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. The extension is expected to give eligible students and trainees who missed the initial application deadline another opportunity to apply for government financial support as they prepare to begin their tertiary education.
Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Migos Ogamba announced the extension after the initial application window closed on August 31, 2026, with 789,422 applications received. In a statement, Ogamba said the decision was made after the Government recognised that some eligible applicants may have been unable to complete their applications within the initial period because of 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 take advantage of the additional period and submit their applications before the new deadline.
TVET trainees included in funding extension
The extension is particularly significant for young people joining TVET institutions, as government financial support remains an important factor in enabling learners from financially constrained households to access technical and vocational training. Ogamba said applications submitted during the extended period would continue to be processed under the Student-Centred Funding Model (SCFM), which currently guides the allocation of government financial assistance to students and trainees.
“For the avoidance of doubt, it is notified for the general information of the public that applications for funding for first-time applicants will be considered and processed in accordance with the current Student-Centred Funding Model,” he said.
The CS further clarified that the funding arrangements are expected to 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.
Government disburses Sh22.12 billion
The Government has already disbursed Sh22.12 billion during the first semester or term to support continuing university students and TVET trainees under the tertiary education funding programme.
The additional application period is therefore expected to provide more eligible first-time learners with an opportunity to be considered for financial assistance as they commence their studies.
The Universities Fund and the Higher Education Loans Board are expected to continue receiving and processing applications during the extended window.
The Ministry of Education has urged prospective beneficiaries not to wait until the final days of the extension to submit their applications. The new deadline is September 21, 2026, after which applications will be processed in accordance with the prevailing government funding framework. The extension does not change the current funding model. First-time university students and TVET trainees will continue to have their applications considered under the Student-Centred Funding Model pending the proposed transition to the Universal Access and Funding Framework.
For thousands of young Kenyans preparing to join TVET institutions, the extension provides an additional opportunity to secure financial support and pursue practical skills that can open pathways to employment, entrepreneurship and further education.