The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has officially opened applications for undergraduate and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) loans and scholarships for the 2026/2027 academic year.
The application window is open to first-time applicants seeking government financial support under the Higher Education Funding (HEF) model. Eligible students have been encouraged to submit their applications early through the HEF Student Portal once they receive their admission details.
In a notice issued on Friday, HELB said:
«”The 2026/27 first-time applications for loans and scholarships are now open. Once you receive your admission details, visit www.hef.co.ke to apply.”»
Who Should Apply?
The application is intended for students who have been admitted to universities or TVET institutions and are applying for HELB funding for the first time.
Students who have previously benefited from HELB loans or scholarships should not submit a first-time application. Instead, they can apply for subsequent funding through the available continuing student channels.
How to Apply for HELB Funding
Applicants are required to create an account on the Higher Education Fund (HEF) Student Portal using either:
– Their National Identity Card (ID) number, or
– Their KCSE index number if they have not yet obtained a national ID.
After creating an account, applicants must activate it through their registered email address before completing their profile and submitting the application.
Students will also be required to:
– Provide a valid mobile phone number registered in their name.
– Consent to the collection and processing of their personal data.
– Fill in their personal and academic information.
– Submit both scholarship and loan applications through the portal.
For those applying for a HELB loan, applicants must also:
– Accept the loan terms and conditions.
– Provide details of two guarantors.
– Select their preferred mode of loan disbursement, either through a bank account or a mobile money platform.
Documents Required for HELB Application
HELB has outlined the following mandatory requirements for first-time applicants:
– A valid email address.
– A mobile phone number registered in the applicant’s name.
– KCPE and KCSE index numbers and examination years.
– A recent passport-size photograph.
– An admission letter from a recognised university or TVET institution.
– A birth certificate.
– Parents’ National ID numbers and registered mobile phone numbers.
– A copy of the applicant’s National ID (required for loan applications).
Where applicable, applicants should also upload:
– A death certificate if one or both parents are deceased.
– A sponsorship letter if they received sponsorship while in secondary school.
Loan applicants must also provide the National ID numbers and registered mobile phone numbers of two guarantors, who may include their parents.
Data Privacy Requirement
HELB has reminded applicants to carefully read and understand the data privacy consent statement before agreeing to the collection and processing of their personal information during the application process.
How Continuing Students Can Apply
Students who have already received HELB funding in previous years should submit their applications using any of the following methods:
– Dial *642# on their mobile phone.
– Apply through the HELB Mobile App available on the Google Play Store.
– Use the HELB M-Pesa Mini App.
Apply Early
The opening of the 2026/2027 application window marks the beginning of the government’s annual student funding programme for learners joining universities and TVET institutions.
Students are encouraged to apply as early as possible to avoid last-minute delays and ensure their applications are processed before the start of the academic year.
