HELB Opens Postgraduate Scholarship Applications, Qualifications, Charges And How To Apply

Kenyan students hoping to fund their postgraduate studies now have a fresh window to apply, with the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) rolling out its 2026/2027 partial scholarships for Master’s and PhD candidates.

According to HELB, the window closes on August 31, 2026, giving applicants just about a month to get their paperwork in order.

The scholarships are open to Kenyans studying at any university, public or private, as long as it’s recognised by the Commission for University Education.

Master’s students stand to receive Ksh200,000 spread across two years, while those pursuing a PhD can get Ksh450,000 disbursed over three years.

HELB isn’t spreading the funding evenly across all disciplines, though. The board is clearly prioritising STEM and agriculture-related programmes, areas it considers central to Kenya’s push for industrialisation, food security and homegrown innovation.

Not everyone qualifies. Applicants need at least a Second-Class Upper Division from their undergraduate studies, plus a valid university admission letter in hand.

There’s also a catch for former HELB beneficiaries: anyone who took out a HELB loan before must show they’re either keeping up with repayments or have cleared the balance entirely before they can be considered.

There’s a small cost to entry too, a non-refundable Ksh3,000 application fee, payable via eCitizen. HELB has also put out a specific call encouraging persons living with disabilities to apply.

On the fraud front, the board issued a pointed warning: don’t fall for anyone claiming they can grease the wheels or fast-track an award. HELB insists the whole selection process runs on an automated system, leaving little room for the kind of backdoor dealing such scammers promise.

This latest opening follows closely on the heels of HELB’s rollout of continuing undergraduate loan applications, part of a 2026/2027 budget that set aside a record Ksh56.3 billion for higher education financing, the largest such allocation to date.

For students and families already stretched thin by tuition costs, the scholarship funding could take some pressure off pursuing an advanced degree, while potentially widening the pipeline of graduates equipped with specialised, in-demand skills.

Beyond individual households, the push is also meant to build up Kenya’s bench of highly trained professionals in fields tied directly to research, innovation, food production and long-term economic growth.

The timing is notable; these applications have opened just as President William Ruto has been floating a much bigger shift in higher education funding, one where the government would fully cover the cost of university and college education altogether.

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