How to Apply for HELB Loan in 2026

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) is the body that finances students in tertiary institutions to continue with their studies.

HELB offers financial programs like scholarships, sponsorship, upkeep, and tuition fees, among others.

However, for a student to be a beneficiary of the HELB program, he/she must make an application for it to be verified if they are eligible to benefit.

The process of verification helps in categorizing students’ needs to get financial help and it is based on documents provided during the application process.

Needy and orphans students are given higher priority than those who have the potential to cater for their education.

Additionally, students who qualify for HELB loan must be placed either through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), self-sponsored, parallel, or be module II students studying for a bachelor’s degree only.

Types of Loan Application

Currently, there are two types of undergraduate loan applications:

First Time Application
Second and subsequent applications

How to Apply for HELB Loan as a First-Time Applicant

Open the HELB website or click hef.co.ke to get access to the student portal, and click register to create an account.
Insert your national ID number or KCSE Index number in case the applicant lacks the national ID.
Enter a valid email address and password, and click register, and you will have successfully created your account.
You will be notified by email or in your inbox about your logins, and proceed to activate the account by using the credentials sent to your email.
Provide a valid Telephone number that will receive a verification code.
Insert your personal information in your profile as requested and click update.
After this process give consent to the collection of your personal data.
Go through the consent form, and after agreeing to terms and conditions, tick the checkbox.
When you are done with providing all the required details, submit your scholarship/loan request, then consent to the processing of your data by accepting the loan terms and conditions.
Update your guarantor details and provide a loan payment method (Bank or Mobile money).
Submit your loan application.

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Subsequent Application

Students can use the USSD Code *334# with the same number provided during the first-time application process and navigate to “Government Services” and provide the necessary details.

Alternatively, download the HELB loan app from the Play Store and register with your details as provided during the first-time application, which includes your first name, email address, and National ID, among others.

You may be provided with some questions to provide answers after you have read the mandatory financial literacy notes.

Fill in the required information and submit, and you will be notified by SMS stating that your loan has been successfully processed.

Navigate loan status through the HELB portal.

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