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| 2025 KCSE Candidates Urged to Apply Early for Government Scholarships as KSh30.8 Billion Is Set Aside |
2025 KCSE Candidates Urged to Apply Early for Government Scholarships as KSh30.8 Billion Is Set Aside
Thousands of students who sat the 2025 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination and secured placement in public universities have been urged to apply for government scholarships under the Student-Centred Funding Model after the government allocated KSh30.8 billion for the 2026/2027 financial year.
The Universities Fund announced that the financial support is available to 202,133 students who were successfully placed in public universities through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS).
Eligible students are required to submit their applications through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal before the September 6 deadline.
Acting Universities Fund Chief Executive Officer Dr. Edwin Wanyonyi encouraged students not to wait until the last minute, noting that early applications will enable the agency to process requests and release funds before universities reopen for the new academic year.
He emphasized that timely applications will help ensure deserving students receive scholarships without unnecessary delays.
Students were also advised to provide accurate and complete information during the application process, as missing documents or incorrect details could slow down the processing of applications.
The KSh30.8 billion allocation marks a significant increase from the previous financial year's KSh18.4 billion, highlighting the government's continued commitment to expanding access to higher education.
The additional funding is expected to ease the financial burden on thousands of students and their families while promoting equitable access to university education.
Under the Student-Centred Funding Model, students admitted to public universities qualify 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 of financial support awarded depends on a student's household financial need and the cost of the academic programme they will pursue.
To increase awareness, the Universities Fund has launched the #WahiScholarship campaign to educate students on the scholarship application process, eligibility requirements, and key deadlines.
The initiative seeks to ensure that no qualified student misses out on government funding due to a lack of information or failure to apply on time.
Parents, guardians, and sponsors have also been urged to support students by helping them prepare the required documents and complete their applications before the deadline. Officials believe family support will play a crucial role in ensuring eligible students successfully access financial aid.
Since the introduction of the Student-Centred Funding Model in 2023, hundreds of thousands of students have benefited from government scholarships, with the first cohort of beneficiaries expected to graduate next year.
Scholarship funds are paid directly to public universities to cater for tuition fees, reducing the financial burden on students and their families.
To qualify for the scholarship, applicants must be Kenyan citizens, have been placed in a public university through KUCCPS, have sat the KCSE examination in 2022 or later, and submit their applications through the HEF Portal.
Applications for both Universities Fund scholarships and HELB loans are free of charge and are made once every academic year. Continuing students can also submit their applications through the HEF Portal or by using the designated USSD service.
2025 KCSE Candidates Urged to Apply Early for Government Scholarships as KSh30.8 Billion Is Set Aside