The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has released a checklist of mandatory requirements for students applying for university loans for the first time, urging applicants to prepare all necessary documents before beginning the application process.

In an advisory shared on its official social media platforms, HELB said the requirements are intended to help first-time applicants complete the process smoothly and avoid unnecessary delays.

The agency directed students to submit their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal at www.hef.co.ke.

Seven key requirements

According to HELB, every first-time applicant should have the following before starting the online application:

• A valid email address and mobile phone number registered under the applicant’s national ID.
• KCPE and KCSE index numbers together with the respective examination years.
• A recent passport-size photograph in JPEG, JPG or PNG format.
• A copy of the applicant’s National ID or Maisha Card showing both sides.
• Valid bank account details or an active M-PESA number registered under the applicant’s ID.
• A birth certificate in PDF format for applicants who are minors.
• A copy of the secondary school sponsorship letter in PDF format, where applicable.

Parent and guarantor information

HELB also outlined the information applicants must provide regarding parents or guarantors.

Applicants are required to have:

• National ID numbers and registered mobile phone numbers for their parents.
• A copy of a deceased parent’s death certificate in PDF format, where applicable.
• National ID numbers and registered mobile phone numbers for two guarantors, who may include parents.

The board encouraged applicants to ensure all information is accurate before submitting their applications.

Move toward digital applications

The latest advisory comes as Kenya continues implementing the Higher Education Financing Model, under which students apply for government scholarships, loans and bursaries through a single online platform.

Under the model, eligible learners are assessed based on their level of financial need, with funding provided through a combination of scholarships, HELB loans and household contributions.

HELB has increasingly shifted its services online, allowing students to apply, track applications, manage loan accounts and access other services digitally through the HEF portal.

Avoiding delays

The board noted that incomplete applications or missing documentation can slow down processing, urging prospective university and TVET students to assemble all required documents before beginning the application process.

Education stakeholders have previously encouraged applicants to use official HELB communication channels and avoid relying on unverified information circulating on social media.

Students seeking financial assistance for higher education have been advised to submit their applications as early as possible once the application window opens to allow adequate time for processing before institutions resume learning.

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