Missed HELB deadline? What the new September 21 extension means for first-year students
By Trizer Lijondo, September 4, 2026For students preparing to join university or technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions, securing government funding can be an important part of planning for life after high school.
Those who missed the initial deadline for higher education funding now have another opportunity after Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba directed the Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) and the Universities Fund to extend the application window to September 21, 2026.
The initial deadline closed on August 31, with the government receiving 789,422 applications from university students and TVET trainees.
The extension gives eligible first-time applicants three additional weeks to submit their applications and seek financial support for their studies.
A second chance
Ogamba said the extension was necessary after some eligible students and trainees were unable to submit their applications before the initial deadline for various reasons.
The Education CS urged all eligible first-time applicants to take advantage of the additional time and submit their applications promptly.
For students who are yet to report to university or TVET institutions, the extra time could provide some relief as they prepare for a new chapter that often comes with several financial demands.
The applications submitted during the extended period will be processed under the current Student-Centred Funding Model.
More time to prepare
Joining university involves more than paying tuition. Students and their families often have to budget for accommodation, food, transport, learning materials and other personal expenses.
For families already struggling to raise the money required for a student’s transition to campus, government funding can therefore play a significant role in easing some of that pressure.
The extension also comes as questions continue to surround proposed changes to Kenya’s higher education funding system. Ogamba clarified that first-time applicants will continue to have their applications processed under the existing model as Parliament considers the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026.
With the new deadline set for September 21, eligible students who had not applied have been given another opportunity to seek funding rather than being locked out because they missed the original August deadline.
Students planning to apply are encouraged to use the additional window before it closes.