Overview
Kenya's 2026/27 first-time higher-education funding application window is open for eligible university students and TVET trainees. The government extended the current first-time applicant deadline to 21 September 2026.
Complete scholarship details
Applications are processed under Kenya's current Student-Centred Funding Model. Depending on the applicant's placement, institution and assessed need, support can combine government scholarships or grants, HELB loans and bursaries, and household contributions. The HEF portal states that Universities Fund provides undergraduate grants and scholarships to government-sponsored students in public universities, while the State Department for TVET provides TVET scholarships and HELB provides loans and bursaries. No universal award amount is published because support is means-tested.
Eligibility requirements
The current extension applies to eligible first-time applicants joining universities and TVET institutions. Applicants use the HEF portal and must meet the requirements for their funding route. First-time applicants register with a valid phone number and email and provide the identification and education details requested by the portal; the final mix of scholarship, loan and bursary support is determined under the applicable funding framework.
Tips for this scholarship
Practical Job and Scholarship guidance. These tips do not replace official rules or create new eligibility requirements.
- Check eligibility, funding coverage, study/project level and every required document before investing time in the application.
- Prepare transcripts, references, language tests, proposal/motivation statement and proof documents early.
- Separate the scholarship deadline from any university/program admission deadline; they may be different.
- Treat “fully funded” as a source fact only when the official provider explicitly confirms the covered costs.
Verification notes
Verified on the official HEF portal as open for 2026/27 first-time Undergraduate and TVET loan, bursary and scholarship applications. The government extension to 21 September 2026 was announced by the Education Cabinet Secretary and reported by Kenya News Agency on 3 September 2026. Older HELB homepage widgets still show earlier dates; the newer government extension controls. No universal funding amount or closing clock time is stated.
Job and Scholarship is the discovery and verification layer. Confirm eligibility, dates, salary/funding and application instructions on the original source before submitting anything.
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