By KPC Reporter
The Universities Fund has urged the 202,133 students placed in public universities by KUCCPS to apply for Government scholarships through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal.
The scholarships will support eligible students joining public universities in the 2026/2027 academic year under the Student-Centred Funding Model.
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In a statement issued on Monday, Acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Wanyonyi said the application portal opened on July 8 and will remain accessible until September 6, 2026.
The scholarships are available to students admitted to public universities under the Student-Centred Funding Model.
“We encourage public university students to apply for the Universities Fund scholarships as early as possible to facilitate the timely processing, award and disbursement of financial support ahead of the commencement of their studies,” said Dr Wanyonyi.
The Government has allocated KSh30.8 billion to the Universities Fund for the 2026/2027 financial year to support scholarships for public university students.
The allocation represents a KSh12.4 billion increase from the KSh18.4 billion provided in the previous financial year.
Under the Student-Centred Funding Model introduced in 2023, students admitted to public universities qualify for both Universities Fund scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans, while those enrolled in private universities are only eligible for HELB loans.
The amount of support awarded is determined by a student’s household financial need and the cost of their chosen programme.
Dr Wanyonyi urged applicants to provide accurate and complete information during the application process to avoid delays.
“I encourage parents, guardians and sponsors to support students throughout the application process and ensure they have all the necessary documents ready in advance to enable them to complete their applications on time,” he said.
The Universities Fund has also launched a nationwide awareness campaign dubbed #WahiScholarship to educate students on the application process, eligibility requirements and critical deadlines. The initiative seeks to ensure that no deserving student misses out on financial assistance due to lack of information.
According to the Fund, more than 400,000 students have benefited from Government scholarships since the introduction of the Student-Centred Funding Model in 2023, with the first cohort expected to graduate next year. Scholarship funds are remitted directly to public universities to offset tuition fees.
To qualify, applicants must be Kenyan citizens placed in public universities by KUCCPS, have sat the KCSE examination in 2022 or later, and submit their applications through the HEF Portal. Applications for continuing students are also ongoing through the portal and via the USSD code *642#.
