A HELB undergraduate loan is for Bachelor's degree students at public or chartered private universities in the East African Community. It covers students placed through KUCCPS, self-sponsored students, parallel students and Module II students. Pre-university, certificate, diploma and postgraduate students cannot apply for this loan.
Source: HELB, 2026
Students should apply at least one month before the opening date, so processing has time to finish. Checked on 26 October 2026, the official pages do not give loan amounts or a confirmed 2026/27 deadline. The sections below separate what is confirmed from what is not.
Source: HELB, 2026
How much is a HELB loan per student?
Checked on 26 October 2026, no official page gives loan amounts, so this article cannot give you a figure. The amounts by band are unconfirmed. Check the official HELB website for the figure that applies to you.
The loan does carry set costs. It attracts interest of 4% and a Kshs 1,000 ledger fee each year.
Source: HELB, 2026
For the rest of your planning, the school fees budget calculator helps you add up the costs.
How many times is HELB given per year?
The checked pages do not give a yearly count. The number of loans depends on the length of the programme. A student on a four-year programme gets four loans, and a student on a five-year programme gets five.
Source: HELB, 2026
Do not assume a new loan every year. Check how long your own programme runs first.
Has HELB been released in 2026?
Yes, for tuition. On 24 June 2026, HELB began disbursing funds for 2025/26 tuition to first-time and subsequent applicants, according to Kenyans.co.ke. The report said batches 6938, 6939, 6948 and 6940 had already been paid out. It also said it remained unclear when upkeep loans would be disbursed.
Source: Kenyans.co.ke, 2026
On 8 October 2026, HELB said it had processed and disbursed five new batches to universities and colleges. Students whose applications fall under those batches should check the HELB student portal for their loan status.
Source: The Kenya Times, 2026
| Date | What was reported | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 24 June 2026 | Tuition payments for 2025/26 began for first-time and subsequent applicants | Batches 6938, 6939, 6948 and 6940 had been paid out |
| 8 October 2026 | Five new batches processed and disbursed to universities and colleges | Check the student portal for your loan status |
| Upkeep loans | No confirmed payout date | Unclear when upkeep will be disbursed |
Source: Kenyans.co.ke, 2026
Source: The Kenya Times, 2026
Is HELB money released?
For M-Pesa upkeep, wait for the required SurePay confirmation SMS before you try to access the money. HELB says that message can take up to 72 hours to arrive after disbursement. Once you receive the second SurePay message, dial *642# to access the funds.
Source: The Kenya Times, 2026
A batch can show as paid while your upkeep still cannot be withdrawn, because the SurePay message has not arrived yet. If you are unsure whether the money has arrived, you can also contact your university or college to confirm that the funds reached your fee account.
Source: The Kenya Times, 2026
How do I view my loan status?
The HELB student portal lets you see everything from loan application to allocation and disbursement status. Any registered or existing student can use the portal free of charge, with unlimited access.
Source: HELB, 2026
The checked pages do not give the menu steps for checking status. The status steps for subsequent applicants on the mobile app are also unconfirmed. If you need help, email ContactCentre@helb.co.ke or call 0711052000.
Source: HELB, 2026
What are the requirements for a HELB loan application?
Have these items ready before you start a first-time application.
| Item | Who it applies to | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| KCPE and KCSE index numbers | First-time applicants | Include the year of examination |
| Passport size photo | Applicants | jpeg, jpg or png format |
| Sponsorship letter | Students sponsored in secondary school | PDF copy |
| Guarantor details | First-time applicants | Update them during the application |
| Loan payment information | Applicants | A bank account or a mobile payment number |
Source: HELB, 2026
Source: HELB, 2026
HELB applications are paperless, so you do not need to print any form. If your placement is still pending, read our KUCCPS application and cluster points guide first.
Source: HELB, 2026
Which channel should I use for a subsequent loan?
Students who got a scholarship or loan in the previous academic year apply for a subsequent loan. HELB lists three ways to do it.
| Channel | How to use it | Note |
|---|---|---|
| USSD | Dial *642# on your mobile phone, choose login and enter your PIN | Choose Degree, Diploma or Certificate as the application level |
| HELB Mobile App | Apply in the app | The phone number must be registered in the student's name, or the application cannot go ahead |
| MPESA Mini App | Apply through the M-Pesa Mini App | Steps are not described on the pages checked |
Source: HELB, 2026
Source: HELB, 2026
After you apply, save the confirmation SMS with the loan application serial number. HELB says that SMS is the evidence that you have applied. The app also shows the serial number in a pop-up after a subsequent application is submitted.
Source: HELB, 2026
How to apply for a HELB loan
Start at least one month before the opening date. Follow these steps for a first-time application.
- Confirm that you are a Bachelor's degree student at a public or chartered private university in the East African Community.
- Prepare your KCPE and KCSE index numbers and the year of examination.
- Prepare a passport size photo in jpeg, jpg or png format.
- If you were sponsored in secondary school, prepare your sponsorship letter in PDF.
- Visit the HELB website or hef.co.ke to open the student portal.
- Update your guarantor details.
- Provide your loan payment information, either a bank account or a mobile payment number.
- Submit the application. You do not need to print any form, because applications are paperless.
- Save the confirmation SMS with your loan application serial number, since it is your proof that you applied.
For a subsequent loan, use USSD (*642#), the HELB Mobile App or the MPESA Mini App instead.
Source: HELB, 2026
Source: HELB, 2026
Key figures to cite
- The undergraduate loan carries 4% interest and a Kshs 1,000 ledger fee each year.
Source: HELB, 2026
- A student gets four loans on a four-year programme and five on a five-year programme.
Source: HELB, 2026
- Students should apply at least one month before the opening date.
Source: HELB, 2026
- The National Treasury allocated a record Ksh58 billion for student loans in the 2026/27 financial year.
Source: Kenyans.co.ke, 2026
- HELB began disbursing 2025/26 tuition on 24 June 2026.
Source: Kenyans.co.ke, 2026
- On 8 October 2026, HELB said it had processed and disbursed five new batches.
Source: The Kenya Times, 2026
- The SurePay confirmation SMS can take up to 72 hours to arrive after disbursement.
Source: The Kenya Times, 2026
- HELB does not charge any fee to access the loan application.
Source: HELB, 2026
Read next
- KUCCPS application and cluster points
- KMTC courses, fees and intakes
- KCSE grading system
- How many schools are in Kenya?
- Scholarships and bursaries in Kenya
Looking for a school? Search every school on the register or find schools near you. We explain how the register is built on the methodology page.
Questions people ask
Is there a HELB loan application form?
HELB applications are paperless, so you do not need to print or fill in a paper form. Apply on the student portal, or on USSD or the apps for a subsequent loan. Save the confirmation SMS with your serial number as proof.
Source: HELB, 2026
How can I get a student loan immediately?
The checked pages do not describe a faster route, so there is no confirmed shortcut. The step that matters most is applying early. HELB advises applying at least one month before the opening date so processing has time to finish.
Source: HELB, 2026
Which band am I placed in for HELB?
No checked page explains banding, so your band is unconfirmed. Ask HELB at ContactCentre@helb.co.ke or call 0711052000 to confirm it.
Is the HELB loan application open?
The checked pages do not confirm when the 2026/27 application window closes. The HELB homepage fetch showed no upcoming deadlines. Check the official HELB website before you apply.
What is the HELB loan application deadline?
Search snippets gave 8 September 2026 and 7 September 2026 for first-time applications, and the two dates conflict. A snippet also gave 7 September 2026 for subsequent applications. No fetched page confirmed any of these dates. Both have now passed, so check the official HELB site for a late or later window. Apply at least one month before the opening date, as HELB advises.
Source: HELB, 2026
How do I check my HELB subsequent loan application status?
Log in to the HELB student portal, which shows allocation and disbursement status. The exact menu steps and the mobile app status steps are not confirmed on the pages checked. If you still cannot find your status, email ContactCentre@helb.co.ke or call 0711052000.
Source: HELB, 2026
How do I apply for a subsequent HELB loan?
Students who got a scholarship or loan in the previous academic year can apply again. Dial *642# on your mobile phone, choose login, enter your PIN, then select the loan application option. You can also use the HELB Mobile App or the MPESA Mini App, but for the app the phone number must be registered in the student's name.
Source: HELB, 2026
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