Maritime and Aviation Training Fund

The Maritime and Aviation Training Fund (MATF) came into operation on 1 April 2014. With a total commitment of $500 million by financial year 2023-24, the MATF sustains and enhances the Government’s support for the manpower development and promotion of related industries. The aim is to build up in due course a vibrant, diversified and competitive pool of professionals and technical personnel to support Hong Kong’s future development in the two sectors.

The following schemes are operated under the MATF :

New Maritime-related Scheme

Maritime- and Aviation-related Schemes

  • Professional Training and Examination Refund Scheme (ProTERS)
    Eligible applicants are refunded 80% of the fees after satisfactory completion of an approved course or passing an approved professional examination, subject to a funding cap of HK$30,000 per applicant.
  • Maritime and Aviation Internship Scheme
    The Scheme contributes up to 75% of each intern’s monthly honorarium, or HK$7,000 (whichever is lower), to the participating companies for an internship period for at least four weeks (i.e. 28 days) and up to three months.

Maritime-related Schemes

  • Local Vessel Competency Enhancement Scheme (LVCES)
    Provides a one-off financial incentive of HK$12,000 to applicants (except those successfully joined the Local Vessel Trade Training Incentive Scheme) who pass the examination and successfully obtain the Local Coxswain/ Engine Operator Grade 3 Certificate.
    Provides a one-off financial incentive of HK$15,000 to any holder of Coxswain/ Engine Operator Grade 3 Certificate who passes the examination (except local knowledge examination for coxswain certificate) and successfully obtains the Coxswain/ Engine Operator Grade 2 Certificate.
    For details and enquiries, please email to sasmcrt@mardep.gov.hk or contact 2852 3069.
  • Sea-going Training Incentive Scheme (SGTIS)
    Phase 1
    Provides a monthly subsidy of HK$10,000 to a deck or engineer cadet on sea-going vessels for a maximum period of 18 months (for deck cadets) or 12 months (for engineer cadets) plus an examination subsidy.
    Phase 2
    Provides a monthly subsidy of HK$3,000 for a maximum period of 9 months to a deck or engineer cadet who is preparing for the Marine Department Deck Officer Class 3/ Marine Engineer Officer Class 3 Examination ashore after the completion of cadetship.
    Phase 3
    Provides a monthly subsidy of HK$6,000 to a holder of Deck Officer Class 3/ Marine Engineer Officer Class 3 Certificate of Competency issued by the Marine Department who is working in the relevant department on sea-going ships as a cadet, for a maximum period of 6 months.
    Phase 4
    Provides a one-off financial incentive of HK$40,000 to applicants who pass the examination and obtain Deck Officer Class 2/ Marine Engineer Officer Class 2 Certificate of Competency recognised by the Marine Department and a one-off financial incentive of HK$80,000 to those who pass the examination and obtain Deck Officer Class 1/ Marine Engineer Officer Class 1 Certificate of Competency recognised by the Marine Department; of which 70% of the incentive will be payable after the applicants have acquired 12 months of post-qualification sea service on sea-going vessels.
    For details and enquiries, please email to mmo_mdd@mardep.gov.hk or contact 2852 3056.
  • Ship Repair Training Incentive Scheme (SRTIS)
    Offers a monthly subsidy of HK$5,000 to eligible graduates of the Vocational Training Council who have enrolled for apprenticeship in the ship repair industry for a maximum period of 36 months.
    For details and enquiries, please email to oda@vtc.edu.hk or contact 2756 4123.
  • Hong Kong Nautical and Maritime Scholarship Scheme
    Scholarship for selected students of the Bachelor of Business Administration in International Shipping and Transport Logistics Programme of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. The Scheme consists of two prongs –
    (i) “Seafaring Scholarship” for students who intend to pursue a seafaring career; and
    (ii) “Maritime Scholarship” for students with good HKDSE results.
  • The University of Hong Kong (HKU) – Dalian Maritime University (DMU) Academic Collaboration Scheme
    The Scheme consists of two prongs –
    (i) For the DMU: provides scholarship for selected students to undertake the Master of Common Law course at the HKU; and
    (ii) For the HKU: supports students and in-service practitioners to undertake summer courses and professional seminars.
    For details and enquiries, please contact the Faculty of Law, HKU at 3917 2951.
  • The University of Hong Kong (HKU) – Shanghai Maritime University (SMU) Academic Collaboration Scheme
    Scholarship for selected SMU students to undertake the Master of Common Law course at the HKU.
    For details and enquiries, please contact the Faculty of Law, HKU at 3917 2951.
  • Overseas Exchange Sponsorship Scheme
    Sponsor HK$30,000 to each selected student of the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) to attend maritime-related courses overseas.
    For details and enquiries, please contact the university concerned.
  • Maritime Training Support Scheme (MTSS)
    Provides funding support to Hong Kong Sea School for the delivery of a Certificate Course on Local Vessel Operation (Coxswain Grade 3), career guidance and support services to students.

Aviation-related Schemes

  • Partial Tuition Refund Scheme for the Specialised Aircraft Maintenance Programme
    Eligible applicants undertaking the Higher Diploma of Aircraft Maintenance Engineering or Diploma in Vocational Education (Aircraft Maintenance) offered by the Vocational Training Council, and joining the aircraft maintenance industry after graduation are refunded 50% of the total tuition fee, subject to a cap of HK$50,000.
  • Hong Kong Aviation Scholarship Scheme
    Scholarship for selected students of aviation-related degree or higher degree programmes of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong, HKU School of Professional and Continuing Education and UOW College Hong Kong.
  • Aviation Operations Training Incentive Scheme (AOTIS)
    Provides minimum monthly salary of HK$7,000 and monthly incentive allowance of HK$2,000 during the placement period for a maximum of 12 months, as well as the study allowance of HK$24,000, to the eligible applicants undertaking the Diploma in Aviation Operations offered by the Hong Kong International Aviation Academy, and joining the aviation industry after graduation.

For enquiries, please email to matf@tlb.gov.hk or call the MATF hotline at 3509 7261.