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First-Generation University Student Fund

FGF logo The First-Generation University Student Fund (FGF) was established to help unlock precious opportunities for BU’s first-generation local undergraduates to participate in diverse outside-of-classroom learning activities and develop in an all-rounded manner. Successful applicants will receive up to $15,000 for participating in different outside-of-classroom learning activities during their studies at HKBU.

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Objectives

To promote equal opportunities and to provide a balanced co-curricular development for first-generation university students (i.e. their parents have not received any post-secondary or university education), the “First-Generation University Student Fund” has been established at Hong Kong Baptist University to help students who need financial assistance and guidance in expanding their participation in outside-of-classroom activities for their whole person development and future career exploration.

Research has shown that many first-generation university students, compared to their second-generation counterparts, do not engage sufficiently in academic or social activities that are associated with success in university. Their participation in outside-of-classroom activities, which are an important integral part of the university curriculum, may be due to financial constraints and a lack of proper guidance. Therefore, the Fund is to provide financial support to eligible students, while appropriate advice and guidance on how they should plan for their co-curricular programmes and/or outside classrooms activities throughout their undergraduate years will be provided by student advisors in order to ensure that students can benefit fully from outside-of-classroom learning. 

Eligibility

Eligible applicants should be:

  1. local students studying in full‐time UGC‐funded undergraduate programmes at HKBU;
  2. first-generation university students (i.e. your parents have not received any post-secondary or university education); and
  3. receiving 50% or above grant* under the Tertiary Student Finance Scheme – Publicly-funded Programmes (TSFS) of the HKSAR Government in the current academic year. Eligible students will be invited via individual emails to make applications. 

*Please refer to this website for the amount of maximum grant: https://sa.hkbu.edu.hk/sfa/government-grants-and-loans/ugc-funded-full-time-programmes/tsfsnlsft#maxgl_tsfsnlsft

Amount of Subsidy

Basic Plan: Up to HK$15,000 subsidy will be given to each Year 1 successful applicant and the amount will be pro-rata for applicants of senior years as shown below. Eligible students are encouraged to plan for their learning and development, and apply for FGF as early as possible in order to get a higher subsidy amount as well as a longer period to use the entitled fund for approved activities.

Year of Study Amount of FGF Subsidy Offered (HKD)
1 $15,000
2 $11,000
3 $7,000
4 or above $3,000

Top-up Plan: To encourage and support students to attain learning experience outside Hong Kong with the Fund, the total amount of FGF subsidy granted to year two or above students will be topped up to a maximum of $15,000, on condition that they have used or will use the entitled fund to join at least one approved outside Hong Kong activity.

For example, a student who successfully applied for the Fund in Year 3 will be given $7000 FGF subsidy under the Basic Plan. However, if he/she now applies to spend his/her FGF on an approved outside Hong Kong activity (e.g. summer exchange programme), he/she may get up to $15,000 after top-up.

Scope & Activities supported by the Fund

First-Generation University Student Fund supports outside-of-classroom activities offered by HKBU Departments, Offices, student bodies and external organisations which fall under the scope of the Fund. The maximum amount of subsidy set for different categorises of activities are shown below:

FGF activities_cat AFGF activities_cat BCFGF activities_cat DEFFGF activities_cat GFGF activities_cat HFGF activity_cat IFGF activities_cat J

Recommended Activities:

Students are highly recommended to make use of their FGF to join the following activities offered by HKBU Departments/Offices:

Name of Programme/Activity Organiser(s) Period
(from)
Period
(to)
Destination/ Location Category  Programme cost/fee (HKD)
Study Trip and Experiential Learning at the La Biennale di Venezia 2024  Academy of Visual Arts 1 Jun 2024 31 Aug 2024 Venice, Italy A $15,000
Overseas Job Shadowing – Taipei  Career Centre 17 Dec 2023

14 Jan 2024
(7 days within the period)

Taipei B 6,650
Career Exploration Trip – GBA Career Centre whole year whole year GBA cities B $2,000
Career Exploration Trip – South Africa Career Centre 24 Dec 2023 1 Jan 2024 South Africa B $20,000
Career Exploration Trip – Shanghai  Career Centre 26 Dec 2023 30 Dec 2023 Shanghai B $5,000
Career Exploration Trip – Japan Career Centre 27 Dec 2023

7 Jan 2024
(5 days within the period)

Japan B $10,000
Career Exploration Trip – Taipei Career Centre 1 Jan 2024

6 Jan 2024
(5 days within the period)

Taipei B $8,200
Career Exploration Trip – Seoul  Career Centre 2 Jan 2024 6 Jan 2024 Seoul B $8,800
Career Exploration Trip – Singapore  Career Centre 2 Jan 2024 6 Jan 2024 Singapore B $7,200
Metropolitan Attachment Programme Career Centre 1 May 2024 31 Aug 2024 All over the world C Varies
Global Attachment Opportunities Career Centre whole year whole year All over the world C Varies
Skills Empowerment Schemes Career Centre whole year whole year Hong Kong F Varies
American Semester Abroad Program at University of Notre Dame Department of Religion and Philosophy and University of Notre Dame To be confirmed To be confirmed University of Notre Dame A $194,479 to $229,160
Faraday Institute Enrichment Programme on Science and Religion (2023-2024) Department of Religion and The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, United Kingdom  To be confirmed To be confirmed The Faraday Institute for Science and Religion, United Kingdom  A around $40,000
(for Accomodation and  flight ticket)
Taiwan Academic Visit HKBU (Department of Mathematics), CUHK, NCCU May 2024 May 2024 Taiwan B Approx. $8,000
Summer Undergraduate Research HKBU (Department of Mathematics), Missouri University of Science and Technology  Jun 2024 Aug 2024 USA B Airfare: $16,000;
Accommodation: $10,000 (estimated)
Student Exchange Programme 2023/24 International Office Depends on the destination Depends on the destination All over the world A Depends on the destination
Summer Abroad 2024 International Office Depends on the destination Depends on the destination All over the world A Depends on the destination
Foreign language courses which students need to pay a non-refundable full course fee Language Centre  whole year whole year HKBU E $670
Cultural & Economic Study Tour to Mexico 2023 Leadership Qualities Centre, SA 27 Dec 2023 7 Jan 2024 Mexico B $18,000
Cambodia Service Trip Leadership Qualities Centre, SA 2 Jan 2024 6 Jan 2024 Cambodia B $3,000

Rules & Regulations:

1. The Fund is not a bursary which subsidizes students' study or daily expenses. Students can only use it to support their participation in one or several co‐curricular programmes and/or outside classroom learning activities until the approved amount is depleted. The minimum claimed amount for each activity should be HK$500 or above.

2. Students can use the Fund during their course of study at HKBU. For final year students, the learning activity must be completed by 31 August of their graduation year.

3. Students should join the activities/courses via an organization which can provide official proofs and receipts for the cost/fee paid, i.e. personal trips and private instructors are not allowed

4. Students should submit a funding application for specific learning activity (Form II) prior to the commencement of the activity AND the purchase of learning tools if applicable. 

5. The Fund does not subsidize honours project, research or profit‐making activities.

6. Students are allowed to receive the Fund with other funding sources (e.g. Government Hall Subsidy, scholarships, internship salary & allowance, etc.) concurrently provided that the total funding support obtained does not exceed the net fees/cost they have paid. Students should inform SFA if the activity is funded by other sources of funding concurrently.

7. Students will not be reimbursed any subsidy if they could not complete the approved activity/course or fail the exam/test for professional certificates.

8. The Office of Student Affairs reserves the right to make final decision on each activity application, and to adjust the approved fund amount if deem appropriate.

Application Procedures and Timeline

*Scroll down to the bottom for the links to the relevant forms *

flowchart

Form I & 2

Report submissionBest report competitionreimbursement

Links to relevant forms:

Please login to our new application system for both Form I and Form II. You may refer to the user manual for the steps of using the system.

FORM I: for new applicants to sign up for FGF

FORM II: for current FGF recipients to apply funding for specific learning activity all year round

Evaluation form: for each completed activity

Submission platform: for submitting reflection report and completion proof

Support the Fund

The First-Generation University Student Fund at HKBU is jointly supported by the Strategic Development Fund, Schools/Faculties/Academy, as well as private donations. The University would like to express its immense gratitude to the following alumni, organisations, groups and individuals for their generous support of the Fund.

List of Donors (listed in alphabetical order):

No.

English Name

Chinese Name

#

Ms. Heidi Chan

陳慧玲女士

#

Mr. Chan Tat Keung

陳達強先生

#

Dr. Jonathan Choi Kwok-chan

蔡國贊博士

#

Mrs. Choi Wong Ling Ling, MH, JP

蔡黃玲玲女士,MH,JP

#

Mr. Fan Tung Donald

范統先生

#

Fong Shu Fook Tong Foundation

方樹福堂基金

#

Ms. Julia Fung Chui-ming

馮翠明女士

#

HKBU Century Club

香港浸會大學尚志會

#

Hong Kong Baptist University Alumni Association of Macau

香港浸會大學 (澳門) 校友會

#

Ms. Shirley Hui Shun-lee

許舜莉女士

#

Mr. Ip Ka-po

葉家寶先生

#

Kinetics Medical & Health Group Co. Ltd.

毅力醫護健康集團

#

Prof. Peter Kwan Wai

關偉教授

#

Mr. Kwong Chi Shing Savio

鄺志成先生

#

Mr. Kenny Lai Yu-kin

黎裕堅先生

#

Mr. Samuel Lau Kwok-ming

劉國明先生

#

Mr. Lau Pak-shing

劉百成先生

#

Mr. Herman Lau Tak-wan

劉得還院士

#

Mr. Lee Kin Arthur

李健先生

#

Dr. Andy Lee Shiu Chuen

李兆銓博士

#

Dr. Lee Oi Ping Christina, MH

李愛平博士,MH

#

H.Y. Leung & Co.

梁浩然律師事務所

#

Mrs. Agnes Leung Ho Wai-ling

梁何惠玲女士

#

Mr. Philip Leung Kwong-hon, MH

梁光漢先生, MH

#

Dr. Edith Leung Wai-yee

梁慧兒博士

#

Prof. William Leung Wing-cheung, SBS, JP

梁永祥教授, SBS, JP

#

Dr. Veronica Li Sin-yung

李倩容博士

#

Like Capital Ltd.

讚賞資本有限公司

#

Mr. Lim Han-ton

林瀚東先生

#

Prof. Liu Jiming

劉際明教授

#

Dr. Lo Tak Lam William

盧德臨醫生

#

Dr. Lo Tek Sheng Kevin

盧笛聲博士

#

Ms. Belinda Luk Kwai-sim

陸季嬋女士

#

Pecan Foundation Limited

眾富基金會有限公司

#

Prof. Dickson Shang Tat Yan

尚達人教授

#

Shun Hing Education & Charity Fund Ltd

信興教育及慈善基金有限公司

#

Mr. Patrick Siu Chiu-shun

蕭潮順先生

# Rebecca Chan Care Foundation for Education 陳自芬教育關愛基金

#

Ricacorp Properties Limited

利嘉閣地產有限公司

#

Mr. Tyrone Siu Tai-lun

蕭泰崙先生

#

Mr. Tam Kam-chiu

譚錦超先生

#

Mr. Tam Man-ting

譚文鼎先生

#

Mr. Alfred Tang Kwai-chang

鄧貴彰先生 

#

Ms. Grace Tang Ka-shun

鄧嘉洵女士

#

Mr. Stephen Tang Wing-on

鄧永安先生

#

Mr. Tao Wai Leung

杜偉樑先生

#

Time Watch Investments Limited

時計寶投資有限公司 

#

Dr. Jacinto Tong Man-leung

湯文亮博士

#

Ms. Marianna Tsang Wai-chun

曾惠珍女士

#

Prof. James S. Tsien

錢乃駿教授

#

Prof. Teresa Tsien Wong Bik-kwan

錢黃碧君教授

#

Mr. Kent Tsui Kwok-yue

徐國榆先生

#

Wafer Systems (Hong Kong) Limited

威發系統(香港)有限公司

#

Wah Lam Building Materials Limited

華林建築材料有限公司

#

Ms. Amy Wong

黃穎欣女士

#

Mr. Victor Wong Chung-kin

黃頌堅先生

#

Prof. Sunny Wong Hak-kun

王克勤教授

#

Mr. Wong How-kung

黃孝恭先生

#

Ms. Agnes Wong Lai-chun 

王麗珍女士

#

Ms. Esther Wong May-wai

黃美慧女士

#

Mr. Wong Nga-chung

黃雅忠院士

#

Ms. Sheila Wong Shun-mei

黃洵美女士

#

Mr. Wong Wing Tsang

黃榮錚先生

#

Dr. Wilfred Wong Ying-wai, GBS, JP

王英偉博士,GBS,JP

#

Dr. Vicky Wong Ying-ying

黃盈盈博士

#

Mr. Joseph Wong Yun-kit

王仁杰先生

#

Prof. Bernard Wu Tak-lung

吳德龍教授

#

Ms. Wu Xiaowei

吳霄薇女士

#

Prof. Xiao Xiaosui

蕭小穗教授

#

Mr. Wilson Yeh Wai-kwan

葉維鈞先生

#

Y. T. Chan & Co. Solicitors & Notaries

陳應達律師事務所

#

Dr. Richard Yee Man-hei

余文熙博士

#

Dr. Alice Yeung

楊素梅博士

#

Mr. Yeung Chiu Sing Ricky, BBS

楊超成先生,BBS

# Dr. Yu Wai Yin Alex 余惠賢醫生

 

Make a Donation

 

To sustain the First-Generation University Student Fund and benefit more students, we appreciate and need the generous suppport of alumni and friends of HKBU, as well as the general public of Hong Kong Society.

Your donation, regardless of amount, will help our students to achieve their full intellectual and whole-person development, and eventually, motivate them to give back to those with fewer advantages in the future!

If you are interested in supporting the First-Generation University Student Fund, please contact the University Advancement Office at uao@hkbu.edu.hk or by completing the donation form at https://foundation.hkbu.edu.hk/sites/default/files/smallBanners/02_FGUSFund_191024.pdf​.

Sharing of Recipients

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FAQs


FORM I: Confirmation of Eligibility

  1. Am I eligible to apply if my sibling(s) is/are university students / graduates?
    As long as your parents have not received any post-secondary or university education and you fulfill all other specified criteria, you can apply for FGF. For eligibility, you may see the details here.
     
  2. What does "50% or above grant" mean?
    A student with grant offer under TSFS receives the 50% or above amount of maximum grant, please click the link below to check whether you are receiving a 50% or above grant: https://sa.hkbu.edu.hk/sfa/government-grants-and-loans/ugc-funded-full-time-programmes/tsfsnlsft#maxgl_tsfsnlsft
     
  3. Do I need to provide any supporting document to prove my “50% or above grant” status?
    No supporting document is needed as SFA Unit will verify applicants’ TSFS application status with the government.
     
  4. If I am waiting for the TSFS result, can I apply for FGF?
    No, please do NOT apply if you are waiting for your TSFS result. You may apply later when you have received a 50% or above grant offer under TSFS.
     
  5. Do I need to print and submit the hard copy of application form after submitting it online?
    No, you just need to submit your application online. No need to print and submit the hard copy of application form.
     
  6. I am a non-local student, can I apply for FGF?
    No, FGF is only open to local students who meet the specified criteria at this stage.
     
  7. Do I need to fill out “FORM I” again if I have successfully applied before?
    No, eligible students need to fill out “FORM I” ONCE only. After your eligibility is confirmed, you may proceed to use your entitled fund by filling out “FORM II: Funding Application for Specific Learning Activity”.
     
  8. I am eligible for FGF, but I do not plan to join any learning activity this year. Should I apply next year when I want to join an activity?
    Eligible students are encouraged to plan for their learning and development, and apply for the Fund as early as possible in order to get a higher subsidy amount as well as a longer period to use the entitled fund for approved activities. If you apply next year, the amount of your entitled fund will be reduced.
     
  9. I am eligible for FGF but I am now in exchange or not in Hong Kong. Can I still apply?
    Yes, application can be done online.
     
  10. I have used up my FGF in year 2, can I apply for FGF again in year 3 if I am a 50% or above grant recipient?
    No, each eligible student can enjoy FGF once only.

 

FORM II: Funding Application for Specific Learning Activity

  1. When can I use my entitled funding?
    You can use your entitled fund anytime during your course of study at HKBU. You can spend it on several learning activities until the approved amount is depleted. Please complete “FORM II” when you are planning to use your FGF for a specific activity.
     
  2. Can I skip “FORM I” and fill out “FORM II” first?
    No, applicants should have submitted “FORM I” before filling out FORM II for funding application. However, they do not need to wait for the result of "FORM I" before submitting "FORM II". The two application forms can be considered in one go.
     
  3. I plan to participate in a learning activity. When should I submit the funding application?
    You should submit the funding application at least 2 weeks prior to the commencement of the activity so that we have enough time to consider your application.
     
  4. Can I apply for two learning activities in one application?
    No, separate application should be made for each activity.
     
  5. What kind of learning activities should I participate in?
    Students are recommended to participate in activities which will benefit their personal growth and career development. Please refer to the Scope and Activities supported by the Fund.
     
  6. Should I fill out “FORM II” after I am successfully admitted to a learning activity?
    You may fill out “FORM II” once you plan to join an activity. It is not necessary to wait till you are admitted to the activity. Just let us know the estimated cost and the result release date in the form. Remember that you should submit the funding application at least 2 weeks prior to the commencement of the activity.
     
  7. If I have received other subsidies which cover all the expense of my activity, can I still apply FGF for that activity?
    Students are allowed to receive FGF with other funding sources concurrently provided that the total funding obtained does not exceed the actual fee/cost they have paid. If your activity is already fully supported by other sources, you should use your FGF on other activities.
     
  8. What supporting documents are needed for FORM II?
    You should provide the activity website in the form which shows the activity details, schedule, fees, etc. If no website can be provided, you may send us the information by email to firstgen@hkbu.edu.hk.
     
  9. I would like to use my FGF on hall residence in the first semester but my residence has started when my FORM I application is approved. Can I still apply funding for it?
    We have special arrangements for students applying funding for hall residence. Please refer to the Scope and Activities for the timeline.

  10. Can I use my FGF on attending courses offered by private tutors who are not affiliated to any organisation or company?
    No, students should join the activities/courses via a registered organization which can provide official proofs and receipts for the cost/fee paid, i.e. personal trips and private instructors are not allowed. 


Reimbursement of Subsidy

  1. When can I get the reimbursement from the Fund?
    Subsidy reimbursement via the Finance Office will be arranged upon students' submission of report, photos, participation proof as well as all the required expenditure proofs, if applicable. Students may receive the subsidy normally in around 8 - 12 weeks (subject to Finance Office's approval) on condition that the documents they submitted have fulfilled the requirements and they submitted before the designated deadline.

  2. What supporting documents are needed for reimbursement?
    For activities organised by HKBU Departments or Offices, the organiser will be asked to verify the participation status of students and the actual cost. For students taking part in activities offered by student societies or external bodies, they need to provide completion proof and payment records such as the original receipts issued by the organiser, flight or train tickets, etc. to the Finance Office via SFA for verification. Please keep all the original receipts in good condition.
     
  3. I was approved $9000 for my activity but the actual expense is $8000 only, will I still receive $9000?
    No, we will adjust the fund amount downward according to your actual expense.
     
  4. Can I scan and submit my original payment receipts by email?
    No, you should hand or post the original receipt to us unless it is an online receipt.
     
  5. How will I receive the fund reimbursement?
    The approved fund will be deposited into your bank account registered in BUniport.