HELB Loans and scholarships for all students; A detailed description

By Editorial Team
HELB Loans; Your full guide on the types of loans, requirements and how to apply.
HELB Loans; Your full guide on the types of loans, requirements and how to apply.

The Higher Education Loans Board, HELB, is a body mandated to award loans to students in Higher institutions of learning (Universities and Colleges). They receive and process loan requests from students and award loans to those who meet the requirements.

HELB provides a wide range of loans, Bursaries and Scholarships to students pursuing university Education. The loans include:

1. HELB UNDERGRADUATE LOANS FOR DIRECT ENTRY STUDENTS (DES)

These loans are for students joining public or private universities within the East African Community directly from high school either through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS) or as self-sponsored.

Amounts awarded range between 35,000 minimum and 60,000 maximum based on the level of need. The loan attracts interest of 4% p.a and the students are required to repay their loans on completion of their studies.

Students are advised to apply at least one month before the opening date to allow ample time for processing.

Management of HELB loans

Students are advised that the loans should be used mainly for:

Students are advised to desist from diverting the funds to leisure or other family obligations.

Repaying your student loan

Undergraduate loan repayment starts within one year of completion of studies or within such a period as the Board decides to recall the loan whichever is earlier. However, you can make voluntary payments before or after you complete your studies to reduce your loan balance.

2. LOANS FOR SALARIED STUDENTS

Alternative loans comprise of Postgraduate (Masters & PhD) and Undergraduate loans for salaried applicants loans. This category of loan was introduced in the year 2000/2001 (PG) and 2008/2009 (CE). It runs as a commercial window targeting students who are able to repay their loans while studying, thus allowing the Board to generate income from application fees and interest charged to build and maintain a sustainable revolving fund. The loans are evaluated and awarded on the basis of the loanees’ ability to pay while studying at an interest rate of 12% p.a and repayable in 48months.

Awards (per year)

PhD- Kshs: 60,000 – 200,000.00;
Masters -Kshs: 60,000 – 200,000.00;
CE -Kshs: 60,000 – 100,000.00;

Minimum Requirements

Loan Interest Rate and Repayment period

12% per annum ; 48 months

Required Documents

  1. Copy of letter of admission to the university
  2. Certified copy of last acquired certificate
  3. Certified copy of ID
  4. Certified copies of two salaried guarantors’ IDs
  5. Certified copy of PIN card
  6. Certified copy of PIN card
  7. Certified copies (by employer) of the latest three months pay slips
  8. Recent colored passport size photograph
  9. Letter of appointment (contracted applicants only)(1-5 should be certified by an advocate and 6-9 by employer)

Also read;

3. POSTGRADUATE SCHOLARSHIPS

HELB awards scholarships to postgraduate students pursuing their Masters or Doctoral studies. The award is based on academic merit. Applicants are required to pay a processing fee of kshs 3,000.

4. VISA OSHWAL SCHOLARSHIPS

Oshwal aid in association with Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) offers scholarships to direct entry university students. The scholarships will funds 20 students for the total tenure of study. For undergraduate degree programme. The fund supports needy entrants in local universities to a maximum of kshs 100,000 per annum. The application period is July to August every year.

5. TRAINING REVOLVING FUND

Training Revolving Fund

6. AFYA ELIMU FUND LOANS

The Afya Elimu Fund is a partnership product of the USAID funded Human Resources for Health (HRH) Kenya Mechanism implemented by IntraHealth International Inc., the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), Ministry of Health, the private sector and county governments. The Fund offers affordable loans to needy students pursuing pre-service medical training at mid-level (diploma and certificate level only).

SEE ALSO;

7. UNDERGRADUATE BURSARIES

HELB awards bursaries to extremely needy undergraduate students who benefit from loans for direct entry. Orphans, students from single parent families and others who come from poor backgrounds will be given priority for the bursaries. There is no separate application for this bursary but qualification for it depends on the information provided on the direct entry form.

8. TVET BURSARIES

Students pursuing Diploma and Certificate courses in Public universities, university colleges, public national polytechnics and Institutes of Technology and Technical Training institutes country-wide are eligible for this loan and bursary. Orphans, single parent students and others who come from poor backgrounds will be given priority for the loans and or bursaries. The application period is January to April every year.

Required Documents

  1. Applications should access and fill the relevant TVET Loan & Bursary Application Form (TLAF).
  2. Print TWO copies of the duly filled Loan Application Form.
  3. Have the TVET Loan Application Form signed and stamped by the Dean of Students/Financial Aid Officers.
  4. Retain one copy of the duly filled TLAF (Mandatory).
  5. Drop the TLAF personally at the HELB students Service Centre on the Mezannine One, Anniversary Towers or any of the SELECT Huduma Centers nearest to you.

HELB Student loan repayment process

HELB – Higher Education Loans Board is a state owned corporation established in 1995 and have grown to become the leading financiers of higher education in Kenya. Our mandate is to source funds and lend them as affordable loans, bursaries and scholarship to students pursuing higher education in recognized institution; which we have successfully done for the past 2 and a half decades.

When to start paying back the loan

TVET and Undergraduate Loans are due for repayment upon completion of studies. The Board may offer one financial year moratorium or recall the loan whichever is earlier. However, one can make voluntary payments which will reduce his/her balance in good time. Postgraduate loans and Undergraduate loans for salaried students are required to be serviced immediately upon disbursement of the loans. It is important to read the loan agreement form as certain loan schemes have specific terms and conditions.

Interest and other charges

The Government of Kenya subsidises the actual cost of interest on student loans, the rate of interest charged is relatively lower as compared to commercial loans. This interest is indicated on the loan agreement form. Other charges include:

How do I repay my loan?

Upon maturity of a loan, the loanee shall be required to begin repayment of his/her loan together with any interest accrued thereon. HELB offers various loan payment options [see page 7]. For loanees who are formally employed, the employer is expected to deduct the loan instalments from the wages or remuneration as shall be directed by the Board.

Monthly Deductions

In deducting a loanee, the monthly instalments should not exceed 25% of a loanees’ basic pay. Loans to salaried students are expected to be repaid within 48 months upon disbursement. One may wish to pay at higher monthly instalments which will then reduce the repayment period and the loanee will clear much earlier than the anticipated period. If one has benefited from more than one loan product and the loans are still in existence, he/she is required to repay all the loans concurrently.

Keeping track of your payments

Upon completion of loan repayment, a clearance certificate is issued. One is also encouraged to notify HELB once the loan payment is completed so as to fast track the clearance process. Please contact contactcentre@helb.co.ke in the event of further queries.

Completion of Repayment

Upon completion of loan repayment, a clearance certificate is issued. One is also encouraged to notify HELB once the loan payment is completed so as to fast track the clearance process. Please contact contactcentre@helb.co.ke in the event of further queries.

Impact of lack of payment

Legally, you are obligated to repay your loan in line with the contract and regulations. Any loanee who fails or neglects his/her obligations may be charged a penalty which will be added to your loan account. and where necessary, ask you to repay the full amount of loan, plus interest and penalties in a lump sum as well as negatively list you on CRB. HELB may also outsource collection of your loan to professional debt collectors at your own cost.

Employers have a responsibility, by law:

The employer shall remit every deduction from the loanee’s wages or remuneration in the prescribed manner to HELB within 15 days after the end of each month. The employer may be penalised if they do not comply.

Payment options

Loan repayment can be made directly by the loanee or through check-off (employer). The available options for repayment are illustrated below:

Note: The Loanees National ID must be clearly indicated for all payments to facilitate smooth update of loan statement.

1. Bank Deposit (by Employer or Self)

All payments should be made by direct transfer (EFT), standing order or cash deposit to the HELB collection bank accounts in any of the following banks:

Bank Account Number Branch Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT)
Citibank 300 040 012 Nairobi Nairobi
Co-operative Bank 011290 612 228 00 University-way University-way
Barclays bank 077 501 8216 Barclays Plaza Barclays Plaza
Kenya Commercial Bank 1103 266 314 University-way University-way
Standard chartered Bank 010 801 826 4700 Koinange street Koinange street
Equity bank 055 029 357 3408 Equity Center Equity Center
National Bank of Kenya 01001060391100 Harambee Avenue Harambee Avenue
Family Bank 035 000 024 971 Family Bank Towers Family Bank Towers
Chase Bank 0332084215001 Family Bank Towers Family Bank Towers
NIC Bank 1002247638 Delta Delta
Jamii Bora Bank 0011748527001 Koinange street Koinange street
2. Mobile Payment Services: M-PESA

Using M-PESA (Safaricom) Money Transfer:

3. Credit Card or Debit (ATM) Card

Give authority to HELB to make monthly debits or lump-sum payments directly from your bank account or credit card. This is done by signing the Credit Card Authorization Form (download from HELB website) and forwarding the same to HELB. VISA branded credit cards or debit (ATM) cards can also be swiped at HELB offices.

4. Diaspora Loan Repayment Options:

Equity Direct is a pan-European regulated online money transfer service operated exclusively by VFX Financial PLC in the UK in partnership with the Equity Bank Group in Kenya.

How to sign up: You can register at www.equitydirectafrica.com which is a quick and simple process. There is a dedicated customer service team on hand to help.

To use PayLoan simply select HELB from the drop down PayLoan list in “ADD BENEFICIARY”. Then add your Student name, and your National ID in the Reference field and “CONFIRM”.

You can then make a payment to your new Beneficiary and your payment to HELB is processed instantly and you will receive confirmation email and SMS too.

Support Contacts: +44 (0) 207 959 6995 |support@equitydirectafrica.com | www.equitydirectafrica.com

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