Higher Education Students Financing Board

FAQs

Most frequent questions and answers

Answer:
Higher Education Students’ Financing Board (HESFB) is a body Corporate established by an Act of Parliament, No. 2 of 2014, to provide Loans and  Scholarships to Ugandan  Students who wish to pursue Higher Education in recognized Ugandan Higher Education  Institutions, but are unable to support themselves financially. HESFB implements the Higher Education Students’ Financing Scheme which inclu es both the Students’ Loan Scheme and the
Students’ Scholarship Scheme.

Answer:
It is inten ed to address the following objectives: –

  1. To increase equitable access to Technical and Higher Education;
  2. To support highly qualified Ugandan students who may not afford Higher Education;
  3. To ensure regional balance in Higher Education services in Uganda;
  4. To support courses critical for national development.
  5. To ensure a sustainable revolving loans fund.

Answer:
Eligibility to the Student Loan Scheme considers;

  1. Be a Ugandan Citizen
  2. Be admitted to pursue an accredited undergraduate diploma or degree
    programme in a listed Higher Education Institution, private chartered
    university or public university in Uganda. Accreditation is by the National
    Council for Higher Education (NCHE)
  3. Have a financial need
  4. An applicant must be a joining in the first year or Continuing Student.
    However, the Board currently funds final year students among the continuing
    students.
  5. The Board also takes into consideration regional balance, gender, social
    economic needs and equity.

Answer:
Application is online through the HESFB Website; www.hesfb.go.ug. Applicants will be required to attach all the listed requirements.

Answer:
Application for a student loan will require one to upload the following;

  1. A copy of admission letter from any of the participating HEI
  2. A copy of the National ID
  3. Copies of academic certificates or result slips and transcripts
  4. A copy of a birth certificate
  5. A copy of the recent passport photo
  6. Proof of payment of the prescribed processing fees
  7. A copy of the Financial card (Not mandatory at the point of application)
  8. A sketch map of applicant’s current address/residence
  9. A sketch map of applicant’s home of origin (if different from current address)
  10. Fully filled loan application form submitted online.

Note: Applicants will receive a notification upon successfully submitting the
application details through email.

Answer:
The Student Loan Scheme is a cost sharing initiative. The Loan strictly covers the academic component, i.e., Tuition fees,  Functional fees, Research fees, Aids and Appliances for Persons with  Disabilities (PWDs). A student loan beneficiary is expected to cater for their welfare expenses (accommodation, feeding, medical care, scholastic materials) and any other expenses required by the student outside what HESFB finances.

Answer:
Currently the scheme supports students pursuing selected Undergraduate Diploma and Degree Programmes in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathemetics (STEM). Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) are eligible to pursue either Sciences or Humanities programmes.

Answer:
This is possible. However, the student must seek approval from their institution and from the Board. These changes attract fees as stipulated in the tariff guide.

Answer:
The loan amount is remitted directly to the Higher Education Institution on a semester basis upon submission of a Subsequent Loan Application Form (SLAF), by the student. However, funds for aids and appliances applicable to PWDs may be deposited directly  onto the Beneficiary’s account.

Answer:
A Student Loan Beneficiary can be disqualified on the following grounds;

  1. Discovery of document and information falsification
  2. Failure to progress academically
  3. Change of citizenship from being a Ugandan national
  4. Conviction of a crime
  5. Dismissal by the Higher Education Institution

Answer:
A Beneficiary will be required to request for funding only when they need i . A Student
can also exit the Scheme if they acquire an alternative source of funding.

Answer:
In this case, HESFB must be notified immediately on presentation of an  authentic death  certificate by the family of the Beneficiary or Loanee. The Board shall write off  the outstanding loan amount against the Loan Protection Fund.

Answer:
Every Student contributes 1% of the annual gross loan amount as Loan Prote tion
Fee. This indemnifies the borrower against death and permanent incapacitation.

LOAN PROTECTION FUND BANK ACCOUNTS
Centenary Bank – 3100045970
DFCU Bank – 01363669053689

Answer:
Every student loan is repayable with a value retention fee. The value retention fee is determined by the Minister of Education and Sports in consultation with the Minister responsible for Finance upon  recommendation by the Board. Currently the value retention rate is 7% per annum charged on reducing balance.

Answer:
The maximum repayment period is twice the study period in addition to the grace period of one  year. There is also room to negotiate favorable repayment terms,  including early repayments.

Answer:
Accordin to the HESF Act, the grace period is 12 cale er completing
the study programme for which the loan was awarded.

Answer:
Early Repayment comprises any amounts paid back to the Board during the period of study and before end of the Grace Period. Amounts paid within this period does not attract Loan Retent on
Fee/interest. This also facilitates a clean record with the Credit Reference Bureau.

Answer:
All Loan Beneficiaries are obliged to pay back all loan amounts advanced to them irrespective of failure to complete the course of study, except in the case of death or permanent incapacitation of the Beneficiary.

Answer:
Government has not designated jobs specifically for loanees. The role of the Board is to enable
students acquire knowledge and skills to compete for available opportunities both in the public and
private sector. HESFB will also offer Beneficiaries additional training in competences relevant in
the labor market and enterprise development.

Answer:
Section 2 (5) of the HESF Act states that a person who has no income for the repayment of the student loan, shall within fourteen (14) days after receiving a notice under section (4) in the prescribed manner inform the Board accordingly and there after update the Board with information concerning his/her position after every three months. A Loanee can also negotiate a flexible repayment plan within their repayment  period but must complete their loan repayment within the stipulated period.

Answer:
Yes, however, to facilitate loan recovery, the beneficiary shall furnish the Board with a proper repayment plan.

Answer: Yes, the student loan repayment installment shall not exceed 30% of the Loanee’s net pay but repayment of the student’s loan takes priority over any other loan. However, non-compliance with the student’s loan repayment may affect a Loanee’s credit worthiness with Commercial Banks in view of their credit ratings.

Answer: Once a Loanee has fully paid off their previous loan, they stand an opportunity to apply for a new facility to enable them pursue further education opportunities.

Answer:
HESFB has clear channels through which one can repay their loan even if they are working outside
Uganda. Payments can be channelled through Cash / cheque, Standing Order, Direct Debit, Electronic Transfers [EFT, RTGS], Telegraphic Transfers (TT) or Mobile Money.


HESFB LOAN  RECOVERY AND INTEREST ACCOUNT
Centenary Bank – 3100045969
DFCU Bank – 01363669053652

Student Loan Tariff Guide

Loan Scheme Application 50,000/=
Change of Course 10,000/=
Change of Institution 10,000/=
Loan Protection Fees 1% of the total Annual Tution Fees
Late SLAF Submission Fees 20,000/=*
Value Retention Fee 7% per Annum on reducing balancing balance*
Compliance Certificate 50,000/=
Completion Certificate 50,000/=
CRB Loan Account Search 8,850/=
Late Registration 20,000/=

LIST OF PARTICIPATING PUBLIC AND PRIVATE CHARTERED UNIVERSITIES

  1. Busitema University
  2. Gulu University
  3. Kabale University
  4. Kyambogo University
  5. Lira University
  6. Makerere University
  7. Mbarara University of Science & Technology
  8. Muni University
  9. Soroti University
  10. Mountains of the Moon University
  11. Makerere University Business School (An Affiliate of Makerere
    ersity)
  1. Private Universities
  2.  African Bible University
  3. Bishop Stuart University
  4. Bugema University
  5. International University of East Africa
  6. ISBAT University
  7. Islamic University in Uganda
  8. Kampala International University
  9. Kampala University
  10. Muteesa I Royal University
  11. Ndejje University
  12. Nkumba University
  13. Uganda Christian University
  14. Uganda Martyrs University
  15. University of Kisubi
  16. Victoria University

LIST OF UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES SUPPORTED

1. B. Medicine & B. Surgery
2. B. Dental Surgery

Programmes
1. B. Pharmacy
2. B. Pharmaceutical Sciences

1. B. Biomedical Laboratory Technology
2. B. Medical Lab. Completion
3. B. Biomedical Laboratory Science & Technology
4. Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science
5. Bachelor of Bio Technology
6. Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Technology
7. Bachelor of Medical Laboratory

1. Bachelor of Nursing Sciences
2. B. Nursing Completion
3. Bachelor of Midwifery Science
4. BSc. Midwifery
5. B. Nursing Extension

1. Bachelor of Sustainable Agricand Extension
2. Bachelor of Agricultural Entrepreneurship & Farm Mgt
3. BSc Agricultural Land use and Management
4. B. Agriculture & Entrepreneurship
5. Bachelor of Conservation Biology
6. Bachelor of Science in Wildlife Industry and Business
7. Bachelor of Agricultural and Rural Innovation
8. Bachelor of Agribusiness Mgt & Community Dev’t
9. B. Conservation Forestry and Products Technology
10. Bachelor of Agribusiness Management
11. BSc Fisheries and Aquaculture
12. Bachelor of Agriculture
13. BSc. Food Science & Technology
14. BSc Fisheries and Water Resource Management
15. Bachelor of Social and Entrepreneurship Forestry Bachelor of Community Forestry

1. B. Science in Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning
2. Bachelor of Science in Animation and Visual Effects
3. Bachelor of Science in Networking and Cyber Security
4. Bachelor of Information Technology
5. Bachelor of Information Technology and Computing
6. Bachelor of Information Systems
7. BSc. Computer Networks & Systems Administration
8. BSc. of Information & Communications Technology
9. BSc. Computer Science

1. B. Statistics
2. BSc Quantitative Economics
3. BSc Actuarial Science
4. BSc Mathematics, Economics,
Statistics & Computer Science
5. Bachelor of Business Statistics

1. B. Veterinary Medicine
2. BSc. Animal Production Technology & Management
3. BSc. Wildlife Health and Management

1. BSc. Industrial Chemistry
2. BSc. Microbiology
3. BSc. Biochemistry
4. Bachelor of Science in Marine Science

1. Bachelor of Science with Education
2. B. Vocational Studies in Technological
Studies with Education
3. B. of Medical Education
4. B. Agricultural Extension Education
5. Bachelor of Vocational Studies with
Education
6. Bachelor of Education with ICT

1. BSc. Speech & Language Therapy
2. B. Education, Special Needs
Education
3. B. of Teacher Education with Special
Needs Education.

1. BScin Mechanical & Automotive Engineering
2. BSc Land Economics
3. BSc. Agriculture Mechanization
4. BSc. Bio Systems Engineering
5. B. Technical Teacher Education Electrical Engineering
6. B. Technical Teacher Education Mechanical Engineering
7. B. Technical Teacher Education – Mechanical & Production Eng
8. B. Technical Teacher Education- Civil & Building Eng
9. BSc Information Technology with Education
10. BSc. Laboratory Science Education & Industry
11. B Vocational Studies in Agriculture with Education
12. Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics & Communication
13. BSc. Mechanical Engineering
14. Bachelor of Engineering in Environmental Engineering & Mgt
15. Bachelor of Science in Textile Engineering
16. Bachelor of Land Use Planning and Management
17. Bachelor of Science in Building Economics
18. Bachelor of Engineering in
Environmental Engineering and Management (EEM)
19. B. of Urban & Regional Planning
20. BSc. Agro Processing Engineering
21. BSc. Civil Engineering
22. BSc. Electrical Engineering
23. BSc. Mining Engineering
24. BSc. Civil, Building & Environmental Engineering
25. B. Agricultural Mechanization & Irrigation Engineering
26. BSc. Software Eng and Application Development
27. B. Engineering in Automotive & Power Engineering
28. Bachelor of Industrial Engineering & Management
29. BSc. Software Engineering
30. BSc. Textile Engineering & Clothing Technology
31. Bachelor of Biomedical Engineering
32. B of Mechatronics & Biomedical Engineering
33. Bachelor of Environmental Design
34. B. Architecture
35. BSc. Electrical, Electronics & Communications Eng
36. B. Eng in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering
37. BSc. Surveying
38. BSc Survey and Land Formation
39. B. Engineering in Civil and Building Engineering
40. Bachelor of Science in Quantity Surveying
41. Bachelor of Industrial Engineering and Management
42. Bachelor of Surveying and Land Information Systems
43. Bachelor of Science in Land Surveying & Geomantic
44. BSc. Telecommunications Engineering
45. BSc. Computer Engineering
46. BSc. Construction Management
47. BSc. Chemical Engineering
48. Bachelor of Material and Ceramic Science Technology
49. BSc. Water Resource Engineering

1. BSc. Geological Resources
2. BSc. Petroleum & Geoscience Engineering
3. BSc. Oil & Gas Management

1. BSc. Optometry
2. Bachelor of Cytotechology
3. B. Physiotherapy
4. Bachelor of Science in Public Health
5. BSc. Human Nutrition and Dietetics
6. Bachelor of Environmental Health Science
7. Bachelor of Dental Laboratory Technology
8. BSc. Palliative Care
9. BSc. Medical Radiography
10. BSc Health Administration
11. Bachelor of Science in Medical Imaging Technology

1. Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management
2. Bachelor of Hotel and Hospitality Management
3. Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management
4. Bachelor of Tourism Management
5. Bachelor of Leisure and Hospitality Management
6. Bachelor of Travel and Tourism Management
7. Bachelor of Catering and Hotel Management
8. Bachelor of Tourism and Hotel Management

Persons with Disabilities can apply to Pursue any accredited Programme of their choice from any of the listed Higher Learning Institutions.

OTHER PARTICIPATING TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS

  1. Uganda Institute of Allied Health & Mgt Sciences (Mulago Paramedical School)
  2. Health Tutors’ College – Mulago
  3. Fort Portal College of Health Sciences
  4. Gulu College of Health Sciences
  5. Mbale College of Health Sciences
  6. Butabika School of Psychiatry Clinical Medicine
  7. Jinja School of Ophthalmic Clinical Medicine
  8. Mbale School of Hygiene / Environmental Health Science
  9. Jinja Medical Laboratory Training School
  1. Institute of Survey and Land Management
  2. National Meteorological Training School
  3. Nakawa Vocational Training College
  4. Uganda Institute of Information and Communications Technology
  5. Uganda Petroleum Institute Kigumba
  6. Uganda Technical College, Bushenyi
  7. Uganda Technical College, Elgon
  8. Uganda Technical College, Kicwamba
  9. Uganda Technical College, Kyema
  10. Uganda Technical College, Lira
  1. Arua School of Comprehensive Nursing
  2. Butabika Psychiatric Nursing School
  3. Jinja School of Nursing & Midwifery
  4. Kabale School of Comprehensive Nursing
  5. Soroti School of Comprehensive Nursing
  6. Mulago School of Nursing & Midwifery
  7. Public Health Nurses College
  8. Lira School of Comprehensive Nursing
  9. Masaka School of Comprehensive Nursing
  1. Bukalasa Agricultural College
  2. Uganda Wildlife Research & Training Institute – Kasese
  3. Fisheries Training Institute
  4. Nyabyeya Forestry College
  1. Uganda Hotel and Tourism Training Institute

LIST OF DIPLOMA PROGRAMMES SUPPORTED

1. Diploma in Clinical Psychiatry
2. Diploma in Mental Health
3. Diploma in Ophthalmology
4. Diploma in Orthopedic Medicine
5. Diploma in Clinical Medicine & Community Health
6. Advanced Diploma in Child and Adolscent Mental Health

1. Diploma in Science Laboratory
Technology
2. Diploma in Medical Laboratory
Technology

1. Diploma in Nursing
2. Diploma in Public Health Nursing
3. Diploma in Clinical Mentoring
4. Advanced Diploma in Paediatric
Nursing
5. Diploma in Psychiatric Nursing
6. Diploma in Midwifery
7. Diploma in Medical Records and Health
Informatics

1. Diploma in Pharmacy

1. Diploma in Multimedia and Animation
2. Diploma in Networking & Cyber Security
3. Diploma in Software Engineering
4. Diploma in Computer Science
5. Diploma in Hardware and Networking
6. Diploma in Infromation Technology

1. Diploma in Ceramics
2. Diploma in Ceramics Technology
3. Diploma in Civil and Building Engineering
4. Diploma in Mechanical Engineering
5. Diploma in Building & Construction Engineering
6. Diploma in Electrical Engineering
7. Diploma in Mechanical and Production Engineering.
8. Diploma in Building Engineering
9. Diploma in Ginning Engineering
10. Diploma in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning
11. Diploma in Water Engineering
12. Diploma in Automobile Engineering
13. Diploma in Architecture
14. Diploma in Textile Design and Surface Design
15. Diploma in Computer Engineering
16. Diploma in Biomedical Engineering
17. Diploma in Physical Planning
18. Diploma in Metrology
19. Diploma in Agricultural Engineering
20. Diploma in Electrical and Electronics Engineering
21. Diploma in Textile Design and Technology
22. Diploma in Civil Engineering Surveying/Land Surveying
23. Diploma in Land Management and Evaluation
24. Diploma in Cartography
25. Diploma in Telecommunications Engineering

1. Diploma in Physical Education and Sports Management
2. Diploma in Secondary Education (Technological Studies/Science Education)
3. Diploma in Clinical Instruction
4. Diploma in Health Tutorship

1. Diploma in Fisheries Management and Technology
2. Diploma in Crop Production And Management
3. Diploma in Food Processing Technology
4. Diploma in Sustainable Agriculture
5. Diploma in Wildlife Health Management
6. Diploma in wildlife & Natural Resource Management

1. Diploma In Animal Prodction And Management

1. Diploma in Hotel Management
2. Diploma in Tourism Management
3. Diploma in Hotel and Hospitality
4. Diploma in Tourism and Hospitality Management
5. Diploma in Hotel and Restaurant Business Management
6. Diploma in Recreation and Events Management
7. Diploma in Tourism and Hotel Management

1. Diploma in Community HIV/AIDS Care
2. Diploma in Clinical & Community Nutrition
3. Diploma in Occupational Therapy
4. Diploma in Health Management & Leadership
5. Advanced Diploma in Health Services Management
6. Diploma in Medical Entomology & Parasitology
7. Diploma in Medical Radiography
8. Diploma in Occupational Therapy
9. Diploma in Ear, Nose & Throat, Head and Neck Surgery
10. Diploma in Orthopedic Technology
11. Diploma in Anesthesia
12. Diploma in Palliative Care
13. Diploma in Public Health Dentistry
14. Diploma in Medical Audiology
15. Diploma in Environmental Health Science
16. Higher Diploma in Clinical Instruction
17. Diploma in Dental Technology
18. Diploma in Physiotherapy