Thousands of students who sat the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination and have secured placement in public universities can now apply for government scholarships under the Student-Centred Funding Model.
The Universities Fund (UF) has announced that applications are open for the 2026/2027 academic year, urging eligible students to submit their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal before the September 6 deadline.
The government has allocated KSh30.8 billion to support university scholarships this financial year, providing financial assistance to 202,133 students placed in public universities through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
KSh30.8 billion allocated for university scholarships
According to the Universities Fund, the allocation marks a significant increase in government funding for higher education. The amount represents an additional KSh12.4 billion compared to the KSh18.4 billion allocated during the previous financial year.
Acting Universities Fund Chief Executive Officer Dr Edwin Wanyonyi encouraged students to complete their scholarship applications as early as possible to ensure timely processing before universities reopen.
He said early applications would allow enough time for verification, approval and disbursement of funds, reducing the likelihood of delays when students begin their studies.
Who qualifies for the scholarships?
The scholarships are available to students who have been placed in public universities through KUCCPS and are joining institutions for the 2026/2027 academic year.
To qualify, applicants must:
- Be Kenyan citizens.
- Have been placed in a public university by KUCCPS.
- Have sat the KCSE examination in 2022 or later.
- Submit their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal before the deadline.
Under the Student-Centred Funding Model, students admitted to public universities are eligible to apply for both Universities Fund scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans. However, students joining private universities are only eligible for HELB loans.
The amount awarded to each applicant depends on their household’s financial circumstances as well as the cost of the academic programme they have been admitted to pursue.
Students urged to submit accurate information
Dr Wanyonyi advised applicants to ensure all details entered during the application process are accurate and complete to avoid delays in processing.
He also called on parents, guardians and sponsors to support students throughout the application process by helping them prepare the required documents early.
According to the Universities Fund, submitting complete and correct information will enable faster assessment of applications and timely release of financial support.
#WahiScholarship campaign launched
To increase awareness about the programme, the Universities Fund has launched a nationwide campaign dubbed #WahiScholarship.
The campaign aims to educate students about eligibility requirements, application procedures and key deadlines while ensuring that no qualified learner misses out on government funding due to lack of information.
The agency noted that the Student-Centred Funding Model, introduced in 2023, has already benefited more than 400,000 university students, with the first beneficiaries expected to complete their studies next year.
Scholarship funds are paid directly to universities to cover tuition fees, easing the financial burden on students and their families.
Continuing students can also apply
Besides first-year students, the Universities Fund said applications remain open for continuing university students.
Eligible learners can submit their applications through the HEF Portal or by dialling the *USSD code 642# using the mobile phone number registered on the portal.
The agency reminded students that applications for both Universities Fund scholarships and HELB loans are free of charge and are submitted once every academic year.
Students have until September 6 to complete their scholarship applications through the HEF Portal. Early submission is encouraged to ensure successful processing before the start of the 2026/2027 academic year.
