It is my sincere gratitude to welcome you all to the Higher Education Students Financing Board Website.
The Higher Education Students Financing Board put up this website as part of the effort to improve communication and ensure smooth flow of information with our stakeholders. The Higher Education Students’ Financing Board is a semi-autonomous government body established in May, 2014 by an Act of Parliament HESFB Act No. 2 of 2014, with a mandate to provide financing for Higher Education in form of loans and scholarships.
The Board offers loans and scholarships to Ugandans who intend to pursue accredited courses of study or programme of higher Education in accredited institutions of higher learning recognized by National Council for Higher Education.
The Board was primarily established to address the current problem of low participation rates at Higher Learning Institutions that stands at 6.1%; support the growing number of students who are completing Uganda Advanced Certificate but are unable to fund higher education and address the current challenges of inequity in accessing higher education. The Scheme aims at supporting the qualifying students who have been admitted at the Higher Learning Institutions but cannot afford to raise the required education expenses. The Board awards loans to students in all public and private chartered universities and has awarded loans to a total of undergraduate students for the four successive years 2014/2015, 2015/2016, 2016/2017 and 2017/2018 . A total of 200 students pursuing diploma courses in other tertiary institutions have also been awarded loans to study in various institutions across the Country making a total of 2477 students awarded loans on both undergraduate and diploma programmes.
The award of loans is based on the real need and in determining the eligibility into the Scheme; the Board considers the social economic needs; the regional balance; gender and equity. The Scheme is meant for Ugandan students who are needy and other disadvantaged groups but studying courses with high priority in terms of manpower needs and can spur economic growth in the Country. The Board mainly targets programmes that offer employable skills to the beneficiaries and or practical skills that enable students to employ themselves after the period of study. The students are supported with funds to meet tuition, functional and research fees while the students meet the costs of accommodation, meals and other incidental costs...
The Board has inculcated good working relationship with a number of stakeholders especially the Higher learning institutions, government and students. The government is determined to increase access to higher education and has been increasing loanable funds over the successive years.
“The late Nelson Mandela once said, “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world”. We aim to support students who will eventually add value to our beloved country Uganda.
Although the Board has made great strides in fulfilling its mandate, the demand for loans is overwhelming. Successful loan applicants have remained in the range of less than 30% of the applicants due to budget deficits.
I take this opportunity to welcome you to the Higher Education Students Financing Board website http://www.hesfb.go.ug I believe you will find the information listed very useful.
We stand and cherish our Motto “Increasing Access to Higher Education”.
Michael O. Wanyama (CPA)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR