The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has extended the application window for first-time and subsequent applicants by one and two weeks, respectively.
In a statement released on Tuesday, September 2, HELB announced that it has increased the application period for first-time applicants to September 14.
HELB also extended the application period for continuing students to September 7, from the initial August 31.
"Applications for first-time and continuing university and TVET loans are open," HELB said.
The extension is for students applying for the second, third, or fourth time, depending on their programme's duration.
According to the board, applicants can submit their applications by dialling *642#, using the HELB Mobile App, or through the M-PESA Mini App.
In another statement, the board reported that as of September 1, HELB had received a total of 1,117,239 loan and scholarship applications. Of these, 741,931 were from undergraduates and 375,308 were from TVET students.
This announcement comes days after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba directed HELB to extend the loan application timeline for first-time applicants until September 14.
The directive is expected to directly benefit 802,159 students across universities and Technical and Vocational Education Training (TVET) institutions.
Ogamba’s directive, issued on Friday, August 29, was linked to the disbursement of Ksh23.1 billion for tuition and upkeep fees for university and TVET students.
“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 timeline for first-year applicants to 14th September, 2025,” he added.
Of the total amount, the Universities Fund provided Ksh4.1 billion as scholarship support for students in public universities. HELB disbursed the remaining Ksh19.06 billion, which included Ksh7.6 billion for tuition and Ksh11.46 billion for student upkeep.
