The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has officially opened the application window for the 2025/2026 loans and scholarships, setting the stage for newly placed students to seek financial support ahead of the September intake.
The move follows closely on the heels of the release of university and college placement results by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, who announced on Tuesday that more than 310,000 students had secured slots in institutions across the country.
With the placement process now complete, attention has shifted to funding. HELB is inviting both first-time and continuing students to apply for financial aid under the government’s revamped Higher Education Financing (HEF) model.
Those applying for the first time mainly 2024 KCSE candidates are required to use the HEF portal at www.hef.co.ke, while continuing students can apply via the *HELB mobile app or by dialing 642# on their phones.
“We’ve opened the portal,” read a notice published by HELB on Wednesday. “Applications for the 2025–2026 academic year are now open for both undergraduate and TVET students. We encourage all eligible students to apply early to avoid last-minute delays.”
The deadline for applications is August 31, 2025.
The loans and scholarships are intended to cover tuition and upkeep expenses for learners in both public and private universities, as well as Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions.
According to CS Ogamba, out of 244,563 students who qualified for degree courses, 201,695 had formally applied for placement. KUCCPS placed a total of 310,502 students in universities and colleges, a majority being 2024 KCSE candidates.
One course that stood out during this placement cycle was nursing among the most sought-after fields. The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC) alone received over 27,000 applications for diploma and certificate courses in nursing, underlining a growing national interest in healthcare careers.
With placements locked in and funding applications now live, the countdown to the September academic intake has officially begun.
