As the 2022 KCSE students gear up to embark on their higher education journeys, the Government has introduced a fresh funding approach aimed at ensuring financially disadvantaged students can access higher education institutions without bearing the burden of fees, including living expenses.
Under the new funding paradigm, students who hadn’t previously applied for financial support must now do so through the newly established platform.
It’s important to note that this revised funding model won’t impact existing students, who will continue to receive financial assistance as per the existing governmental framework.
President William Ruto unveiled this new funding model on May 3rd, 2023.
Accordingly, students from highly vulnerable and financially strained households will be granted full funding, while those in the moderately needy bracket will receive 93% of the funding from the government and only a minimal 7% contribution from their families towards tuition fees.
Eligibility for funding extends to all university and TVET students who have received admission letters based on placements from Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
The government has categorized funding recipients into four groups: the extremely needy, vulnerable, needy, and less needy. These categories will be determined through an assessment of the economic backgrounds of the students’ families.
The objective is to prioritize scholarship allocation for students from economically challenged households, while students from slightly more affluent backgrounds will continue to receive loan financing from the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), much like in the past.
For those seeking scholarships and loans under the new Higher Education Financing Model, the application process involves visiting the dedicated financing portal at https://www.hef.co.ke/.
Students who secured placements through KUCCPS will require their valid email addresses, a birth certificate, a copy of their national ID, a passport-sized photo, and their university/college admission letters.
Additionally, they’ll need their parents’ registered phone numbers, a death certificate if a parent is deceased, the ID numbers and registered phone numbers of two guarantors (often parents), and a copy of the sponsorship letter if they received sponsorship during secondary school.
To gain a comprehensive understanding of this new funding model, both students and parents are advised to visit sources such as www.hef.co.ke, HELB (Higher Education Loans Board), and UFB (University Fund Board). Additionally, they can visit Huduma centres for accurate information.
Students seeking funding must submit formal applications through www.hef.co.ke between August 8th, 2023, and midnight on September 7th, 2023.
