Higher Education Loans Board, HELB Kenya.

HELB awards loans, bursaries and scholarships to undergraduate and postgraduate students pursuing their certificate, diploma, bachelors, Masters or Doctoral studies.

Background Information 

The Higher Education Loans Board, HELB, is a financier of higher education in Kenya. It was established by an Act of Parliament (Cap 213A) in 1995 as state Corporation under the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Responsibilities and Objectives

The mandate of the Board is to disburse loans, bursaries and scholarship to students pursuing higher education in recognized institution. HELB provides affordable LOANS, bursaries and scholarship to Kenyans pursuing higher education. In addition, the Board is empowered to recover all outstanding loans given to former university students by the GoK since 1952 through HELF and to establish a Revolving Fund from which funds can be drawn to lend out to needy Kenyan students pursuing higher education. 

Also read:  Helb Loan Application Guide 

The Board’s objective is to give financial support to NEEDY Kenyan students ( Undergraduate and Post-graduate students ) in institutions of higher learning both locally and abroad. However, due to financial constraints, it is currently not in a position to provide loans to students studying outside the country. This includes self-sponsored students and government sponsored students who are admitted to public universities through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service ( Kuccps).

The board awards the loan to the following categories of students:

a.Diploma and Certificate Students

Students pursuing Diploma and Certificate courses in Public universities, university colleges, public national polytechnics and Institutes of Technology and Technical Training institutes country-wide are eligible for TVET loan and bursary. Orphans, single parent students and others who come from poor backgrounds will be given priority for the loans and or bursaries. The application period is January to April every year.

b.Undergraduate Government or self Sponsored Students

Students pursuing undergraduate programmees in Public universities and university colleges are eligible to apply for  Direct Entry Students Loans. These loans are for students joining public or private universities/colleges within the East African Community directly from high school either through the KUCCPS or as self-sponsored.  

c. Post Graduate stsudents

HELB awards scholarships to postgraduate students pursuing their Masters or Doctoral studies. The award is based on academic merit. Scholarships are allocated to universities every year, based on the population of their student. The application period is April to July every year and the beneficiaries are announced  before the beginning of the academic year in September. Applicants are required to pay a processing fee of kshs 3,000

HELB Application Basic Requirements

Applicants are required to have the following credentials before applying for HELB loan:

1.  A Copy of your National Identification card. HELB uses your ID No to identify an applicant. You will also use your national Id No when creating an account.   
2. A valid bank account. Students who qualify for loan awards will have their personal bank accounts credited before the beginning of each Semester. Students are advised to open accounts in the following collaborating banks:
• Kenya Commercial Bank
• National Bank of Kenya
• Kenya Post Office Savings Bank (Postbank)
• Cooperative Bank of Kenya
• Equity Bank.
3. KRA pin from the Kenya Revenue Authority. The Pin helps the board to track its loanee's. It is therefore an important element in the application process.
4. Your Parent (s)/ guardian particulars. This includes his* name, marital status, level of education, source of income, employee details, current pay slip and employee No. (If employed).
5. Your Parents Death certificate( If not existing).
6. Copy of letter of admission to the university/college.
7.  Copies of two guarantors’ ID’s.
8. Three Recent colored passport size photograph

Now you know.

See Also: Prof. Micheni's Advice to University Students