Nairobi: The Government has extended the application deadline for tertiary education funding for first-time university students and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) trainees to September 21, 2026.
According to Kenya News Agency, the extension was announced by Education Cabinet Secretary (CS), Julius Migos Ogamba, aiming to provide eligible students and trainees, who missed the initial deadline, with another opportunity to access government financial support. Initially set to close on August 31, 2026, the application window had already received 789,422 applications for funding.
In a press statement issued on Thursday, Ogamba noted that the extension was approved after recognizing that some eligible applicants might have been unable to submit their applications within the initial timeframe due to various circumstances. ‘Recognising that some eligible students and trainees may not have met the initial deadline on account of various causes, the Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board have been directed to extend the application window for all eligible applicants to 21st September, 2026,’ Ogamba stated.
The CS urged all eligible first-time applicants joining universities and TVET institutions to utilize the additional period and submit their applications promptly. This extension is expected to benefit students who may have otherwise missed out on government funding due to incomplete applications before the August 31 deadline.
The Government has disclosed that Sh22.12 billion has already been disbursed during the first semester/term to support continuing university students and TVET trainees under the tertiary education funding program. Meanwhile, Ogamba reported that applications submitted during the extended window would be processed under the Student-Centred Funding Model (SCFM), guiding the allocation of government financial assistance to students and trainees.
Ogamba further clarified that funding arrangements would transition to the Universal Access and Funding Framework (UAFF) once Parliament passes the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026. ‘Appropriate transitional mechanisms to the Universal Access and Funding Framework shall be implemented once Parliament passes the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026,’ Ogamba added.
The extension comes as thousands of students prepare to begin university and TVET studies, with government funding essential for learners from financially constrained households to pursue tertiary education. Under the current funding arrangement, eligible students apply for financial assistance through relevant government agencies, with support levels determined by the applicable funding framework.
The Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board are expected to continue receiving and processing applications during the extended period. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has called on prospective beneficiaries to submit their applications within the new deadline, rather than waiting until the final days of the extension.
The Government’s latest move also provides an opportunity for eligible students who may have faced difficulties during the initial application period to complete the process and be considered for funding. The new deadline is September 21, 2026, after which applications will be handled in accordance with the prevailing government funding framework.
The extension does not alter the current funding model: first-time applicants will have their applications considered under the Student-Centred Funding Model until the proposed legal and policy transition to the Universal Access and Funding Framework takes effect following the passage of the Tertiary Education Placement and Funding Bill, 2026.
