The University Fund has released a checklist of requirements for students seeking government loans and scholarships under the new model, designed for learners who sat for the Kenya Certificate for Secondary Education (KCSE) in 2022.
While announcing the new requirements, the fund's management explained that the new model is a student-centered approach that aims to provide more equitable access to higher education.
University Fund extends diverse financial support to students, encompassing scholarships, loans, and bursaries.
Scholarships are awarded to students who exhibit exceptional academic performance but require financial assistance whereas loans are accessible to those who meet specific financial criteria.
The amount of funding that a student receives from the facility depends on a number of factors, including the student's academic performance, financial need, and the type of program they are enrolled in.
Checklist of Scholarships
1. A valid email address, which will be used to sign up an account for the purposes of uploading and submitting documents.
2. Valid telephone number, which must be registered in the student's name in order for them to be able to apply for a loan.
3. KCPE and KCSE index numbers and year of examination.
4. Passport-size photo, which will be uploaded to the account.
5. Copy of your National ID (for loan application).
6. College/University admission letter.
7. Your parents' registered telephone number.
8. Your parents' national ID number.
9. Death certificate if any of your parents are deceased.
10. Two guarantors' ID numbers and registered telephone numbers (for loan application).
11. Copy of the sponsorship letter if you were sponsored in Secondary school.
12. Your birth certificate
The model is based on four criteria, including choice of the program, household income band, affirmative performance, and government priority areas.
Under the new model, students will be classified into four categories based on their level of need namely: the vulnerable, extremely needy, needy and less needy.
Under the vulnerable category, the government will offer full scholarships to students who are in extreme poverty and have no means of supporting themselves while in school.
Extremely needy students are those from low-income households and have limited financial resources to pay their tuition fees at various colleges and universities across the country.
Students from middle-income households are defined as those whose parents, guardians or sponsors have some financial resources, but not enough to cover the full cost of their education, hence they are considered needy
Similarly, students from high-income households and have the financial resources to support themselves while in school are categorised as less needy.
The University Fund is a government agency that was established under Section 53 of the Universities Act, of 2012, to provide financial assistance to students attending public universities in Kenya.
The Fund is managed by a Board of Trustees, which is responsible for developing and implementing policies and procedures for the allocation of funds to universities.
