Govt Extends HELB, Universities Fund Application Deadline to Sept 21

The government has extended the deadline for first-time university students and TVET trainees to apply for higher education funding.

Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced the extension on Thursday, September 3, 2026, after the initial application window closed on August 31.

Ogamba said a total of 789,422 applications had been received by the time the initial deadline elapsed.

He said the government had also disbursed Sh22.12 billion in first semester and term funding to continuing university students and TVET trainees.

Ogamba said the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund had been directed to reopen the application window to give eligible students and trainees who missed the initial deadline another opportunity to apply.

“Recognising that some eligible students and trainees may not have met the initial deadline on account of various causes, the Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board have been directed to extend the application window for all eligible applicants to September 21, 2026,” Ogamba said.

The extension applies to eligible first-time applicants seeking funding for university and TVET education.

Students and trainees who had not submitted their applications by August 31 can now use the additional period to apply for consideration.

Ogamba said applications from first-time applicants would be considered and processed under the current Student-Centred Funding Model.

The model determines the level of government support based on the assessed financial needs of individual students.

The CS said the government would also introduce appropriate transitional mechanisms towards the proposed Universal Access and Funding Framework once Parliament passes the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026.

“Appropriate transitional mechanisms to Universal Access and Funding Framework shall be implemented once Parliament passes the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026,” Ogamba added.

President William Ruto has previously said students joining universities and colleges would receive full government support.