Student Loans

Getting financial support for your ongoing higher education in Kenya can be streamlined by applying for subsequent Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans. 

These guidelines in our article outline the steps for students looking to reapply for this loan and everything they need to know.

Eligibility for Subsequent HELB Loans

Subsequent HELB loans are available to students who have previously received HELB loans within the last three years, and are in good academic standing or have good academic records.

Application Methods

There are two main ways to apply: through the HELB mobile app and the HELB student portal.

Applying Through the HELB Mobile App

To apply for a HELB loan through the mobile app, you have to first register your details. Follow the steps below to do the registration:

• Download or upgrade the HELB App from the Google Play Store if you already have it.
• Register with a registered Safaricom number to generate a PIN
• Use the PIN generated to log in.
• Read, understand, and check the license agreement box to accept it.
• Enter your first name as it appears on your national ID card.
• Input your ID number
• Type in a valid email address to complete your registration.
• Locate and click on the “loans” tab and choose Degree. 
• Click “apply” on the Undergraduate subsequent loan.
• Read and understand the process tutorial
• Also, read and understand the financial literacy guide.

Then to start off with the application process:

• Click on ‘Get Started’ to start the application process 
• Input a valid phone number registered in your name
• Then type in your national ID number to verify
• Read and understand the HELB loan terms and conditions and click the agree button to proceed.
• Answer all the financial literacy questions, and click “proceed”.
• Choose your preferred loan payment option.
• Click on the requested loan to view and verify your loan details. Ensure they are correct. 
• Click the “submit” button to complete the loan application. A pop-up message will appear on the screen to show that you have successfully applied for the HELB loan. The loan serial number will be displayed as well.
• Later on, you will start receiving notifications on tuition loans, awards, and disbursements of upkeep and bursary payments too.

Applying Through the HELB Student Portal

1. Visit www.universitiesfund.go.ke or www.helb.co.ke websites, and click on “Student Portal”
2. Enter your national ID
3. If you don’t have a national ID, type in your KCSE Index number.
4. Input a valid email address and password and click register.
5. If the registration was successful, check your email (Inbox or Spam/ Junk) for a message to activate your account.
6. Login after the email activation on your device
7. Fill your profile with the correct information & Update your Biodata correctly 
8. Give consent to the collection of your personal data by ticking the box. But first, read through the consent form to understand why they are collecting your personal data.
9. Fill in your residence address details and save to continue.
10. Add your correct Secondary and Primary school’ details in the next field
11. Also, input your University/College’s correct details.
12. Fill in your parents’ details. Ensure they are correct
13. Preview Information before submitting 
14. Click save/submit your scholarship/loan request.

For students with a National ID:

• After inputting the ID, consent to the processing of your personal data.
• Tick the box to accept the loan terms and conditions
• Update your guarantor information 
• Provide loan payment information whether bank or mobile payment.
• Preview information and click submit. 

Important Documents and Information

Be prepared to submit the following documents:

• A valid national ID
• KCSE Index number for those who don’t have a national ID 
• Passport photograph 
• Birth certificate 
• University admission letter
• Secondary school sponsorship letter if you were sponsored 
• They request other information like your email address
• Your residential address
• Your parent’s or guardian’s details
• Parents death certificate if they are dead
• Secondary school details 
• University details
• Guarantor details
• And any other documents or information specified on the HELB platform.

Application Deadlines and Processing Time

Application deadlines for each subsequent application is always stated on their website. So adhere to the application deadlines provided on the HELB website. 

The processing time can vary from student to student, but students should allow for several weeks to start getting notifications on tuition loans, awards and disbursements of upkeep and bursary payments.

Conclusion

Applying for a subsequent HELB loan involves understanding the current eligibility criteria, choosing a suitable application method(whether a mobile app or on the student portal), and preparing the necessary documents. The loan is only available for students who have previously received HELB loans within the last three years.

For detailed information and support, visit the HELB website or contact them on ContactCentre@helb.co.ke or call them on 0711052000. We recommend that you share this article with your peers to help them navigate their educational financing. Also, explore other Loanspot.io resources on managing student loans in Kenya.

Due to COVID-19 and other uncertainties regarding college and tuition, planning for expenses is not as easy as you think. Regardless of whether you attend college or study online, one thing is for sure: you will have to pay all dues. That is where the Higher Education Loan Board (HELB) Kenya comes in.

Now you can pursue your dream of studying in Kenya with less hassle. They offer student loans which provide a convenient and intelligent means of financing your education.

HELB, a state-owned and regulated institution, provides flexible and affordable student loan plans. HELB offers quite a number of different products that can benefit you. 

Let us discuss higher education loan board Kenya and all you need to know.

About higher education loan board Kenya

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) was legally established in July 1995. It was approved according to the Higher Education Loans Board Act (Cap 213A) of the parliament.

They are the foremost financing institution of higher education in Kenya. HELB is a state institution present in the Ministry of Education, Kenya.

How HELB loans work 

1. HELB provides financial help to postgraduate and undergraduate students. 
2. The aid can take the form of loans, bursaries or scholarships.

Who is eligible for helb loans?

All Kenyan students pursuing certificate in Diploma and higher national Diploma are eligible for HELB loans.

The students must be in public universities, selected university colleges in Kenya, public national polytechnics, and approved TVET Colleges under the Ministry of Education.

HELB online sidebars

Different sections on the higher education loan board page are:

1. Student portal: it provides loan information for students
2. Loan portals: individuals or beneficiaries who need to pay up or check their payment status
3. Employer portals: employers seeking to deduct HELB loans from their workers’ salaries
4. Institution portal: for institutions to see disbursement status of student tuition fees.

The major functions of HELB

1. Offer affordable loans and bursaries to Kenyan students.
2. To provide scholarship to Kenyan students from recognized higher education institutions in Kenya.
3. Get funds and distribute them to students judiciously.
4. Establish, manage, and recover funds loaned out to students.

4 major Higher Education Loans Board products 

We will explain the products and services offered by HELB below:

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Loan

Kenya higher education students receive an offer from HELB that is reimbursable. It is affordable and highly flexible.

The government provides A low interest rate through HELB to Kenyans who are pursuing higher education.

The Higher Education Loans Board Scholarship

HELB offers the following scholarships that are non repayable. They are:

Visa Oshwal Scholarship Program: Through the program, twenty (20) students are government sponsored every year to study in higher institutions.

The duration of the scholarship is throughout the course of study with a net value of Ksh. 100, 000 yearly. This scholarship is possible because of the partnership between HELB and Visa Oshhwal Community.

ABSA program: they designed this program to empower young bright Kenyan students who cannot afford to pay their tuition fees. The financial aid is made possible because of the partnership between HELB and Barclays Bank of Kenya. The beneficiaries  are given accommodation, upkeep and tuition fees equivalent to Ksh. 150,000.

Postgraduate scholarship: A two years and three years partial scholarship programs provided by HELB for Kenyan postgraduate programmes. It is for those pursuing Masters or PHD programs from any university commissioned by University Education (CUE) in the country.

The worth of the scholarship for Masters and PhD programmes are ksh. 200,000 and ksh. 450,000 and for a duration of 2 years and 3 years, respectively. 

The (HELB) Partner Funds.

In Kenya, HELB receives a lot of funding to assist young Kenyans who would love to continue their education but lack the financial ability to do so.

The HELB partnered with local and international organizations to source the needed funds. HELB considers the applications for the program and ensures that they select beneficiaries based on the criteria set by the partners.

The HELB platform charges Ksh. 500 for every loan approved, and a yearly fee of ksh. 1000. It is used to maintain the account of the borrower until the loan is due at interest rate agreed on with the partners.

In addition, HELB gives loans to applicants whose application was successful and also recovers the loan from those whose loan is due. 

Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) Devolved Funds.

The devolving fund is established by the partnership of HELB and county governments. County governments and constituencies help to manage the bursary schemes through:

1. Both parties sign a service contract.
2. Both parties work together to draft the legislation for the program.
3. Among its duties are to source, manage, disburse and recover funds.
4. The funding of the revolving fund begins, and applicants are invited to apply.

4 Benefits of the Partnership

HELB partnerships have a lot, especially for Kenyans willing to pursue their higher education dreams in Kenya. They are: 

1. There is efficient data sharing, which prevents multiple payments for a particular student.
2. The process of application and selection is transparent via an online application platform.
3. The selection and payment mode has less error and human interference since they automate the process.
4. There are effective recovery procedures which enable the funds to revolve for sustainability.

How much money can I borrow from HELB?

The amount depends on the product you applying for. Each product has a unique amount and features attached to it.

Why should I take HELB loans?

There are several reasons HELB loans are of benefit to the students. The reasons are:

1. It is owned by the state and also regulated 
2. Longer repayment terms with a lot of benefits 
3. Offer enough funds to take you through your education 
4. Lots of products are available which you can choose from. 
5. They give equal opportunity to everyone who meets up with the requirements
6. Some products require that you don’t pay back immediately. 

What to consider when taking out loans with HELB?

In the same way, as you take out a loan, it is important you know everything concerning the loan. The things to consider are:

1. Know how much you are borrowing 
2. Understand the terms of the HELB loans
3. Be sure of stable sources to pay back the loan of need be
4. Check whether the amount you qualify for can cover all your school’s essential needs.

How To Update Your HELB details?

Follow the steps below to update your HELB details.

1. Visit to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) website www.helb.co.ke. or use their application.
2. Navigate to my account on the HELB App or website.
3. Select Institution.
4. Select edit and update.

How to apply for HELB Undergraduate Loan online 2020/2021?

The following steps are to be followed when applying for a HELB loan online. 

1. Go to the HELB student portal website.
2. Choose “Create account” to have your HELB account.
3. Make sure you study and fill the HELB financial literacy literature correctly.
4. After account creation, click on the link first time undergraduate loan application.
5. To apply, fill the 2020-2021 first time undergraduate loan application form (LAF) provided with accurate information.

Causes of delays in HELB loan processing

1. The application will be rejected if it lacks any required documents and signatures. 
2. If the applicant provides untrue information 

How do I check my HELB balance?

You can check for information on the HELB loan balance. This can be done online (using the internet) and Using SMS Service. We explain the steps to check this information below:

1. Go to the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) website www.helb.co.ke.
2. To check your loan status, click “loan status”.
3. Your loan disbursement status appears in a form once you click on “disbursement”.

How to check your HELB loan balance through SMS?

You can check your loan balance via SMS through the following steps:

1. Write the name used to create the account. For instance, John Doe.
2. Put the hash sign (#).
3. Input your ID number.
4. Send the message to the 5122 and wait for your balance 

How to contact HELB

The higher education loan board headquarters is currently on the 19th Floor, Anniversary Towers, Nairobi- Kenya. The post office address is P.O. Box 69489-00400.

Conclusion 

Education can be quite expensive but with HELB, there is a good way to finance studies. They empower students with loans to make it easier for them to pursue their studies.

HELB has come to stay and has served Kenya to a large extent. A lot of students have gained and people are still benefiting.

However, before applying for a student loan through HELB, be sure to know all it takes. It is smart to check out all their products and know the one you qualify for.