- Eligible students should submit their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal before the September 6 deadline.
- The funding will benefit 202,133 students who secured placements in public universities through KUCCPS.
- Under the Student-Centred Funding Model, students admitted to public universities are eligible for both government scholarships and loans from the HELB. However, students in private universities can only access HELB loans.
The government has called on students who sat the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination and have been placed in public universities to apply for scholarships under the Student-Centred Funding Model ahead of the 2026/2027 academic year.
The appeal follows the allocation of Sh30.8 billion by the government to support university students through scholarships administered by the Universities Fund (UF). The funding will benefit 202,133 students who secured placements in public universities through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
Universities Fund Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr. Edwin Wanyonyi said eligible students should submit their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal before the September 6 deadline.
Dr. Wanyonyi emphasised the importance of applying early to enable timely processing and disbursement of financial support before students report to their respective institutions.
He noted that the government has significantly increased funding for university education, with the current allocation rising by Sh12.4 billion from the Sh18.4 billion provided during the previous financial year.
Under the Student-Centred Funding Model introduced in 2023, students admitted to public universities are eligible for both government scholarships and loans from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB). However, students enrolled in private universities can only access HELB loans.
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The amount awarded to each student is determined by their level of financial need and the cost of the academic programme they will pursue. The model seeks to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds receive adequate support to access higher education.
Dr. Wanyonyi urged applicants to provide accurate information during the application process to avoid delays and possible complications in the assessment of their financial needs.
He also called on parents, guardians and sponsors to assist students in gathering the required documents and completing their applications on time.
To increase awareness and encourage participation, the Universities Fund has launched a nationwide campaign dubbed #WahiScholarship. The initiative is designed to educate students and families about scholarship opportunities, eligibility requirements and application procedures.
According to the Universities Fund, the campaign aims to ensure that no deserving student misses government support due to a lack of information.
Since the implementation of the Student-Centred Funding Model three years ago, more than 400,000 university students have benefited from government scholarships and loans.
The first group of beneficiaries under the programme is expected to complete their studies and graduate next year.
Scholarship funds are remitted directly to public universities to cater for tuition fees, easing the financial burden on students and their families.
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To qualify for the scholarships, applicants must be Kenyan citizens, have been placed in a public university through KUCCPS and must have sat the KCSE examination in 2022 or later.
Applications are submitted through the HEF Portal, while continuing students can also apply through the portal or via the USSD code *642# using their registered mobile phone numbers.
The Universities Fund has reiterated that both scholarship and HELB loan applications are free of charge and should only be submitted once during each academic year.
By Kithinji Njeru
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