NAIROBI, Kenya — Thousands of students preparing to join universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions can now apply for government financial support after the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) officially opened applications for the 2026/2027 academic year.
In a notice issued on Friday, July 10, HELB announced that first-time applicants seeking undergraduate loans, TVET loans and scholarships can begin submitting their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal.
The announcement comes days after the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) released placement results for nearly 294,000 students selected to join universities, TVET institutions and other tertiary colleges in the September 2026 intake.
According to HELB, the application window is open to students joining universities and TVET institutions for the first time and seeking government-backed financial assistance to support their studies.
“Eligible first-time applicants can now submit their applications for the HELB 2026/2027 Undergraduate and TVET loans and scholarships,” the board said.
The funding programme forms part of Kenya’s broader student financing framework, which combines scholarships, loans and household contribution assessments under the Student-Centred Funding Model introduced in 2023.
Under the model, students are assessed according to their level of financial need, with support provided through a combination of scholarships from the Universities Fund and loans administered by HELB.
HELB advised students not to wait until the last minute to submit applications, warning that processing and verification take time.
The board recommended that applicants complete the process at least one month before reporting to their institutions to allow sufficient time for assessment and disbursement arrangements.
While HELB has not announced a closing date for the application window, students have been encouraged to submit applications as soon as possible.
Education stakeholders have previously warned that delays in applications can affect the timely release of funds, particularly during the first semester.
HELB said applications will continue to be processed through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal, eliminating the need for printed forms.
Students are required to log in using their existing HEF accounts and complete the application for loans, scholarships or both.
Those who initially registered using their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) index numbers but have since obtained national identity cards have been advised to update their personal details instead of opening new accounts.
After successful submission, applicants will receive a PDF confirmation through email and are encouraged to save a copy for future reference.
The board has repeatedly cautioned students against using unofficial agents, stressing that the application process is free.
“Applying for funding is free of charge,” HELB stated, urging students to report any fraudulent individuals or organisations demanding payment.
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The opening of the funding portal follows the release of placement results by KUCCPS earlier this week.
According to KUCCPS, 293,869 students secured placement into degree, diploma, certificate and artisan programmes across universities, TVET institutions and other tertiary learning centres for the 2026/2027 academic cycle.
The placement exercise is expected to significantly increase demand for student financing, particularly as the cost of higher education continues to rise and many households face economic pressures linked to inflation and the high cost of living.
Student financing has remained one of the most debated education issues in Kenya in recent years, particularly following legal and policy challenges surrounding the Student-Centred Funding Model.
The government has maintained that the model is designed to ensure resources are directed towards the most financially vulnerable students while improving sustainability in higher education financing.
For many incoming students, the opening of the HELB application window marks a crucial step in securing funding needed to begin their academic programmes in September.
