As thousands of students prepare to take another step toward their academic dreams, the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has officially opened its online portal for the 2025/26 academic year. This move signals hope for many young people aiming to access financial support for university and TVET studies, allowing them to focus on learning without the added stress of funding.

The board urges applicants to start the process early to avoid last-minute hurdles and secure their chance for loans and scholarships.

In a statement released on July 2, 2025, HELB announced the application window is now open and will run until August 31, 2025. “Big news alert! 2025/2026 Undergraduate & TVET Loans & Scholarships are now open. Secure your future apply early, study stress-free,” the board shared in an official post.

First-time applicants must apply through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal at portal.hef.co.ke. Returning students who already have accounts can continue using the HELB App or the USSD service by dialing *642#. Applicants can also visit hef.co.ke, universitiesfund.go.ke, or helb.co.ke and navigate to the Student Portal for more information.

New users are required to register using their national ID or KCSE index number along with a valid email address. After registration, applicants need to activate their portal account via a link sent to their email, verify their phone number through a code, and complete their profile by providing personal information, education history, parent or guardian details, and uploading necessary documents.

Applicants must upload both sides of their national ID or a birth certificate for minors in PDF format. A recent passport-sized photo in JPEG or PNG format, not exceeding 1MB, is also required. Those with sponsors should upload a sponsorship letter, while death certificates or burial permits are necessary for those whose parents have passed away.

A key requirement is completing a Financial Literacy Assessment. Students must score at least 70 percent to qualify for the scholarship and loan sections of the application. Once all steps are completed, applicants are asked to accept the terms and conditions, provide guarantor details (parents are acceptable), and choose their preferred upkeep payment method—either Mpesa or bank account, which must be registered in their name.

The application process is strictly online, and phone numbers used for verification must be registered under the applicant’s, parent’s, or guarantor’s name. For minor applicants from the 2022 or 2023 KCSE cohorts, the KCSE index number may be used instead of a national ID number. Password recovery is possible via the “Forgot Password” option on the portal.

Students who need further assistance or information are encouraged to visit the official HELB and HEF websites or contact customer support through the provided channels.