Reimbursement of Upskilling Allowance - Frequently Asked Questions

General information
1.	Question:	Who can apply for the “Upskilling Allowance”?
1.	Answer:	Graduate apprentices who completed or will complete the Contracts of Apprenticeship between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2027 are eligible Applicants.
2.	Question:	What do 18 months (“Stage 1”), 36 months (“Stage 2”) and 39 months refer to?
2.	Answer:	18 months and 36 months refer to duration of full-time employment in Specified Trade required for the “Upskilling Allowance” up to HK$10,000 and HK$20,000 in respective stages. 39 months refers to the timeframe within which Upskilling Course(s) must be completed.
3.	Question:	What does “full-time employment” mean?
3.	Answer:	Full-time employment is defined as adhering to the working hours and days stated on the employment contract and policies of the company.
4.	Question:	Do I have to stay with the same company during my Apprenticeship Training?
4.	Answer:	The Applicant is required to continue working in the same trade as his/her apprenticeship training but not limited to employment with the same company upon graduation. In case of a change of employer in the same trade, the Applicant should submit a new Pre-Assessment Application with recommendation from the new employer before the course commencement.
5.	Question:	Where can I download the Application Form(s)?
5.	Answer:	All Application Forms are available on the Apprenticeship website. Applicants can find these under "Allowance of the Apprenticeship Scheme" → "Forms Download" → "Allowance of the Apprenticeship Scheme" → "Reimbursement of Upskilling Allowance for Graduate Apprentice."
6.	Question:	How do I submit the “Pre-Assessment” Application and the “Reimbursement Application”?
6.	Answer:	Applicants may submit related Application(s) with supporting documents by post or in-person. If submitted by post, Applicants should specify “Application for Upskilling Allowance” on the envelope. If submitted in-person, Applicants may visit The ODA during office hours, details as follow: The ODA Address: Room C-E, 22/F, Billion Plaza II, 10 Cheung Yue Street, Cheung Sha Wan, Kowloon; Office Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (excluding Public Holidays), Saturday, Sunday, Public Holiday: Closed
7.	Question:	Can I retrieve the document(s) and make corrections after submission?
7.	Answer:	All submitted documents are not returnable. Applicants should write to The ODA for any request to make corrections.
8.	Question:	Should the "Upskilling Allowance" be reported in my Tax Return?
8.	Answer:	No, it is not necessary to report in Tax Return as “Upskilling Allowance” is granted to an applicant on a reimbursement basis. If you have any enquiries, please contact the Inland Revenue Department.
9.	Question:	Can I claim tax deduction for the Upskilling Course tuition fee as the Expenses of Self-education on my Tax Return?
9.	Answer:	No, you cannot claim tax deduction for related course tuition fee. If you have any enquiries, please contact the Inland Revenue Department.

Regarding “Pre-Assessment” Application
1.	Question:	What Upskilling Courses are available?
1.	Answer:	Applicants may visit the Qualifications Register (QR) website to search for trade-related courses using keywords.
2.	Question:	How do I find out the Qualifications Register (QR) registration number and Qualifications Framework (QF) level of the Upskilling Course(s)?
2.	Answer:	Applicants may visit the Qualifications Register (QR) website and use appropriate keywords to search for relevant information.
3.	Question:	Can I take the Upskilling Course(s) in a full-time mode?
3.	Answer:	No, Applicants must commit to full-time work while taking a part-time course(s).
4.	Question:	Can I take online Upskilling Course(s)?
4.	Answer:	Yes, you can, given the online course is validly registered under the Qualifications Register (QR) and has met all the requirements of Upskilling Courses.
5.	Question:	Can I apply for one of the semesters or modules within a programme?
5.	Answer:	Yes, you can, given that the semester or module is validly registered under the Qualifications Register (QR) and has met all the requirements of Upskilling Courses.
6.	Question:	Can I take more than one Upskilling Course?
6.	Answer:	Applicants may take one or more Upskilling Courses, and there is no limit on the number of Upskilling Courses.
7.	Question:	What if the Upskilling Course duration exceeds 39 months?
7.	Answer:	The course is not eligible for the “Reimbursement Application” and thus the Pre-Assessment Application won’t be approved.
8.	Question:	What if I fail to complete the Upskilling Course within 39 months as scheduled (e.g. deferment of study approved by the training provider)?
8.	Answer:	When submitting the "Reimbursement Application", if the Upskilling Course completion date shown on the supplementary document exceeds 39 months after completion of an apprenticeship training, the course will no longer be eligible for the “Reimbursement Application”.
9.	Question:	Can a single "Pre-Assessment Form" be used for more than one Upskilling Course?
9.	Answer:	No. Each Application Form should only be used for one specific Upskilling Course. If Applicants are applying for multiple Upskilling Courses, Applicants must fill out and submit individual Forms for each one.
10.	Question:	Can I take Upskilling Courses under the “Continuing Education Fund” or “Vplus Subsidy Scheme”?
10.	Answer:	Applicants may apply for Upskilling Courses under the “Continuing Education Fund” or “Vplus Subsidy Scheme”. However, Applicants must declare on the “Reimbursement Application Form” that the Applicant has not and will not receive or apply for any other subsidies from other public funding schemes or employers.
11.	Question:	I have applied for the “Continuing Education Fund” for a certain module of a programme, are the remaining modules eligible for the “Upskilling Allowance”?
11.	Answer:	The remaining modules are still eligible for the “Upskilling Allowance” given that the remaining modules are validly registered under the Qualifications Register (QR) and have met all the requirements of Upskilling Courses. In addition, the Applicant must declare he/she will not receive or apply for any other kinds of subsidies from other public funding schemes or Employers for those modules.
12.	Question:	When can I apply for the “Pre-Assessment” Application?
12.	Answer:	Graduated applicants should apply for the “Pre-Assessment” Application 3 months prior to the Upskilling Course commencement; Applicants who are yet to finish their Contract of Apprenticeship may apply for the “Pre-Assessment” Application 3 months before graduation.
13.	Question:	Is it necessary to submit the "Pre-Assessment" Application before taking the Upskilling Course?
13.	Answer:	Yes, the Applicant will need to obtain a “Pre-Assessment Approval Letter” or a “Conditional Offer Letter” prior to the course commencement to be eligible for the “Reimbursement Application”.
14.	Question:	Can I apply for the “Pre-Assessment” Application after the Upskilling Course has begun?
14.	Answer:	Applicants must apply for the “Pre-Assessment” Application 3 months before the course commencement and receive a “Pre-Assessment Approval Letter” or a “Conditional Offer Letter” prior to the course commencement. Failure to obtain approval before the course will make the Applicant ineligible for the "Reimbursement Application".
15.	Question:	When will I receive the “Pre-Assessment” result?
15.	Answer:	The ODA will process and notify Applicants via email within 2 months upon receipt of duly completed “Pre-Assessment” Application and supporting documents.
16.	Question:	Do I need to obtain a (Conditional) Offer from the institution before applying for the “Pre-Assessment” Application?
16.	Answer:	Applicants should apply for the “Pre-Assessment” Application 3 months before the Upskilling Course commences. Any course offers from institutions will not affect the “Pre-Assessment” result.
17.	Question:	If I am not able to take an approved Upskilling Course as scheduled and would like to enrol in the next cohort, do I need to apply for the “Pre-Assessment” Application for the same course again?
17.	Answer:	If the Upskilling Course details (such as name of course, tuition fee and QR registration number) remain the same besides commencement and expected completion date, there is no need to apply for the "Pre-Assessment" Application again. It is the responsibility of the Applicant to ensure the Upskilling Course can be completed within 39 months after graduation in order to be eligible for the “Reimbursement Application”.
18.	Question:	Can I not take the Approved Upskilling Course?
18.	Answer:	Yes. However, Applicants should submit a new "Pre-Assessment” Application for any subsequent course(s) you wish to take.
19.	Question:	What if I lost the “Pre-Assessment Approval Letter” or the “Conditional Offer Letter”?
19.	Answer:	Applicants should write to the ODA to apply for a replacement “Pre-Assessment Approval Letter” or “Conditional Offer Letter” as soon as possible.

Regarding “Reimbursement Application”
1.	Question:	When can I apply for the “Reimbursement Application”?
1.	Answer:	Applicants may apply for the “Reimbursement Application” once you have met the full-time employment requirement (either 18 months or 36 months in Specified Trade), as well as the Upskilling Course completion. The last day of submitting the “Reimbursement Application” is 31 August 2030.
2.	Question:	What if I am unable to provide relevant information or documents when submitting the “Reimbursement Application?
2.	Answer:	If the “Reimbursement Application” is incomplete or lacks sufficient information or supporting documents, The ODA will contact you to request supplementary information as soon as possible. However, Applicants may not be able to receive the allowance within 2 months, and The ODA reserves the right not to process the Application if the required information and documents is not provided.
3.	Question:	What if my full-time employment records are missing?
3.	Answer:	Applicants must complete the “Full-time Service Declaration Form”, to declare and list out the 18 months or 36 months of full-time employment record in Specified Trade.
4.	Question:	Can I take sick leave while working?
4.	Answer:	Applicants can take sick leave in accordance with the terms of their employment contract and policies with the company.
5.	Question:	Any change of eligibility for “Reimbursement Application” if taking prolonged sick leave (such as work-related injury)?
5.	Answer:	Applicants may take prolonged sick leave in accordance with the terms of their employment contract and policies with the company. Whether prolonged sick leave counts towards the employment period is at the discretion of the Employer. If Applicants have not met the requirement of 18 months or 36 months of full-time employment, Applicants are not eligible to apply for the “Reimbursement Application”.
6.	Question:	Is it necessary to stay with the same company for 18 months or 36 months? Can I change employers?
6.	Answer:	Applicants may change employers. However, when applying for the “Reimbursement Application”, Applicants must submit proof(s) of full-time employment record for 18 months or 36 months, which can be cumulative across different Employers. If Applicants resign before the Upskilling Course commencement, the original “Pre-Assessment Approval Letter” or “Conditional Offer Letter” will be invalid immediately, Applicants are required to re-apply for the “Pre-Assessment” Application. If Applicants resign while taking the Upskilling Course, the course remains eligible for the “Reimbursement Application”.
7.	Question:	Will my results in the Upskilling Course, such as failing an examination or assessment, affect the "Reimbursement Application"?
7.	Answer:	Applicants must submit proof(s) of the Upskilling Course completion when applying for the “Reimbursement Application”. Applicant's performance in the course will not affect the Application approval or allowance arrangement.
8.	Question:	Does the “Upskilling Allowance” cover all expenses related to the Upskilling Course?
8.	Answer:	The maximum of HK$30,000 Upskilling Allowance only reimburses the actual tuition fees from the Upskilling Course(s). It does not cover additional expenses such as application fees, registration fees, examination fees, assessment fees, or textbook costs.
9.	Question:	What if the course tuition fees exceed the maximum allowance amount?
9.	Answer:	In cases where the tuition fees exceed the maximum allowance of HK$30,000, Applicants will be responsible for covering any remaining balance.