• The new Higher Education Funding model, unveiled by President William Ruto on May 3, 2023, aims to address the challenges public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions face due to massive enrollment and inadequate funding.
  • This new framework replaces the previous Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model used to finance universities.

In a move to ensure greater accessibility to higher education, the Kenyan government has extended the deadline for applications to the new Higher Education Funding (HEF) program for the 2023 KCSE cohort joining universities in the 2024/2025 academic year.

According to a statement issued by the Principal Secretary of the State Department for Higher Education and Research, Dr. Beatrice Muganda Inyangala, the application deadline has been extended by ten days, now closing on August 15, 2024.

The new Higher Education Funding model, unveiled by President William Ruto on May 3, 2023, aims to address the challenges public universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions face due to massive enrollment and inadequate funding. This new framework replaces the previous Differentiated Unit Cost (DUC) model used to finance universities.

Under the new funding model, scholarships and loans will be allocated based on individual student needs, as determined by a Means Testing Instrument (MTI). Starting August 19, 2024, parents will be informed of the university fee and household contribution towards the cost of university programs.

The Kenya Universities and Colleges Placement Service (KUCCPS) has placed 153,275 students from the KCSE 2023 cohort in public and private universities. However, the funding will only be available to those who apply for it.

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As of August 4, 2024, 79,038 university students had applied for loans and scholarships, while 74,237 university students have yet to apply for funding. The Ministry of Education opened the application portal for scholarships and loans for the 2023 KCSE cohort on June 18, 2024.

The new funding model prioritizes a student's financial need and separates placement from funding. Under this model, universities and TVET institutions will not receive block funding in the form of capitation. Instead, student funding will be provided through scholarships, loans, and household contributions.

The Universities Fund will offer scholarships ranging from 30% to 70% based on students' level of need. Any remaining deficit will be covered through household contributions and loans.

Under the new Higher Education Funding Model, only candidates who took their KCSE examination from 2022 onwards are eligible for scholarships.

Students who still need to apply for loans and scholarships are encouraged to visit the official website at www.hef.co.ke to complete their applications by the extended deadline of August 15, 2024.

The application requirements for the new Higher Education Funding (HEF) program include a valid email address, a valid telephone number, the applicant's KCPE and KCSE index numbers and the year of examination, a passport-size photo, a college/university admission letter, the applicant's birth certificate, the registered telephone number of the applicant's parents or guardian, the ID number of the applicant's parent or guardian, a death certificate if the parent is deceased, and a copy of a sponsorship letter if the applicant was sponsored in secondary school.

The application process involves several steps:

The applicant must register and log in to the HEF portal.

They must fill out their profile and upload the required documents. The applicant must then tick a box to apply for a scholarship. After applying, they must wait for an SMS notification.

The applicant must wait to receive their award letter.