Thousands of students set to join universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions can now apply for government funding 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 are now eligible to apply for undergraduate and TVET loans and scholarships through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal.
“Eligible first-time applicants can now submit their applications for the HELB 2026/2027 Undergraduate and TVET loans and scholarships,” the board said.
The announcement comes as a major relief for thousands of students who have been eagerly waiting for the funding window to open ahead of the September intake.
Who Can Apply?
The application window is open to first-time students who have secured admission to universities and TVET institutions for the 2026/2027 academic year.
HELB has encouraged eligible applicants to submit their applications as early as possible and carefully follow all application guidelines to avoid delays in processing.
The board also advised students to apply at least one month before their reporting date to give sufficient time for their applications to be processed.
As of now, HELB has not announced a deadline for submitting applications.
How to Apply for HELB Funding
Applicants are required to submit their applications online through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal.
Students who already created an account using their KCSE Index Number but have since obtained a National Identity Card should simply update their account details instead of creating a new account.
After logging in, applicants can:
- Apply for a HELB loan.
- Apply for a government scholarship.
- Apply for both a loan and a scholarship, depending on their eligibility.
HELB clarified that the entire application process is completed online, meaning no printed application forms are required.
Once an application has been successfully submitted, applicants will receive a PDF confirmation via email and are advised to save a copy for future reference.
HELB Warns Against Fraudsters
The board reminded applicants that HELB applications are completely free of charge.
Students and parents have been urged to remain vigilant and report anyone demanding payment or claiming they can influence the funding process.
Applications Open After KUCCPS Placement Results
The opening of the HELB application portal comes just two days after the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) placed 293,869 students into degree, diploma, certificate and artisan programmes for the September 2026 intake.
With placement now complete, eligible students can begin applying for the financial support they need to pursue higher education.
