Students who have already applied for HELB funding for the 2026/2027 academic year do not need to apply again for second-semester funding. The Higher Education Loans Board said on 2 November 2026 that second-semester funds will be disbursed once the semester begins, around January 2027.
What HELB said
HELB clarified that its application is done once per academic year, so a student who has applied for 2026/2027 has already covered both semesters. The board said the second-semester money will not be released early. It will be paid only after the semester starts, which it expects to be around January.
HELB’s statement followed worries among university students that a fresh application would be needed to access funds for the next semester.
What this means for you
- Do not submit another application for second-semester funding if you applied for 2026/2027.
- Expect the money when the semester starts, around January 2027, not before.
- Keep your account details current. HELB has urged beneficiaries to make sure their account details are accurate and updated to avoid complications with disbursement.
- Watch your HELB account and official channels for updates on payment batches.
How timing works
The Higher Education Financing (HEF) FAQs say that scholarship and loan disbursements are processed at the beginning of the semester, subject to confirmation by universities and TVET institutions. Tuition is paid to the institution, while upkeep is paid into the student’s personal account.
If you have not applied for 2026/2027
HELB’s 2026/2027 subsequent loan applications for continuing students opened on 1 June 2026 through USSD *642#. The application window was extended to 21 September 2026 after a Ministry of Education directive. According to the HEF FAQs, a student who missed applying can submit an application whenever the next window opens. Applications for second and subsequent funding are done annually.
The background: a month-long lecturers’ strike
The HELB clarification comes after a lecturers’ strike that began on 2 October 2026 and disrupted teaching and learning in public universities for nearly a month. The Universities Academic Staff Union (UASU) called off the strike after signing a KSh20 billion deal with the government, with lecturers due to resume work on Monday, 2 November. HELB’s first-semester disbursements continued during the strike, in successive batches since August 2026.
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Frequently asked questions
I applied for 2026/2027. Must I reapply for semester 2?
No. HELB says its application is done once per academic year.
When will semester 2 money be paid?
Once the semester begins, expected around January 2027.
Where do I check payment updates?
On your HELB account and on HELB’s official communication channels.