As a student of Kenya, you can fill and submit the HELB loan 2025/2026 application for either May/September intake to qualify you for necessary financial assistance from the government.
Sailing through education or the four walls of university is not easy, sequel to this, the government of Kenya has set up the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) to assistant student financially in areas like tuition fees and other necessities.
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has opened its application portal for the 2025/2026 academic year, with May and September intakes being the targeted students. With recent funding increases and policy changes under the New Funding Model, more students can now benefit from government loans and scholarships to support their studies in universities and TVET institutions.
The application process has been made more accessible through mobile apps, online portals, and USSD codes. Interestingly, first time undergraduates or returning TVET students now have easy means of accessing the funds. This guide outlines eligibility, required documents, application steps, and deadlines for a successful application.
Quick Overview
The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) officially commenced operation in 1995 as a state corporation under the Ministry of Education with the sole mandate to offer equitable and impactful tertiary educational financial assistant to eligible students through strategic partnerships and prudent financial stewardship.
HELB Loan Application News Today 2025
HELB’s application portal (www.hef.co.ke) is now open for the 2025/2026 academic session, following the introduction of the Student Centered Funding Model (SCFM) in May 2023. This model allocates loans, scholarships, and bursaries based on individual need ranging from extremely needy to less needy categories.
For the 2025/2026 cycle, the portal supports applications for both May and September intakes, along with TVET training programs.
Additionally, the national budget funding for the loan has also been increased from Ksh 32.5 billion to Ksh 36 billion, Ksh 21 billion for university students and Ksh 10.5 billion for TVET trainees.
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Requirements for HELB Application 2025
The loan application is open for students of the following categories:
- First-time undergraduate students placed by KUCCPS for the 2023 or 2024 cohorts
- TVET students admitted in September 2023 or later
- Kenyan citizens with valid National ID or Maisha Card
- Students enrolled in approved public or private universities and TVET institutions
Applicants must be officially admitted and registered at their institution to qualify.
Documents Required for Application
In addition to belonging to any of the qualified categories, you must also have the documents below:
- Valid National ID or Maisha Card
- Birth certificate
- KCPE and KCSE result slips or certificates
- Admission letter from the university or TVET institution
- Passport-size photo
- Bank account or mobile money number (Mpesa) linked to ID
- IDs of parents or guardians
- National ID and contact details of two guarantors
All documents should be scanned and uploaded during application, through mobile app or web portal.
How to Apply for HELB Loan 2025/2026
HELB now supports application through any of the following means to favour interested candidates:
1. HELB Mobile App
- Download the HELB Mobile App on Google Play Store or Apple App Store
- Register using your ID number and mobile number
- Complete your profile with academic and personal information
- Upload required documents
- Submit your application and wait for SMS/email confirmation
The mobile app also allows users to check their application status and updates on loan disbursement.
2. HELB Online Portal
- Visit the HELB official website www.helb.co.ke
- Navigate to the Student Portal and log in or register
- Select the appropriate loan product (undergraduate or TVET)
- Fill in required forms and upload supporting documents
- Print the completed form and have it signed by a Commissioner of Oaths or Chief
- Submit the signed form to a HELB office or Huduma Centre
3. USSD (*642#)
Even without a smartphone or internet access, you can still process application following the instructions below:
- Dial *642# on a Safaricom line
- Register using your ID and phone number
- Answer a few verification questions
- Receive confirmation via SMS once your pre-registration is complete
With this method, you will still need to complete your application via app or portal to upload documents.
How to Apply for HELB Loan as First Timer
- Open the registration portal at www.hef.co.ke
- Click the register button to create an account
- Proceed to input your National ID number or KCSE index number
- Type in a valid email address and preferred password
- Submit and then check your mail for activation link
- To further activate solidify your account, provide phone number
- Then login to complete your profile biodata
- Carefully fill the online application form
- Endeavour to read through the application terms and conditions
- Input your correct payment information (Bank, name and account number)
- Review your application and then submit.
HELB Loan Application Method for Subsequent Applicant
If you have received this loan before or maybe previously awarded a scholarship, here are the steps to take: Simply dial *642# using the phone number you earlier registered with and then carefully follow through the prompts given. Alternatively, you can download HELB or MPESA Mini App to re-submit application.
HELB Student Loan 2025 Application Deadline
Interested and qualified students should proceed to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) registration portal to fill and submit the online application form before 31st August 2025. Failure to apply before the deadline means you’ll have to wait till the May 2026 session.
Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a confirmation message, HELB will review the information and documents, and successful applicants will be notified before the semester starts.
Finally, funds will be disbursed to the students’ bank or Mpesa account with the details of the tuition portion forwarded to the students’ institutions.
Conclusion
The HELB student loan application is a financial support opportunity for university and TVET students in Kenya, plus the Student Centred Model has increased the funding, making students have access to higher education without financial burden.
To avoid being rejected and at the same time increase your chances of loan approval, make sure to gather the needed documents and prepare early, and use any of the means we have provided in this guide to apply.