Students applying for government scholarships and Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) loans for the 2026 academic year can check their funding status through the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Student Portal.
The portal allows applicants to confirm whether they have been allocated funding and check the status of their loan and scholarship applications.
Students can access the portal through the HEF website at www.portal.hef.co.ke using the web portal, the HELB App, or USSD.
Under the new Student-Centred Funding Model, HELB provides upkeep funds to university and TVET students based on their assessed financial need.
The money helps students pay for expenses such as accommodation, food, transport and other day-to-day costs while they are in school.
According to HELB, scholarship and loan disbursements are processed at the beginning of each semester, subject to confirmation by universities and TVET institutions.
Tuition fees are paid directly to the respective institutions, while upkeep funds are sent to the student’s personal account.
How to Check HELB Loan Status
Students who have applied for government funding can follow these steps to check their allocation and disbursement status:
- Visit the HEF Student Portal at www.portal.hef.co.ke.
- Log in using the details used during the application.
- Check the application status to confirm whether funding has been allocated, including batch numbers.
- Review the allocation details to see the scholarship or loan amount awarded.
- Check the disbursement section to establish whether the funds have been released.
Students can also access their HEF account through the HELB App or by using the HELB USSD service.
Parents and guardians can ask students to check the portal directly since the allocation and disbursement information is linked to the student’s account.
When Does HELB Disburse Loans?
HELB says scholarship and loan disbursements are processed at the beginning of a semester.
However, payment is subject to confirmation from the university or TVET institution.
This means a student who has been approved for funding may not receive the money immediately if the institution has not completed the required confirmation process.
Tuition funding is sent to the institution, while upkeep funding is paid to the student.
Students therefore do not receive the tuition portion in their personal accounts.
How Students Know Their HELB Upkeep Has Been Disbursed
Students receive an SMS notification from HELB through SurePay when funds have been disbursed to their mobile payment account.
SurePay is an SMS notification service for applicants who have opted for mobile payment or an M-Pesa wallet.
The message is sent once the upkeep funds have been released.
Students should therefore check the phone number linked to their HELB account and look out for the SurePay notification.
How to Access HELB Upkeep Funds Through M-Pesa
Students who have opted for mobile payment can access their upkeep funds through the M-Pesa App or by dialing *642#.
The mobile wallet can be accessed through the Safaricom M-Pesa Mini App and the HELB USSD service.
After receiving the SurePay message confirming disbursement, a student can use the available mobile payment options to access the funds.
The wallet allows beneficiaries to access their upkeep funds and withdraw money.
Students can also use the service to apply for subsequent loans.
What Students Can Do Through HELB USSD
The HELB USSD service provides students with access to several loan-related services without necessarily requiring a smartphone.
By dialing *642#, beneficiaries can access their upkeep funds and manage aspects of their HELB accounts.
The service also allows students to:
- Check their loan status
- Access loan statements
- Apply for subsequent loan
- Access upkeep funds
- Withdraw funds
- Repay their HELB loans
The services are available to users of feature phones as well as those using Android and iPhone devices through the relevant applications.
What Parents Need to Know About HELB Disbursement
Parents should note that the tuition and upkeep portions of government student funding are handled differently.
Tuition is sent directly to the university or TVET institution and is used toward the student’s fees.
Upkeep is paid to the student through the designated payment channel.
Therefore, parents should not expect the full loan or scholarship amount to be deposited into the student’s personal account.
The amount received by a student will depend on the funding allocated to them under the government’s higher education financing system.
Parents can also encourage students to regularly check their HEF portal for updates, particularly at the beginning of a new semester.
What If HELB Funds Have Not Been Disbursed?
A student who has been allocated funding but has not received upkeep should first check the status displayed on the HEF portal.
The student should also confirm whether their university or TVET institution has completed the required confirmation process.
If the portal shows that funds have been disbursed, the student should check for the SurePay SMS and confirm the mobile payment details linked to the account.
Students should avoid assuming that an approved application means the money has already been released.
HELB processes disbursements at the beginning of the semester after receiving the necessary confirmations from institutions.
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