HELB says students who applied for 2026/2027 funding should await second-semester disbursements around January 2027.
HELB semester funding for the second term of the 2026/2027 academic year requires no fresh application. The Higher Education Loans Board expects to release the funds around January 2027, once the semester begins.
In a November 2 statement, HELB addressed concerns among university students about whether they needed to apply again. The board explained that students submit one funding application per academic year.
Students who already applied therefore do not need to repeat the process for the second semester. They must instead wait until the semester starts, rather than expect an immediate payment.
HELB semester funding continues in batches
Meanwhile, HELB has continued first-semester disbursements despite disruptions to university learning caused by the lecturers’ strike. The board has released money to beneficiaries in successive batches since August 2026.
First-year students were scheduled to receive their initial allocations from August 15. Further releases also continued into late October as processing progressed.
During the early disbursement phase, HELB urged beneficiaries to keep their account details accurate and updated. This helps prevent complications when the board releases their allocations.
Students should also monitor their loan accounts and official HELB communication channels for updates on subsequent payment batches.
The funding clarification comes as students face financial pressure following the lecturers’ strike, which extended university calendars. As institutions adjusted their academic programmes, students incurred additional rent, food and transport expenses while awaiting normal operations.
