HELB Opens 2026/27 Postgraduate Scholarship Applications

Kenyans waiting for services at HELB offices in Nairobi County on May 4, 2019.
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HELB

The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has opened applications for its 2026/2027 partial postgraduate scholarships, offering eligible Kenyan students pursuing Master’s and PhD programmes funding of up to Ksh450,000 to ease the cost of advanced university education

According to HELB, the scholarships are available to Kenyan students enrolled in Master’s and PhD programmes at public and private universities recognised by the Commission for University Education (CUE). Applications will close on August 31, 2026

Successful Master’s applicants will receive Ksh200,000, tenable for two years, while PhD students will receive Ksh450,000, payable over three years

The scholarships target students pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) and agriculture-related programmes, sectors viewed as critical to driving Kenya’s industrialisation, food security and innovation agenda

File photo of students lining up to submit their HELB details at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi County.
HELB

To qualify, applicants must have attained at least a Second Class Upper Division in their undergraduate studies and possess a valid admission letter from a recognised university

Applicants who previously benefited fromHELB loans must also be actively repayingtheir loans or have fully settled their outstanding balances before they can be considered for the scholarship

HELB said applicants will be required to pay a non-refundable application fee of Ksh3,000 through the eCitizen platform and encouraged persons living with disabilities to apply

The board also cautioned applicants against fraudstersclaiming they can influence or fast-trackscholarship awards, emphasising that the selection process is fully automated

The announcement comes weeks after HELB opened applications for continuing undergraduate loans under the 2026/2027 budget, which allocated a record Ksh56.3 billion to support higher education financing.

For many Kenyan students and parents, the scholarships could ease the financial burden of postgraduate education while helping more graduates acquire specialised skills needed in the job market.

The initiative is also expected to strengthen Kenya’s pool of highly skilled professionals by supporting postgraduate training in STEM and agriculture, fields considered essential for research, innovation, food production and long-term economic growth

The applications open amid proposed changes in higher learning, with President William Ruto announcing plans for the government to fully fund university and college students

University students accessing HELB services.
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SMG

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