The Ministry of Education has extended the window for scholarship and loan applications for first-year university and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) students.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, in a circular dated August 29, directed the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund to extend the application deadline to Sunday, September 14.
The extension is part of efforts to ensure that no student misses out on financial support for higher education.
The Universities Fund also confirmed the extension, stating: “Good news! The scholarship application period has been extended. Don’t miss this chance; apply now and secure your future with government scholarships!”
CS Ogamba Extends Scholarship and HELB Applications for Students
Students will now have an additional two weeks to submit their applications, as the deadline has been extended to Sunday, September 14.
“We are pleased to notify parents, guardians, university and TVET students that the Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board have, as of today, disbursed a total of Ksh23.16 billion in financial support to 802,159 University and TVET students across the country,” Ogamba stated.
“To ensure that no student is left behind, the Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board have been instructed to extend the deadline for first-year applicants to September 14, 2025.”
Also Read: HELB Explains New Funding Formula to Be Used in the 2025 Intake
The Universities Fund has released Ksh 4.1 billion in scholarships to public universities, while HELB has disbursed Ksh 19.06 billion, including Ksh 7.6 billion for tuition fees and Ksh 11.46 billion for student upkeep.
Upkeep funds are sent directly to students’ designated payment channels as they report to their institutions.
Ogamba advised students to check their Higher Education Funding portals to confirm the status of their disbursements.
“The Government will continue to provide the requisite funding to ensure that higher education remains accessible and affordable and that no student is left behind on account of financial limitations,” he added.
HELB Disbursements in 2025
As of August 18, applications for both first-time and continuing loans for universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutes had hit 961,023.
HELB disbursed a total of Ksh9.46 billion in financial support to 309,178 university students. The amount comprised Ksh5.76 billion for tuition fees and Ksh3.7 billion for student upkeep.
Also Read: How to Apply for HELB Loans Online: Eligibility, Loans and Repayment
First-time applicants can apply for university funding and loans through the HEF portal at https://portal.hef.co.ke/auth/signin. Subsequent applicants can apply by dialing *642# or using the HELB mobile app.
This follows HELB’s announcement that it has abolished the funding model that grouped students into bands.
In a statement dated Friday, August 22, 2025, HELB clarified that student funding will no longer be determined based on bands.
The Loans Board explained that each student’s allocation will now depend on their assessed level of financial need and the cost of their program, following the discontinuation of the banding system.
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