Professional Training and Examination Refund Scheme (Maritime)

Introduction

To incentivize those interested to join, as well as already working in, the maritime and aviation sectors, including local vessel seafarers, to attend course(s) and sit for examination(s) that are being offered by various education institutions, professional or trade bodies to raise their professionalism and competency, and encourage them to acquire relevant professional qualification(s), the Government has launched the Professional Training and Examination Refund Scheme (“the Scheme”) under MATF to support the manpower training of the maritime and aviation industries. With effect from 1 September 2021, each successful applicant will be refunded 80% of the fees, subject to a maximum of HK$30,000,^Note for the pre-approved courses/examinations. Besides, apart from the in-service practitioners of maritime sector, those who newly enter the industry after completion of the courses / passing the examinations are also eligible for making the refund application for the fees of concerned courses/examinations. Applications must be made by individuals. Applications from company/organisation will not be accepted.

Note: The above measures have no retrospective effect. The subsidy ceiling of HK$30,000 would apply on an ad personam basis. Refund claim applications submitted before 1 September 2021 would be processed in accordance with the requirements stipulated before the said date, i.e. refund 80% of the course/examination fees with subsidy ceiling of HK$18,000.

Target

• In-service practitioners of the maritime sector: Already working in the maritime industry of Hong Kong
• New joiners of the maritime sector: Newly enter the maritime industry of Hong Kong within four months after completion of the courses / passing the examinations

Eligibility

• The applicant must -
  1. be a Hong Kong resident and lawfully employable in Hong Kong; and
  2. be in full-time employment and perform maritime-related job duties in an organisation/company operating in Hong Kong at the time of application submission (with valid employment proof); and
• the applicant has enrolled in or taken one of the pre-approved courses or examinations under the Scheme, and has completed the course(s) to the satisfaction of the course provider(s) or passed the examination(s); and
• the applicant has not been granted any other forms of subsidy or financial assistance for the relevant course(s)/examination(s).

Deadline for Application

The applicant must submit the application(s) within 4 months after completing the course(s) / passing the examination(s).

Application Procedures

The applicant should complete and submit the (i) Application Form and (ii) copies of the required documents via one of the following channels:

• eMATF Online Application Platform (NEW)
• By post
  

  Address:

  Maritime and Aviation Training Fund Secretariat Transport and Logistics Bureau 20/F, East Wing, Central Government Offices, 2 Tim Mei Avenue, Tamar, Hong Kong

  (For effective and timely delivery of the mail items, please ensure sufficient postage before posting. Late application will not be accepted.)
• By email to matf@tlb.gov.hk

Application Documents

List of the Pre-approved Courses/Examinations (Maritime) (Last Update: January 2025)
Notes for Applicants and Application Form (Maritime) (NEW)
Course Evaluation Survey
Sample of Certification of Employment

Notes for Course Providers / Examination Authorities

Course providers / examination authorities shall complete the application form and send it together with a copy of the required document(s) to matf@tlb.gov.hk to apply for their courses / examinations to be put on the list of pre-approved courses / examinations under ProTERS. Please make reference to the Explanatory Notes to the Assessment Criteria when preparing the application.

Should there be any change(s) to the information on the list of pre-approved maritime-related courses / examinations, please inform the MATF by email in advance. Otherwise, the processing time of refund applications from students may be affected.

Application Form for maritime-related course providers / examination authorities
Explanatory Notes to the Assessment Criteria of maritime-related courses / examinations

Enquiries

Email: matf@tlb.gov.hk
Hotline: 3509 7261