| Research Study |
|
| Publication |
|
1. Please note that eligible students can only use the Grant to support their organisation and/or participation in outside classroom learning activities until the approved amount is depleted.
2. For final year eligible students, each learning activity must be completed by 17 July of their graduation year.
3. Students are allowed to receive the Grant with other funding resources concurrently provided that the total funding support obtained does not exceed the net fees/cost they have paid. Interested eligible students must declare their other sources of funding on the activity proposal AT LEAST SIX WEEKS prior to the start of the learning activities/projects along with all support documents. If other additional sources of funding are secured/confirmed after the submission, students should inform USSEN immediately about such an update.
4. Students will not be reimbursed with any grant if they fail to complete the approved activity and submit all relevant documents, including official proofs and original receipts for the cost/fee paid.
5. The Office of Student Affairs reserves the right to decide on each application and adjust the approved grant amount if deemed appropriate.
Timeline for 2025-26 applications
| 1 September 2025 to 30 June 2026 | Application Period |
|---|---|
| Within 5 calendar weeks | Notification of application result |
| Within 2 calendar weeks upon receipt of the end of learning activity* | Submission of required documents |
| Around 8 - 12 weeks upon submission of completed set of required documents | Receive Reimbursement |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for submission of required documents |
*For final year students, the learning activity must be completed by 17 July of their graduation year or before their studentship expires, whichever is earlier.
Interested students should:
1. complete the online application form,
2. submit the following supporting documents to USSEN via email:
(a) Supporting/information of the medical intervention/special transportation service related to the disability;
(b) Copies of most recent medical reports and/or supporting documents such as assessment report to prove your special education need(s);
Successful applicants shall:
1. be notified of application results within five calendar weeks after submission of all required documents/meeting held and further information provided if any;
2. receive and sign an offer letter of the grant;
3. submit the following documents within two calendar weeks upon the end of learning activity:
(a) a sharing article,
(b) original invoice and receipt from the service provider,
(c) bank account details and
(d) three photos;
4. not submit the above documents late as this may result in score deduction in applying for other HKBU SEN-related financial schemes;
5. be invited to present/share the application and outcomes;
6. receive reimbursement normally in around 8 - 12 weeks upon acceptance of the final auditing and submission of documents; and
7. hold valid HKBU full-time equivalent (FTE) studentship at the time of reimbursement, or no approved fund will be reimbursed. USSEN reserves the rights on the decisions of subsidy allocation and guidelines amendment at any time as appropriate.
For any enquires, please contact us at the Unit for Students with Special Educational Needs, Counselling and Development Centre, Office of Student Affairs:
Tel : +852 3411 5230
Email : ussen@hkbu.edu.hk
Address : Room DLB704A, Level 7, David C. Lam Building, Shaw Campus
Opening Hours
Mondays to Fridays – 9:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 5:30pm
Saturdays, Sundays and Public Holidays – Closed
POON Siu Wai, Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Visual Arts
Guitar Course
“Under my instructor’s guidance, I systematically strengthened my technical and theoretical groundwork, thoroughly studied Grade 8 repertoire, and built a solid framework for future progress. Most significantly, I began exploring composition and arrangement techniques that opened new creative horizons and allowed me to explore the art through original musical ideas.
I’ve grown not just in skill but also in resilience and self-awareness. Moving forward, I will continue refining my craft, conquer rhythmic challenges, pursue Grade 8 certification, and nurture my compositional voice. This grant did more than fund lessons—it ignited my belief in lifelong artistic pursuit.”
CHEUNG Wai, Bachelor of Social Work (Hons.)
Course on Facilitation Skills
“I was fortunate to participate in the "Basic Course on Six Bricks" and the "Pastel Nagomi Art Course." This funding allowed me to fully immerse myself in these two training programs, which are rich in creativity and therapeutic value. The skills I learned were directly applied during my social work fieldwork placement, successfully using the six bricks and pastel nagomi art techniques to provide sensory cognitive training for the elderly.
After this training, I built confidence in transforming creative techniques into service capabilities. I am now able to independently use color materials for emotional guidance and conduct group assessment work through structured games.”
LAU Batis, Bachelor of Chinese Medicine and Bachelor of Science (Hons.) in Biomedical Science
Thai-Boxing Class
“The Advanced Thai-Boxing class exceeded my expectations in terms of the quality of instruction and the supportive environment provided by the trainers and fellow participants. The instructors were highly skilled and tailored their guidance to individual needs, which greatly enhanced the learning experience. The class not only met but surpassed my goals, offering a holistic approach to mastering the art of Thai-boxing.
I am proud of my commitment and perseverance throughout the course. By consistently attending classes and practicing outside of training sessions, I maximized the learning opportunities provided. However, there is room for improvement in managing my energy and time more effectively. Reflecting on this journey, I recognize that my proactive approach and openness to feedback were instrumental in making this learning experience fruitful.”
PANG Man Hei, Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) in Religion, Philosophy and Ethics
Gym Course
“During these months, I have learnt more about my body— body alignment— my limitations and potential.
Body alignment refers to how the head, shoulders, spine, hips, knees and ankles relate and line up with each other. Proper alignment allows me to maximise my potential joint flexibility to maximise the efficiency of my training. My trainer is one of the top body alignment experts in Hong Kong, and I have followed his training for a year.
I think it is a great experience and adventure for me to sharpen my volition and stabilise my mentality. I do see the changes in my body to have better alignment, posture and bigger muscles, on the other hand, I still have a huge room for improving my self-discipline. Regardless, it is a great experience and have the honour to be sponsored by the Grant.”