Universities New Funding Model, Higher Education Financing Portal {OFFICIAL GUIDE}

Citizen digital | May 1, 2024 | HELB News Portal | No Comments

Introduction

New Funding Model[NFM] was unveiled by the President of the Republic of Kenya on 3rd May 2023 to address the challenges that public universities and TVET colleges were enduring which were attributed primarily on massive enrolment and inadequate funding. The funding model is student centered and loans and bursaries will be apportioned to students based on their assessed level of need. The universities and TVET will no longer receive block funding in the form of capitation. The funding to students shall combine scholarship, loans and household contributions on a graduated scale as determined Means Testing Instrument [MTI]. Students from extremely needy and vulnerable backgrounds will pay nothing to colleges and universities.

Higher Education Financing (HEF) is a New funding Model introduced by the Higher Education Loans Board for the provision of loans and bursaries to students enrolled in Public and Private TVET Colleges and Universities.

New Funding Model[NFM] was unveiled on 3rd May 2023 to address the challenges that public universities and TVET colleges were enduring as a result of massive enrolment and inadequate funding.

This funding model is student-centered and loans and bursaries will be apportioned to students based on their assessed level of need. The universities and TVET will no longer receive bloc-funding in the form of capitation. The funding to students shall combine scholarships, loans, and household contributions on a graduated scale as determined by Means Testing Instrument [MTI]. Students from highly needy and vulnerable backgrounds will pay nothing to colleges and universities.

Higher Education Financing – HEF Application Requirements

Students interested in securing Higher Education Financing (HEF) loan must possess the following requirements;

A valid email address
Valid telephone number (must be registered in your name to apply for a loan)
KCPE and KCSE index numbers and year of examination
Passport size photo
Copy of your National ID (for loan application)
College/University admission letter
Your parents’ registered telephone number
Your parents’ national ID number
Death certificate if any of your parents are deceased.
Your birth certificate.
Two guarantors’ (Can be your parents) ID numbers and registered telephone numbers (for loan application)
Copy of the sponsorship letter if you were sponsored in Secondary school.

Higher Education Financing Eligibility

The following students are eligible to apply for the Higher Education Financing – HEF Loan and scholarship;

Undergraduate Students placed by KUCCPS in Public Universities
TVET students placed by KUCCPS in 2022 in Public TVET Colleges

HEF Portal Registration Process

You are required first to create an account with these guidelines in order to log into the HEF portal and apply for Higher Education Financing loans and scholarships;

Visit the HEF Portal via www.portal.hef.co.ke
Click on the Register button
Fill out the form with the following details
- Kenya ID
- KCSE Year
- KCSE Index Number
- KUCCPS Program Code
Click on the Validate button
Wait for the system to validate your entries
Congratulations, an account activation link will be sent to your email
Log into your email and click the activation link to activate your HEF account.

Note: Students who did not receive their HEF activation email in their inbox should check their spam folder for the activation link.

Higher Education Financing – HEF Portal Login

Follow these steps to log into your HEF portal account;

Visit the HEF Portal via www.portal.hef.co.ke
Enter your username and password used to create your account
Wait for the system to authenticate and redirect you to the dashboard

Higher Education Financing Activation Link

Send an email with your ID, email address, and phone number to [email protected]
If you didn’t receive an activation link for the Higher Education Financing (HEF) loans and scholarships account. The email should be the exact email used when creating your HEF account.

Higher Education Financing Contact

Phone: +254 207903331 / +254 746737935
Email:
Website: ufb.go.ke

HEF Portal Login: Apply for HEF Scholarships and Loans via New Higher Education Financing Portal Kenya www.hef.co.ke

ByNash Thuo Updated onAugust 30, 2023

Education Cabinet Secretary Ezekiel Machogu launched the Higher Education Financing portal in 2023.

It will allow students to apply for loans and bursaries via the HEF Portal.

Access the New Higher Education Financing – HEF Portal Login Page

Here is the login page for the new HEF portal.

HEF Activation Link

Next, the user will receive their HEF activation email in their inbox.

Mine was sent to my email inbox as per the screenshot above.Users who didn’t receive the link to activate in their inbox should check their spam folder for the activation link.

The email is meant to appear in your primary inbox. Therefore, click on “Looks safe” to avoid future HEF emails being marked as spam.

For first-time HEF login, you will be asked for a valid mobile phone number.

The HEF student portal will then send a verification code to the number.

Enter the code to complete the HEF application process.

HEF Loan Application Requirements

Here are the requirements for Kenyans to apply for government-sponsored loans and bursaries via the HEF portal:

Passport size photo
Valid email address
Copy of your National ID
Parents’ National ID number
Parents’ registered mobile number
Death certificate (if parent is deceased)
Copy of the sponsorship letter (if applicable)
College or University admission letter
Your birth certificate
Mobile number registered in your name
KCPE index number and year of examination
KCSE index number and year of examination
Two Guarantors’ ID numbers and registered mobile numbers (can be your parents)

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New Funding Model (NFM) for scholarship and loans

The President of Kenya launched the New Funding Model (NFM) on 3rd May 2023.

NFM aims to ensure university and TVET students categorised as vulnerable access adequate education.

The New Funding Model portal for Higher Education Financing will provide government scholarships and loans, prioritizing vulnerable and extremely needy students.

Key Players

Here are the key players in the New Funding Model in Kenya:

Parents
General public
Universities Fund Kenya
Higher Learning Institutions
Higher Education Loans Board (HELB)
State Department for Vocational and Technical Training
Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS)

Criteria

Financial support to students enrolled in universities and TVET institutions will be based on their level of need, assessed via the Means Testing Instrument (MTI), and categorised as follows:

Vulnerable and extremely needy – 100% of Government funding and receive upkeep from the loan.
Needy and less needy will get 93 % of Government funding
Students in private universities are not eligible

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HEF Application – Eligibility for new and continuing students

Continuing students will not be affected by the New Funding Model (NFM).

They will continue to receive their funding based on the existing model. That is, apply for loans through HELB.

Eligible Kenyan students under the New Funding Model include:

TVET students placed by KUCCPS in 2022, 2023, and beyond in Public TVET Colleges
Undergraduate Students placed by KUCCPS in 2022, 2023, and beyond in Public Universities

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_{Tags: Hef go ke Https hef co ke HEF application HELB portal Higher education financing portal login}

How to Apply for HEF Loan and Government Scholarships?

Here are the exact steps to apply for the HEF loan and scholarship in Kenya:

Go to www.hef.co.ke portal.
Click on the PORTALS button.
Click on User Registration, then Applicant Registration buttons.
State whether you have an ID number or not.
Based on 4 above, fill in the required details until the “Validate” button becomes active.
Enter your valid email address and password and then click on Register button.
Activate your HEF account via the link sent to your email address.
Login to the HEF portal and apply for the loan, scholarship or bursary.

Higher Education Funding Portal

Sign in to your Account

Dont Have An Account ?

Key Players in New funding Model

Higher Education Loans Board: For Provision of Loans and Bursaries to students enrolled in TVET Colleges and Universities [Public and Private]
Universities Fund: Provision of Undergraduate Scholarship to Government Sponsored Students enrolled in Public Universities
Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service: For placement of Students in their desired and qualified courses upon application
State Department of Technical Education: Provision of TVET scholarships
Higher Learning Institutions-The recipients of loans and scholarships awarded to students inform of fees
Parents: To support household’s contributions.
General Public

Reasons for the NFM (Why NFM)

Address myriad facing challenges facing universities.
Ensures that eligible Kenyans students are provided with adequate education financial support
The Vulnerable and Extremely needy students are assured of affordable education because they pay nothing.
Promotes equity and access to higher education; every applicant gets something depending on their level of need and degree of vulnerabilities.
Students are now required to apply for scholarships as opposed to uniform awards even to affluent households.
Has implemented fees payment as actual cost of the program. Saves the universities from financial constraints

Eligibility

Undergraduate Students placed by KUCCPS in Public Universities
TVET students placed by KUCCPS in Public TVET Colleges

Requirements for application (UG & TVET)

A valid email address for the applicant (Student)
Valid telephone number (must be registered in your name to apply for a loan)
KCPE and KCSE index numbers and year of examination
Passport size photo
Copy of your National ID (for loan application)
College/University admission letter
Your parents’ registered telephone number
Your parents’ national ID number
Death certificate if any of your parent is deceased.
Your birth certificate.
Two guarantors’ (Can be your parents) ID numbers and registered telephone numbers (for loan application)
Copy of the sponsorship letter if you were sponsored in Secondary school.

Download the application procedure.

HIGHER EDUCATION FUNDING FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

About Government Scholarships for University Students Under the New Funding Model

1. What is the difference between the former university grant and the new Higher Education Government Student Scholarship?

The Higher Education Government Student Scholarship is a financial assistance programme provided to learners in public universities and TVET institutes. Funded through government resources, this scholarship aims to support students pursuing undergraduate, diploma, craft certificate and artisan education. The scholarship is based on the actual cost of the programme and the student’s financial needs.

2. Who qualifies for the Scholarship?

To be eligible for the scholarship, one must be Kenyan and a 2022 KCSE examination candidate for university learners. He or she must have been placed by the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) to pursue an undergraduate, diploma, craft certificate or artisan course at one of Kenya’s accredited public universities or TVET colleges.

Scholarship application is open to students who sat their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education examination from 2022 onwards.

3. A student can apply for this government scholarship at any stage of their academic programme. Can a student apply for loan and scholarship in the same year?

Yes. Loans and scholarship awards will be categorized differently. A vulnerable student will get 82 per cent scholarship and 18 per cent loan of the cost of the programme.

An extremely needy learner will get 70 per cent scholarship and 30 per cent loan of the cost of the course while a needy learner will get 53 per cent scholarship, 40 per cent loan and seven per cent household of the cost of the programme.

Lastly, a less needy learner will get 38 per cent scholarship, 55 per cent loan and seven per cent family of the cost of the course to be pursued.

4. Can students below 18 years apply for the scholarship since we know those below that age have previously not been allowed to apply for study loans?

Minors – individuals who have not attained 18 years of age – who sat their KCSE examination last year and have been placed by KUCCPS in a public university or TVET college can apply for the Higher Education Government Student Scholarship. Once the individuals reach 18, they will be required to update their profiles to continue benefiting from the government scholarship and loan.

5. Is it a must for a student to apply for the Higher Education Government Student Scholarship?

It is not mandatory. It is advisable to only apply for the scholarship if you need government financial assistance.

6. What are the steps one needs to follow when applying for a Government Student Scholarship?

To apply for a Government Student Scholarship, visit www.hef.co.ke. Remember also to keep an eye on official communication channels and updates from the Universities Fund, the HELB and KUCCPS for announcements regarding application details and deadlines.

Prepare the required documents, including academic records, personal details, student residential and education background. If necessary, gather letters of recommendation to support your application. Ensure you have the necessary documents available, including the “Consent to Collect Personal Data” form.

Are Government Student Scholarships based on financial need, merit or both?

The scholarship is based on the financial needs of the applicant and academic merit. One must be placed by KUCCPS to a public university or TVET institute to apply.

8. Is the application for the Government Student Scholarship a one-off for a leaner throughout the degree?

For you to get the Government Student Scholarships, you must apply through www.hef.co.ke and submit an application every year for the course duration.

9. What happens if one receives less than the Government Student Scholarship award applied/or?

An individual may appeal or request a review of their Government Student Scholarships award if they were not satisfied with the amount given. This includes unsuccessful scholarship applications.

10. Can a foreigner apply and receive the Government Student Scholarship?

No, this scholarship is restricted to Kenyans only. International students should check with their institutions, governments or financial aid offices to determine if they are eligible for other scholarships.

11. How can a student use the Government Student Scholarship fund?

This Government Student Scholarship fund takes care of the tuition fees. These funds will be disbursed directly to the university or college the applicant is undertaking their studies.

12. Can the Government Student Scholarship affect other forms of financial assistance to the learner?

Yes. If a student is fully funded by another agency, individual or institution, the government Student Scholarship cannot provide a scholarship to the same student since it will lead to over- funding. Students are I expected to fully disclose agencies sponsoring them and the amounts applicable for their sponsorship. Non-disclosure may lead to withdrawal or cancellation of the scholarship.

13. Are there any requirements or responsibilities for Student Government Scholarship recipients?

Beneficiaries of the Government Student Scholarship are required to complete their studies within the stipulated course/programme duration. Any extended study duration cost will not be catered for by the scholarship. Secondly, the students will be required to give accurate information to assist the award of the scholarships.

14. Will a student need a guarantor for to be eligible for the Government Scholarship?

No guarantors are needed.