- According to the Universities Fund (UF), the portal will remain open for 60 days until August 31st 2026
- Those using the USSD platform must register or log into their accounts, create a secure four‑digit PIN, complete the loan application and await a confirmation message
- Students have been urged to begin applications immediately, verify personal and academic details, and upload required supporting documents to avoid delays
The government has opened the 2026/2027 Higher Education Financing (HEF) portal, allowing first‑time applicants joining universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to apply for loans, bursaries and scholarships.
According to the Universities Fund (UF), the portal will remain open for 60 days, giving students placed in universities and TVET institutions ample time to submit their funding requests. Applicants are required to present official admission letters from their respective institutions before applying.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba confirmed that a total of 293,869 students had been placed in universities and colleges following the release of placement results by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS). He noted that the centralised system, introduced in 2014, has grown significantly, rising from 72,338 students placed in its first cycle to nearly 300,000 in the current intake.
Ogamba said the placement exercise was conducted in line with the Universities Act, 2012, with students assigned to institutions based on merit, KCSE performance, preferred courses and declared institutional capacity. He emphasised that no student is placed randomly, as the automated system considers examination results, course preferences and available slots.
KUCCPS explained that candidates who did not meet the cut‑off points for their first‑choice programmes were automatically considered for other options submitted during the application process. Successful applicants are expected to begin preparations for admission in September.
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Students can access the HEF portal through hef.co.ke or universitiesfund.go.ke, where they will follow a step‑by‑step application process. Those using the USSD platform must register or log into their accounts, create a secure four‑digit PIN, complete the loan application and await a confirmation message containing their serial number. Applicants using the HELB Mobile App will log in with registered phone numbers, select the appropriate loan product, complete a compulsory financial literacy assessment, choose a payment option and submit electronically.
Education experts have welcomed the reopening of the financing portal, describing it as a timely intervention that will cushion thousands of learners from dropping out or deferring studies due to financial constraints. They argue that the programme continues to play a critical role in improving transition rates from secondary schools to universities and TVET institutions, while supporting Kenya’s broader agenda of building a skilled and competitive workforce.
The UF has urged students to begin applications immediately, verify personal and academic details, and upload required supporting documents to avoid delays in processing. First‑year students admitted through KUCCPS will submit applications for scholarships and loans through the HEF portal after confirming their placement details.
The reopening of the portal signals renewed government commitment to education as a foundation for national development and economic transformation.
By Hillary Muhalya
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