The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has opened Loan applications for Undergraduate first time applicants for the year 2021/2022. This applies to all first year government and self-sponsored students who are set to join universities and colleges in September intake.
According to HELB, the deadline for first time undergraduate loan application is 31 December 2021.
HOW TO APPLY.
In order to apply for first time undergraduate loan, you are required to visit the official Helb portal and fill the application form provided. The forms should be submitted to the nearest Huduma Centre or HELB Centre at anniversary towers.
When applying for Helb First Time Loan, follow the following procedure.
- Navigate to the HELB portal through the address http://www.helb.co.ke to register as a HELB beneficiary.
- Read and fill the HELB Financial literacy guide provided on the platform.
- Log in to your account using your earlier set details and click on the First Time Undergraduate Loan Application Link.
- Select and completely fill the HELB first time undergraduate loan application form. Make sure to fill in the correct details as once you hit the SUBMIT button you cannot re-edit the form.
- Print two copies of the dully filled form.
- Once the form is printed, take it to the relevant authorities for signing and stamping. These authorities include guarantors, parent/guardian, Chief, religious leader and commissioner of oaths.
- Sign your dully filled form attaching all the necessary documents as provided in the checklist on the last page of the loan application form.
- Present one copy of the dully filled form to:
- Select HUDUMA Centers: Nairobi, Kakamega, Eldoret, Nakuru, Mombasa, Kisumu, Nyeri, Embu, Machakos, Kisii, Bungoma, Turkana, Meru, Kitui, Kericho, Nandi – Kapsabet, Thika, Garissa and Kitale.
- The HELB Student Centre on Mezzanine Floor, Anniversary Towers, University Way in Nairobi.
- Retain one copy of the dully filled form for future reference- This is Mandatory
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR FIRST TIME HELB LOAN APPLICATION.
- A copy of the Applicant’s national Identity Card
- Copies of both parents’ national Identity Cards
- A copy of death certificate where the parent is deceased.
- Copies of both guarantors’ national ID Cards.
- Both guarantor’s KRA Pin Numbers.
- A copy of the applicant’s admission letter and KCSE result slip/certificate
- A copy of the applicant’s Bank ATM/Bank card (for Government sponsored students only)
- A copy of the applicant’s Smart Card from the institution (Not Mandatory)
- One recent coloured passport size photograph of the applicant.
- Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) Pin certificate and Pin Number.
LOAN AWARDING CRITERIA BY HELB.
- The Board awards government sponsored regular students a minimum loan of Ksh 40,000 and a maximum of Ksh 60,000.
- For those placed by KUCCPS, the loan is split into two to cater for upkeep and tuition fees.
- For self-sponsored students, all awarded loan is deposited directly into the university’s bank account as tuition fees.
- HELB deposits a standard of Ksh 4,000 to each government sponsored student’s account as tuition fee per semester, which amounts to Ksh 8,000 per academic year. The rest of the money is sent to the applicants bank account as upkeep.
- An administrative charge of Ksh 500 is deducted from the awarded loan per year and is deducted from the awarded loan in the individuals bank account.
- A limited number of vulnerable students receive a bursary of between Ksh 4,000 and Ksh 8,000 per academic year. The money is deposited directly into the University’s Bank account.
Read: HELB Subsequent Loan Application Procedure 2021/2022 Academic Year.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
Once you have submitted your first time HELB application, you will not be required to repeat the same process again in your second subsequent application. Instead, HELB shall provide a subsequent loan application form that has to be signed by the university’s finance officer before submission to the HELB Center at anniversary towers or selected Huduma centers spread across the country.
A regular government sponsored student studying in a public or private university shall receive HELB loan in all the four academic years of the program. The amount is usually deposited into the individual’s bank account at the beginning of each semester.
Once you are done with your four-year program, HELB shall give you a grace period of one year, after which you should start repaying the loan to allow other students to benefit from the loan.
This implies that the loan is repayable and should therefore be used resourcefully to the maximum benefits of a student.
TVET LOANS.
Students pursuing diploma, certificate and artisan programs in various Public Universities, Colleges, National Polytechnics and Technical Training Institutions are eligible to apply for HELB loan and bursary. Groups of vulnerable student which include orphans and single parent students are usually given the first priority.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.
- A dully filled TVET Loan and Bursary application form. (TLAF)
- Two copies of the dully filled application form.
- The application form should be signed and stamped by dean of students or students finance officer.
- The applicant should submit one form to select Huduma Centers.
- Retain one copy of the Loan Application Form for future reference.
