The Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) has announced a major shift in how university and college students will receive financial support, moving away from its traditional band-based allocation system. In a statement released on Friday, August 22, HELB said that the new funding criteria will be determined by two key factors: the cost of the programme and the student’s assessed financial need.
“HELB no longer categorises student funding allocation into bands. Each student’s allocation is based on their assessed level of financial need and the cost of the programme,” the board confirmed.
To determine programme costs, HELB will collect real-time data directly from institutions. Meanwhile, student need will be evaluated through the Means Testing Instrument (MTI), a scientific tool that uses proxy indicators to establish a learner’s financial background and level of support required.
According to HELB, institutions will provide students with detailed information on tuition fees and related charges. Learners are therefore encouraged to log into their university or college portals for clarity on programme costs.
The loans board also addressed upkeep allocations for first-year students, clarifying that the amount each learner receives will vary. Unlike in previous years, there will be no uniform upkeep figure, as awards will depend on individual need assessment outcomes. Students have been advised to log into the HELB student portal to check whether their applications have been processed and to view their specific upkeep allocation.
HELB further explained why some students will see reduced upkeep compared to previous years. The adjustment is linked to the government’s decision to cut the cost of university programmes as part of ongoing reforms in the higher education sector.
“The government reduced the university programme cost, and you will now pay less in fees. The allocations take into consideration the reduced cost of the programme,” the board stated.
The new model represents a significant policy shift, aimed at ensuring fairness and aligning student support with actual financial realities. By tailoring allocations to programme costs and individual needs, HELB hopes to make funding more equitable and sustainable for learners across the country.
