NAIROBI, Kenya — The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has extended the deadline for continuing students to apply for subsequent government education loans, giving applicants more time amid complaints over difficulties accessing the application system.
In a statement issued on Monday, September 7, HELB said continuing students can now submit their subsequent loan applications until September 21, 2026.
“Attention All Continuing Students! The HELB Subsequent Loan Application deadline has been EXTENDED to September 21 2026,” the board announced.
HELB said the extension is intended to give students who had not applied an opportunity to access government funding while also assisting applicants who experienced difficulties during the initial application period.
“Whether you got caught up with network issues or just needed a little push, this is your moment. Don’t let this extra window pass you by,” the board added.
HELB extends deadline after student complaints
The subsequent loan application window initially opened on July 8 and was scheduled to close on August 31.
However, some students reported difficulties completing their applications, prompting the extension of the deadline.
The new September 21 deadline now aligns with the extended application period for first-time applicants seeking government loans and scholarships.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba previously directed the extension after the Ministry of Education established that some eligible students and trainees had been unable to complete their applications before the initial deadline.
“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 21st September, 2026,” Ogamba said.
The extension means eligible continuing students who had not applied, as well as those who encountered technical or other difficulties, have additional time to complete the process.
Sh22.12 billion already disbursed
The extension comes as the government continues to release funding to students and trainees already enrolled in universities and technical and vocational education and training institutions.
Ogamba said Sh22.12 billion had already been disbursed for first-semester and first-term funding to continuing university students and TVET trainees.
The funds are intended to support students as the government continues to implement its higher education financing arrangements.
The government has also been preparing for changes to the way students in universities and colleges are funded.
New funding model awaits legislation
Ogamba said students joining universities and other tertiary institutions during the September admission cycle will initially continue to receive funding through the existing system as the government works on plans to transition them to a new funding model.
The transition is pending approval of the Tertiary Education, Placement and Funding Bill, 2026 by Parliament.
The legislation is expected to provide a framework for the proposed changes to tertiary education funding and placement.
For students entering higher education in September, the existing funding arrangements will therefore remain relevant as the government works towards the planned transition.
How continuing students can apply
Continuing undergraduate students can submit their subsequent funding applications through the HELB Mobile App or by dialling the USSD code *642#.
The digital channels are intended to provide students with a faster and more convenient way to access the application process without relying on physical paperwork.
Applicants using the system are required to secure their accounts with a four-digit PIN before proceeding.
The application process involves the following steps:
- Log in through the HELB Mobile App or dial *642#.
- Create and confirm a secure four-digit PIN.
- Select the Subsequent Application option.
- Choose the relevant funding category, such as an undergraduate or TVET loan or scholarship.
- Read and accept the terms and conditions.
- Confirm the displayed personal and application details.
- Submit the application.
- Wait for a confirmation SMS containing a serial number.
Students are encouraged to complete the application before the new deadline rather than waiting until the final day, particularly if they experience network or system-related challenges.
Deadline now September 21
The extension provides continuing students with an additional window of time to apply for government funding.
It also brings the subsequent loan application deadline into line with the September 21 deadline already announced for first-time applicants following the Ministry of Education’s intervention.
Students who have not yet submitted their subsequent applications therefore have until September 21, 2026, to complete the process through HELB’s approved digital channels.
