Last updated 9 November 2026.
Quick answer: You don’t claim HRDF yourself. Your employer does. If your company pays the HRD Corp levy, ask HR to use it for your AI course. Ideally, send them the course link and dates 1 to 2 weeks ahead. Signing up last minute for a public course? It can still work, as long as the grant is approved at least 3 days before the course starts. HR applies, and the fee comes from the company’s levy, not your pocket.
What is HRDF?
HRDF is a training fund that companies in Malaysia pay into every month. The agency that runs it is now called HRD Corp. You will also see the names HRDF and HRDC. All three mean the same organisation.
Your company can use the money it has paid in to train its staff. That includes you.
Can I use HRDF?
You can, if you work for a company that pays the HRD Corp levy. Companies with 10 or more Malaysian employees in almost every private-sector industry must pay it. Smaller companies with 5 to 9 Malaysian employees can choose to join.
You can’t use HRDF if you are self-employed or between jobs. Only registered employers can apply for HRD Corp grants, so the request has to go through your company.
How to get HRDF to pay for your AI course: 4 steps
Step 1. Ask HR if your company pays the HRDF levy
Message your HR or training team. Ask: “Do we pay the HRD Corp levy, and can I use it for a course?” Most companies with 10 or more staff do.
Step 2. Pick an HRD Corp claimable course
Not every course can be paid with HRDF. The training provider and the course must be registered with HRD Corp. Look for “HRD Corp claimable” or “HRDC claimable” on the course page, and check the dates.
Step 3. Send HR the details, ideally 1 to 2 weeks before
Send the course link, the dates and why the course helps your work. Ideally, tell HR 1 to 2 weeks before the course.
Signing up last minute? It can still work. HR can apply up to a few days before a public course, as long as the grant is approved at least 3 days before it starts. HRD Corp aims to process grant applications within 24 working hours, so ask HR to apply the same day you send the details.
Step 4. Attend every session
Once HR confirms the grant is approved, go to the course. Sign in every day, or make sure the online platform records you. Your company’s claim depends on your attendance.
A message you can send to HR
Copy this, change the parts in brackets, and send it.
Subject: Request to attend an HRDF claimable AI course
Hi [HR name],
I’d like to attend [course name] by [training provider] on [dates]. It’s HRD Corp claimable, so it can be paid from our HRDF levy. Here is the course page: [link].
It will help me [one line on how it helps your work, for example “automate our weekly reports”].
The course starts on [date], so could we apply for the grant today? Could you also check that we have enough levy balance? The provider can send the quotation, trainer profile and schedule you need.
Thank you,
[Your name]
What happens behind the scenes
You don’t need to do any of this, but it helps to know why HR asks for time:
- HR applies for a grant in HRD Corp’s online system, eTRiS, before the course.
- HRD Corp approves the grant. Training can’t start until it does.
- You attend the course on the approved dates.
- The training provider claims the course fee, then your company claims any other costs, such as allowances.
HRD Corp’s rule is that the grant must be approved at least 3 days before a public course. So even a last-minute sign-up can work if HR applies straight away, though 1 to 2 weeks’ notice is more relaxed for everyone. In-house courses run just for your company need approval at least 14 days before. The course must also start within 90 days of approval. HRD Corp said on 5 November 2026 that these timelines will stay the same throughout 2027 (New Straits Times).
HRD Corp does not approve grants after a course has happened. If you attend before the grant is approved, your company may have to pay instead.
What does it cost you?
Usually nothing. For HRD Corp claimable courses, HRD Corp pays the training provider from your company’s levy. You don’t pay upfront and claim it back.
Two things to know:
- Attendance counts. If you miss sessions, your company may not be able to claim the full amount.
- The levy balance is your company’s. If the balance is too low to cover the fee, your company decides how to handle the difference.
Why an AI course is a good use of HRDF
Many people at work have only tried AI chatbots a few times. A practical AI course teaches you to write better prompts, automate repeat tasks, summarise documents and build simple AI agents. Your company has already paid the levy, so the training doesn’t come out of the department budget.
LEAD’s flagship AI certifications are two-day, hands-on and HRD Corp claimable:
- AI Agentic Automation Certification: automate work with n8n and AI agents, no coding needed
- Professional AI Engineering Certification: for technical staff building and deploying end-to-end AI systems
- AI for Data Science Certification: turn raw data into insights with AI assistants and no-code tools, without deep coding
- AI Full-Stack Building Certification: build websites, apps and internal tools with AI, no traditional coding needed
See them all on LEAD’s certifications page. If your HR team has questions, contact LEAD and we will walk them through the grant application.
Cara claim HRDF (ringkasan)
Anda tidak claim HRDF sendiri. Minta bahagian HR syarikat anda gunakan levi HRD Corp untuk kursus anda. Hantar pautan kursus dan tarikh sebaik-baiknya 1 hingga 2 minggu lebih awal. Daftar saat akhir? Masih boleh untuk kursus awam, asalkan geran diluluskan sekurang-kurangnya 3 hari sebelum kursus bermula. Minta HR memohon pada hari yang sama.
Frequently asked questions
Can I claim HRDF myself?
No. Only registered employers can apply for HRD Corp grants and claims. You can ask your HR team to use the company’s levy for your course.
Does an HRDF claimable course cost me anything?
Usually not. HRD Corp pays the training provider from your company’s levy, so you don’t pay upfront. Make sure you attend every session, because the claim depends on attendance.
What if my company says no or has no levy balance?
Ask whether the course can go into next year’s training plan, or whether your team could do in-house training together. Companies that make no successful claim for 24 months can lose part of their levy balance, so using it is in their interest. You can also pay for the course yourself.
How far ahead should I ask HR?
Ideally 1 to 2 weeks before the course. If you’re signing up last minute for a public course, it can still work: the grant only needs to be approved at least 3 days before the course starts, so ask HR to apply the same day. In-house courses need approval at least 14 days before.
Is online AI training HRDF claimable?
Yes, if the online version of the course is registered with HRD Corp. Ask the training provider to confirm.
What does HRDF claimable mean?
It means the course and the training provider are registered with HRD Corp, so the fee can be paid from your company’s levy instead of its own budget.
What is the difference between HRDF, HRDC and HRD Corp?
They are the same organisation. It started in 1993 as the Human Resources Development Council (HRDC), which ran the Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF). It was renamed HRD Corp in 2021.
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