FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
Question: What is Higher Education Students’ Financing Board?
Answer:
This is a Board intended to provide loans and scholarships to Ugandan students who have qualified for higher education in recognized institutions of higher learning but are unable to support themselves financially.
Question: Why Higher Education Students’ Financing Board?
Answer:
It is intended to address the following objectives:-
- To increase equitable access to technical and higher educa-tion in Uganda;
- To support highly qualified Ugandan students who may not afford higher education;
- To ensure regional balance in higher education services in Uganda;
- To develop and support courses critical to national develop-ment and to ensure quality education in public institutions through quality assurance and supervision.
- To ensure sustainable revolving loans fund.
Question: Who is eligible for the loans?
Answer:
- The scheme is meant for Ugandan students seeking financial assistance to pursue an accredited course of study or pro-gramme of higher education in an accredited institution of higher learning recognized by the National Council for Higher Educa-tion.
- The Board will determine the Students’ eligibility into the scheme and shall take with consideration the regional balance, gender, social economic needs and equity.
- The Board may, by notice in the Gazette and a newspaper of wide national coverage, declare the programmes or courses of study to be funded in a particular academic year.
Question: What does the loan cover?
Answer:
1) A loan shall cover the following:-
- Tuition fees;
- Functional fees; and
- Research fees;
- Aids and appliances for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs)
2) A loan may include specified amounts in respect of accommoda-tion or meals, where the Board determines that the funds are suffi-cient to provide those items, in addition to the fees prescribed in 1) above.
Question: What will be the grace period?
Answer:
A person who has received a student loan shall start repay-ing the loan with the specified interest at least one year after complet-ing higher education for which the loan was given.
Question: What level of education does the loan cover?
Answer:
It will cover the following programmes in the phased manner starting with under graduate programmes;
- Diplomas and professional Certificates
- Undergraduate courses
- Post graduate (Diplomas and Masters)
- Ph.D.
Question: Who will benefit from the initial students’ loans?
Answer:
The Student Loan Scheme will initially offer loans to students pursu-ing their first degrees (Undergraduates) in local public and private chartered universities. The programs to be awarded loans will be decided upon by the Board with the approval of the Minister.
Question: What does one require to apply for a loan?
Answer:
Application for loan shall be as follows:-
(1) An eligible student may apply to the Board for the loan.
(2) Every application shall be accompanied with;
- A copy of admission letter from the university/institution
- A valid identification document
- Copies of certified academic certificates or result slips and transcripts
- A copy of birth certificate or a passport
- Three most recent passport photos
- Prescribed/application fees
- A reference letter from an individual in social standing
- Fully filled completed application form
- Accurate present residence/home sketch map
Students shall apply for the Loan after being admitted at the Higher Education Institution.
Question: Will the Loan attract Interest?
Answer:
- Every student loan shall be repayable with interest.
- The interest shall be determined by the Minister of Education and Sports in consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance and upon the recommendation of the Board.
Question: Where do I apply for the Loan?
Answer:
Application forms shall be available at the selected Commercial Banks; Office of the dean of students; the Board’s website; the Ministry website http://www.education.go.ug. Students are advised to apply for the loan after being admitted at the university but before the opening date to allow ample time for processing and remittance. Applicants will be required to pay processing fee as determined by the Board.
Question: How will disbursement of the loan be made?
Answer:
The Board in respect of each student, shall disburse the tuition fees, functional fees, and research fees directly to the University bank account.
Question: Is a student allowed to pay back the loan earlier before the end of the grace period?
Answer:
Early repayments are accepted. Early re-payment is also allowed and the Board shall determine the manner in which to make repayments.
Question: Can a student who has already gotten the loan be disqualified?
Answer:
A student shall be disqualified on the following grounds:
a) Failure to progress academically
b) Change of citizenship from being a Ugandan national
c) Discovery of document falsification/ Provision of false information under the disguise of impersonation
Question: Can one get a Loan or exit during the time of study?
Answer:
Yes, the scheme is a multi entry and multi exit scheme, such that you can apply for the loan ONLY AND ONLY IF YOU WANT IT. A Student can choose when to get the loan and when not to get it.
Question: Is one required to pay back the loan if he/she fails to complete the course of study?
Answer:
On failure to complete your course of study, the loan is re-called immediately and you will be required to start re-paying.
Question: Can one apply for a partial loan?
Answer:
Yes, you are free to specify the amount of loan you need.
Question: Will the HESFB offer scholarships?
Answer:
Yes, the Board will from time to time award scholarships to eligible students pursuing education in a field of study determined by the Board as critical to national and economic development.
Question: What type of scholarships shall be attainable under the HESFB?
Answer:
The following scholarships shall be offered:
Bi-lateral and National scholarships.
Question: What will the scholarship cover?
Answer:
It will cover the following;
- Tuition fees,
- Functional fees,
- Books and reading materials,
- Accommodation fees,
- Meals,
- Research fees,
- Aids & Appliances for Persons with Disabilities,
- Other expenses as may be determined by Board and approved by the Minister
Question: Who is eligible for a scholarship?
Answer:
Any Ugandan student pursuing higher education in a field of study deemed critical to national and economic development, and also addressing human capital gaps.
Question: Is the scholarship paid back?
Answer:
Under normal circumstances, NO only in cases where;
- A student does not complete the course of study for any unconvincing reasons as determined by the Board , the scholarship is recalled and the student is required to pay back all the money spent on him/her.
- Falsification of documents by the student on discovery leads to automatic disqualification and refund of any amounts spent.
Question: What happens if I change the course of study?
Answer:
A student loan or scholarship shall only be used for the course for which the loan or scholarship has been awarded and shall not be transferable.
A List of Public and Private Universities Accredited by NCHE(2014)
- Makerere University Kampala (Mak)
- Kyambogo University
- Mbarara University of Science and Technology
- Gulu University
- Busitema University
- Muni University
- Kampala International University (KIU)
- Nkumba University
- Bugema University
- Ndejje University
- Uganda Christian University (UCU), Mukono
- Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), Nkozi
- Islamic University in Uganda (IUIU), Mbale