an overview of the stem internship scheme background

9 August 2021

An Overview of the STEM Internship Scheme

Background

In 2020, the Innovation and Technology Commission (“ITC”) has set up under the

Innovation and Technology Fund the STEM Internship Scheme (the “Scheme”) to

encourage STEM students to gain innovation and technology (“I&T”)-related work

experience during their studies and to foster their interest in pursuing a career in I&T

after graduation, so as to enlarge the local I&T talent pool. Under the Scheme,

allowance will be provided for undergraduates and postgraduates taking university

full-time STEM1 programmes funded by the University Grants Committee (“UGC”)

to enrol in short-term internships.

Eligible Universities

Tertiary institutions in Hong Kong funded by the UGC offering full-time STEM

programmes are eligible to receive funding under the Scheme. Individual universities

may supplement further requirements and make specific arrangements to suit their own

circumstances, subject to prior agreement of ITC.

Eligibility of Students

The Scheme is open to undergraduates and postgraduates enrolled in one of the

full-time eligible STEM-related programmes offered by the participating Universities.

Non-local students are allowed to enrol in internships in Hong Kong only, subject to

their conditions of stay.

Eligibility of Employers

All companies/ organisations are welcomed to offer I&T-related internship places for,

and recruit interns benefited from the Scheme, subject to the arrangements of

individual universities.

1 STEM refers to the academic disciplines of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics.

9 August 2021

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Participating employers may pay the student interns a monthly honorarium on top of

the allowance under the Scheme with reference to their internal policies, industry

benchmarks or market rates2.

Internship Placements

Internship places can be newly created or belong to existing in-house internship

programmes of the companies/organisations. They have to meet the following

requirements ‒

1. full-time placements in Hong Kong, Mainland China or overseas with duration of

at least four consecutive weeks (28 calendar days); and

2. offer meaningful I&T-related work, subject to the vetting of the universities.

The Scheme has adopted a broad definition of I&T under which an internship place

will be regarded as I&T-related as long as its actual work contains I&T elements (e.g.

technology-related intellectual property work, digital marketing, data analysis for the

manufacturing industry, etc.). Participating employers may pay a monthly

honorarium during the internship period on top of the allowance under the Scheme.

They have full discretion in determining the honorarium level (without affecting the

allowance received by the student interns under the Scheme) with reference to their

internal policies, industry benchmarks or market rates3.

Allowance and Funding

The student interns will receive the allowance subject to the arrangements of individual

universities. The current allowance for each student intern under the Scheme is

HK$10,500 per month3, with a cap as prescribed by individual universities, but not

more than three months in each academic year. ITC will disburse the funding to the

universities on a reimbursement basis.

2 The employers in Hong Kong should also observe the relevant requirements under the Minimum Wages

Ordinance (Cap. 608). Further information is available at the website of the Labour Department

(https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_smw.htm).

3 For the purpose of calculating allowance under the Scheme, one month has 30 days.

http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_smw.htm)

9 August 2021

- 3 -

Application Procedures and Arrangements

Individual universities have prescribed their respective application procedures and

arrangements. Interested students and employers are welcomed to approach the

following universities –

University Contact4

The Hong Kong University of Science

and Technology

Career Center

Tel: (852) 2358 6688

Email: [email protected]

The University of Hong Kong The Centre of Development and

Resources for Students

Tel: (852) 3917 2317


The Chinese University of Hong Kong Ms Somnus Wan

Tel: (852) 3943 1730


Miss Bernice Kum

Tel: (852) 3943 1731


The Hong Kong Polytechnic University Careers and Placement Section, Student

Affairs Office

Tel: (852) 2766 5113


City University of Hong Kong Miss Cherie Cheng

Tel: (852) 3442 5492


Hong Kong Baptist University Miss Penny Lo

Career Centre

Tel: (852) 3411 5278


The Education University of Hong Kong Career Development Service

Tel: (852) 2948 6246


4 Please refer to the Scheme website (https://www.itf.gov.hk/en/funding-programmes/nurturing-talent/stem-

internship-scheme/index.html) for the latest information.

mailto:[email protected]








http://www.itf.gov.hk/en/funding-programmes/nurturing-talent/stem-

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「創科實習計劃」概覽

背景

創新科技署於 2020 年在「創新及科技基金」下設立「創科實習計劃」（「計

劃」），鼓勵 STEM 學生在修讀有關學科期間，體驗與創新及科技（「創科」）

相關的工作，及早培養他們對在畢業後投身創科事業的興趣，藉此壯大本

地的創科人才庫。修讀大學教育資助委員會（「教資會」）資助的大學全

日制 STEM 1課程的本科生及研究生參與與創科相關的短期實習會獲得津貼。

合資格大學

獲教資會資助開設全日制 STEM 課程的本港大專院校均合資格獲「計劃」資

助。各大學可因應本身的情況，訂定進一步的補充規定和作出具體安排，

惟須得創新科技署同意。

合資格的學生

修讀由參與大學開設的其中一個全日制合資格與 STEM 有關課程的本科生

及研究生可參加「計劃」。非本地生只可在香港參加實習工作，並須符合

其逗留條件。

1 STEM 指科學、科技、工程和數學學科。

2 0 2 1/ 4 / 2 8

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合資格的僱主

「計劃」歡迎所有公司 ∕ 機構因應各大學的安排，提供與創科相關的實習

職位，以及聘用受惠於「計劃」的實習學生。

參與「計劃」的僱主可因應其內部政策、業界標準或市場水平，在「計劃」

的津貼以外，向實習學生發放每月酬金 2。

實習職位

實習職位可以是新設或屬公司 ∕ 機構現有內部實習計劃的職位，惟須符合以

下規定︰

1. 在香港、內地或海外的全職職位，為期不少於連續四個星期（ 28 曆日）；

以及

2. 提供與創科相關而有實質意義的工作（須經有關大學審批）。

「計劃」採用比較寬鬆的創科定義，凡實習職位的實際工作包含創科元素

（例如與科技有關的知識產權工作、數碼市場推廣及用於製造業的數據分

析等），即視為與創科相關。參與「計劃」的僱主在實習期內可在「計劃」

的津貼以外，發放每月酬金，並因應其內部政策、業界標準或市場水平，

2 香港僱主亦須遵守《最低工資條例》（第 6 0 8 章）的有關規定，詳情參閱勞工署網

頁（https://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/content2_smw.htm）。

http://www.labour.gov.hk/tc/public/content2_smw.htm%EF%BC%89%E3%80%82

2 0 2 1/ 4 / 2 8

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全權釐定酬金的水平 3 （惟不得影響實習學生在計劃下獲得的津貼額）。

津貼及資助

實習學生將按照各大學的安排獲得津貼。現時「計劃」下每名實習學生的

津貼額為每月港幣 1 0 , 5 0 0 元 3，津貼期上限由各大學釐定，惟每學年不得超

過三個月。創新科技署會以發還款項方式向大學發放資助。

申請程序及安排

各大學已訂明各自的申請程序及安排，有意參加的學生及僱主可與以下大

學聯絡︰

大學聯絡方法 4

香港科技大學人力資源處

電話：(852) 2358 6688

電郵：[email protected]

香港大學學生發展及資源中心

電話：(852) 3917 2317


香港中文大學温小姐

電話：(852) 3943 1730


甘小姐

電話：(852) 3943 1731


3 就計算「計劃」的津貼而言，每月有 30 日。

4 請參考「計劃」網站（ h t t p s : / / w w w . i t f . g o v . h k / t c / f u n d i n g - p r o g r a m m e s / n u r t u r i n g - t

a l e n t / s t e m - i n t e r n s h i p - s c h e m e / i n d e x . h t m l ）以獲取最新資訊。

mailto:??:[email protected]




http://www/

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- 4 -

大學聯絡方法 4

香港理工大學學生事務處就業服務部

電話：(852) 2766 5113


香港城市大學鄭小姐

電話：(852) 3442 5492


香港浸會大學盧佩儀小姐

事業策劃中心電話：(852)

3411 5278 電郵：

[email protected]

香港教育大學事業發展服務

電話：(852) 2948 6246







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STEM Internship Scheme List

of Eligible STEM Courses

(for Academic Year 2020/21)

CityU

Programme Code

1 Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering (options: BEng

Architectural Engineering, BEng Civil Engineering, BSc Surveying)

BDACE/U

2 Bachelor of Engineering in Architectural Engineering BENG/AE

3 Bachelor of Engineering in Civil Engineering BENG/CVE

4 Bachelor of Science in Surveying BSC/SURV

5 Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics BSC/AP

6 Bachelor of Engineering in Materials Engineering BENG/MAE

7 Bachelor of Engineering in Computer and Data Engineering BENG/CDE

8 Bachelor of Engineering in Electronic and Communication

Engineering

BENG/ECE

9 Bachelor of Engineering in Information Engineering BENG/INFE

10 School of Creative Media (options: BA Creative Media, BSc

Creative Media, BAS New Media)

BDSCM/U

11 Bachelor of Science in Creative Media BSC/CRM

12 Bachelor of Arts and Science in New Media BAS/NEM

13 School of Energy and Environment (options: BEng Energy Science

and Engineering, BEng Environmental Science and Engineering)

BDSEE/U

14 Bachelor of Engineering in Energy Science and Engineering BENG/ESE

15 Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Science and Engineering BENG/EVE

16 Department of Biomedical Sciences (options: BSc Biological Sciences, BSc Biomedical Sciences)

BDBMS/U

17 Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences BSC/BISI

18 Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences BSC/BMS

19 Bachelor of Engineering in Biomedical Engineering BENG/BME

20 Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering BENG/MECH

21 Bachelor of Engineering in Nuclear and Risk Engineering BENG/NRE

22 Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Engineering BENG/CE

23 Bachelor of Engineering in Construction Engineering and Management

BENG/CEM

24 Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Structural Engineering BENG/CVSE

25 Bachelor of Engineering in e-Logistics and Technology Management

BENG/ELTM

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Programme Code

26 Bachelor of Engineering in Industrial Engineering and Engineering

Management

BENG/IEEM

27 Bachelor of Engineering in Manufacturing Systems Engineering BENG/MFSE

28 Bachelor of Engineering in Mechatronic Engineering BENG/MTE

29 Bachelor of Engineering in Systems Engineering and Management BENG/SEM

30 Bachelor of Science in Applied Biology BSC/AB

31 Bachelor of Engineering in Bioengineering BENG/BIE

32 Bachelor of Science in Computational Finance BSC/CF

33 Bachelor of Science in Chemistry BSC/CHEM

34 Bachelor of Science in Computing Mathematics BSC/CM

35 Bachelor of Science in Computer Science BSC/CSC

36 Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management BSC/ESM

37 Bachelor of Engineering in Data and Systems Engineering BENG/DSE

38 Bachelor of Engineering in Materials Science and Engineering BENG/MASE

39 Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies BSC2AS

40 Bachelor of Science in Data Science BSC/DS

41

Department of Electrical Engineering (options: BEng Computer and

Data Engineering, BEng Electronic and Electrical Engineering,

BEng Information Engineering)

BDEE/U

42 Department of Mechanical Engineering (options: BEng Mechanical

Engineering, BEng Nuclear and Risk Engineering)

BDMNE/U

43 School of Data Science (options: BSc Data Science, BEng Data and

Systems Engineering)

BDDS/U

44 Bachelor of Science in Computational Finance and Financial

Technology

BSC/CFFT

45 Bachelor of Business Administration in Information Management BBA/IFMG

46 Department of Information Systems (options: BBA Global Business

Systems Management, BBA Information Management)

BDIS/U

47 Bachelor of Arts in Creative Media BA/CRM

48 Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Analysis BBA/BANL

49 Bachelor of Business Administration in Business Operations

Management

BBA/BOM

50 Bachelor of Business Administration in Global Business Systems

Management

BBA/GBSM

51 Department of Management Sciences (options: BBA Business Analysis, BBA Business Operations Management)

BDMS/U

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Programme Code

52 Research Postgraduate (Information Systems)1 RPG/IS

53 Research Postgraduate (College of Engineering)1 RPG/CENG

54 Research Postgraduate (College of Science) 1 RPG/CSCI

55 Research Postgraduate (School of Data Science) 1 RPG/SDSC

56 Research Postgraduate (School of Energy and Environment) 1 RPG/SEE

57 Research Postgraduate (Management Sciences) 1 RPG/MS

58 Research Postgraduate (Jockey Club College of Veterinary

Medicine and Life Sciences) 1

RPG/JCC

59 Research Postgraduate (School of Creative Media) 1 RPG/SCM

1 UGC-funded students only.

Updated version by Career and Leadership Centre

Updated 9 August 2021

Career and Leadership Centre

Student Development Services

City University of Hong Kong

FAQ of STEM Internship Scheme (“the Scheme”)

Eligibility

1. How do we know if the internship placement is STEM related?

As according to the guidelines provided by Innovation and Technology Commission (ITC),

participating employers need not be I&T companies, so long as the internship places are I&T-

related and full-time. The Scheme has adopted a broad definition of I&T. An internship place is

regarded as I&T-related if its actual work contains I&T elements (e.g. technology-related

intellectual property work, digital marketing, data analysis for the manufacturing industry, etc.).

Disbursement of Allowance

2. How is the disbursement of allowance to students calculated?

Total disbursement of allowance to students is calculated by using the following formula:

$10,500 × total number of man-days (in calendar days) ÷ 30

Allowance = (Internship period – Unpaid leave) in days × $350/day

3. Are holidays within the internship period be eligible for allowance?

Subject to the terms and conditions of employment, in general, the student interns are eligible to

receive allowance for the intervening non-working Saturdays, General Holidays and Statutory

Holidays fallen within the internship period. The start and end days of the contract of internship

should be working days. If the start/end days fall on Saturday, General Holiday or Statutory Holiday,

they will be regarded as unpaid leave unless there is a deliberate agreement between the employer

and the student intern.

4. Are unpaid leaves allowed during the internship?

Student interns may take unpaid leaves during the internship. For instance, students may take

unpaid leaves to handle other university commitments. Unpaid leaves will not be taken into

consideration in the calculation of allowance under the Scheme.

5. When can students receive the disbursement?

CLC will collect all the required documents from Colleges/Schools and send the “reimbursement

request” to ITC for approval in due course. For Summer internships (conducted in May – August

2021), it is estimated that the students will receive the disbursement by November 2021. The

disbursement process might take longer time in case additional supporting documents are requested

by ITC. For term-time internship conducted in term-time of academic year 2021/22, the estimated

disbursement timeline is February 2022 (for Sem A and Winter break) and June 2022 (for Sem B)

respectively.

6. Are participating students guaranteed to receive the allowance?

Eligible students who can complete the tasks required of the Scheme are entitled to receive the

allowance.



7. Will the employers be involved in the disbursement process?

Participating employers should complete an ITC Assessment/Evaluation form and have them

returned to respective College/School. Since the allowance will be disbursed to students directly,

employers will not be involved in the disbursement process other than completing the assessment.

8. Should Minimum Wage Ordinance be observed under the STEM Internship Scheme?

According to ITC Guidelines, the employers in Hong Kong should also observe the relevant

requirements under the Minimum Wages Ordinance (Cap. 608). Further information is available at

the website of the Labour Department (https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_smw.htm).

If the STEM internship is a compulsory or elective component of the requirements of the full-time

degree programme, it is classified under “Student Intern” and in this case, Statutory Minimum Wage

(SMW) would not apply.

If the STEM Internship is not a compulsory or elective component of the requirements of the full-

time degree programme, it is classified under “Work Experience” and in this case, the exemption

period of SMW is only applicable up to 59th day of the internship period. From 60th day onwards,

the employer will need to fulfil the minimum wage requirement under existing legislation.

9. Will employers be responsible for MPF contribution during the internship period?

According to MPFA Guidelines, if summer interns are employed for a continuous period of 60 days

or more and they are over 18, employers must enrol them in an MPF scheme whether they work full-

time or part-time.

Reference (please refer to FAQ 4 on p.24 of the booklet):

https://www1.mpfa.org.hk/eng/information_centre/publications/booklets_publications/mpf_system/fi

les/ER_Handbook_Eng.pdf

Internship Placement and Period

10. Some internship placements have already started, can those employers and students enrol in

the Scheme?

Yes. As long as respective Colleges/Schools can identify the internship placement and students are

eligible to enrol in the Scheme. Respective Colleges/Schools should invite employers to provide

job descriptions and confirm both students and employers that the internship that they are

committing are under the Scheme.

11. Can the internship period be less than 4 weeks?

No, the minimum duration for each internship is 4 consecutive weeks.

12. Can the internship period be over 3 months?

Yes, the internship/placement duration can be over three months. However, since the allowance for

each student intern is capped at 3 months, the maximum allowance for each student under the

Scheme will remain at 3 months only (for each academic year).

13. What is the internship period for term-time internships in 2021/22?

The actual internship period for term-time internships is subject to mutual agreement between the

employer and the student, according to student availability and company requirement. To ensure

sufficient time for reimbursement, employers are required to submit an ITC Assessment/Evaluation

form and have them returned to respective College/School by the specified timeline.

For reference, CityU Academic Calendar: https://www.cityu.edu.hk/arro/ac_calendar.asp

https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/public/content2_smw.htm

https://www1.mpfa.org.hk/eng/information_centre/publications/booklets_publications/mpf_system/files/ER_Handbook_Eng.pdf



https://www.cityu.edu.hk/arro/ac_calendar.asp



14. Does the internship need to be credit-bearing?

There is no restriction on whether the internship needs to be credit-bearing or not. However, the

internship should not be a compulsory requirement of the academic programme to which the

student is admitted to.

15. Is internship placement with remote working allowed under the Scheme?

Student interns are encouraged to work in offices to have direct interaction with supervisors/

colleagues for at least part of their internship time, so as to gain diversified work experience and

develop better communication skills. Nevertheless, remote working in certain business sectors such

as information technology has become more common. For internship placement with mostly remote

working, the university has to put in place measures to ensure that the participating employers

provide enough supervision to the student interns. In general, remote working where the

participating employer and the internship are in different territories are not allowed under the

Scheme. Notwithstanding the above, work–from-home arrangement due to severe pandemic

situation is allowed.

16. Can a student have more than one internship under the Scheme in the same academic year?

In general, subject to the arrangements of individual universities, a student intern may receive the

allowance under the Scheme for more than one internship place in the same academic year,

provided that the participating employers are not the same and the internship periods do not overlap.

Please note that only one period of internship in the same calendar year can be exempted from the

minimum wage requirement as “exempt student employment” under the Minimum Wage

Ordinance. Details can be found at the website of Labour Department

(https://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/erb/smw_esi_wes.htm).

http://www.labour.gov.hk/eng/erb/smw_esi_wes.htm)

an overview of the stem internship scheme background

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