HELSB Zambia: Student Loans, Scholarships, Eligibility and How to Apply

HELSB Zambia provides student loans and administers scholarship opportunities for eligible Zambians who need financial support to pursue higher education. For undergraduate students attending participating public universities in Zambia, the main form of support is the Government of the Republic of Zambia (GRZ) student loan, while HELSB also administers local and international scholarship programmes as opportunities become available.

Students who are looking for a “HELSB bursary” should therefore understand an important distinction: the support commonly called a government bursary is now largely administered through the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board, and undergraduate university support is generally provided as a repayable student loan rather than a traditional bursary.

This guide explains what HELSB is, who can qualify, universities covered by the student loan scheme, what the loan pays for, how to apply through the HELSB portal, scholarships available through HELSB, application deadlines and what happens after receiving a loan.

HELSB Zambia at a Glance

What Is HELSB Zambia?

The Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) is the statutory institution responsible for administering higher education student loans and scholarships in Zambia.

It was established under the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Act No. 31 of 2016. The Act established both the Board and the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Fund and gave HELSB responsibilities that include granting and administering student loans, recovering loans from beneficiaries and administering scholarships.

The establishment of HELSB replaced the former bursary administration system associated with the Bursaries Committee and introduced a stronger student-loan model in which money recovered from former beneficiaries can help finance future students.

Students can read the legislation through the National Assembly of Zambia’s Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Act page.

What Does HELSB Do?

HELSB has two functions that are particularly important to students.

The first is student loan administration. HELSB provides financial support to qualifying undergraduate students admitted to participating public universities in Zambia.

The second is scholarship administration. HELSB participates in the administration of scholarship opportunities provided through government arrangements, foreign governments, international partners and other organisations.

This means students should not assume that a HELSB loan and a HELSB scholarship are the same thing.

HELSB Student Loans in Zambia

The HELSB student loan scheme is designed to help eligible Zambian students meet the costs of studying at selected public universities.

HELSB currently lists 10 public universities under its undergraduate student loan programme.

Universities Eligible for HELSB Student Loans

The participating institutions are:

1. University of Zambia (UNZA)
2. Copperbelt University (CBU)
3. Mulungushi University (MU)
4. Kwame Nkrumah University (KNU)
5. Chalimbana University (CHAU)
6. Mukuba University (MKU)
7. Palabana University (PU)
8. Kapasa Makasa University (KMU)
9. Zambia University College of Technology (ZUT)
10. Levy Mwanawasa Medical University (LMMU)

The list of supported institutions can change as government policy and funding arrangements develop, so students applying in a future academic year should always verify their university against the current HELSB advertisement.

Who Qualifies for a HELSB Student Loan?

Eligibility is determined by the requirements published for the relevant academic year.

For the 2026/2027 academic year, HELSB states that applicants must be Zambian citizens with valid Green National Registration Cards, be admitted to one of the supported institutions and demonstrate genuine financial need. HELSB’s current application information also states that an applicant must not already be benefiting from another government-funded scholarship or student loan.

For the 2026/2027 application cycle specifically, applicants are expected to have completed Grade 12 in 2022, 2023, 2024 or 2025 and to be 26 years old or younger by 31 October 2026.

These dates should not automatically be applied to future application cycles. HELSB may change the acceptable school-leaver years, age cut-off or other requirements in subsequent advertisements.

Does Admission Guarantee a HELSB Loan?

Admission to a university does not guarantee a HELSB student loan.

A student can satisfy university admission requirements and still not receive HELSB funding because the number and level of awards depend on factors including eligibility, financial need and the funds available to HELSB.

HELSB explicitly states that loans are awarded according to its financial capacity and that admission to a participating university does not automatically result in an award.

This is one of the most important things applicants should understand before making financial commitments based on an expected loan.

HELSB Loan Support Levels

HELSB currently uses four levels of financial support:

HELSB decides the final level of support awarded. Applicants may indicate the level they require, but requesting 100% funding does not mean they will automatically receive full sponsorship.

For the 2026/2027 application cycle, HELSB has specifically indicated that 100% support is reserved for extremely vulnerable applicants and encourages applicants to request a level of support that reflects their genuine financial circumstances.

This makes evidence of financial vulnerability particularly important.

What Does a HELSB Student Loan Cover?

A HELSB student loan can cover both university charges and student allowances.

According to HELSB, covered institutional costs may include tuition fees, registration fees and accommodation fees, while student support can include meal, book and project allowances.

Tuition, registration and accommodation payments are linked to the student’s assigned sponsorship percentage.

An important distinction is that HELSB states that student allowances are paid in full regardless of whether a student receives 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% fee support.

Students who live outside university accommodation may also qualify for an accommodation refund in lieu of an on-campus placement, subject to the applicable HELSB and university arrangements.

Documents Required for a HELSB Loan Application

Students should prepare their documents before beginning the online application.

Current HELSB requirements include a passport-size photograph, certified copies of the applicant’s NRC and guardian’s NRC, certified Grade 12 results or School Certificate, university admission or acceptance letter and supporting documents relating to the applicant’s circumstances. Applicants with disabilities may also be required to submit appropriate disability documentation.

Supporting evidence can be particularly important for students requesting a higher level of support.

HELSB identifies documents such as an applicant’s letter, guardian recommendation, proof of financial need, death certificates in the case of orphaned applicants and other relevant recommendation documents among material that may support an application.

For the 2026/2027 application cycle, uploaded application documents are required in PDF format, with HELSB specifying a maximum size of 5MB per document in the application notice.

How to Apply for a HELSB Student Loan

Applications are submitted through the official HELSB Student Portal.

A new applicant generally needs to create an account, verify their contact information, provide personal and guardian details, enter academic information, upload the required documents and select the relevant loan application when the application window for their university is open.

Applicants should then choose their university, programme and requested level of sponsorship, upload the required admission and supporting documents and submit the application.

HELSB’s published online application guide currently indicates a ZMW 100 application fee during submission. Applicants should confirm the amount displayed by the official portal before making payment because application fees and payment procedures can change between application cycles.

Never pay someone claiming that they can personally “secure” a HELSB loan.

HELSB Application Portal

The HELSB online system allows students to apply and monitor their applications.

The official portal is:

portal.helsb.gov.zm

Students should use the official portal rather than unofficial websites, WhatsApp links or social-media forms requesting personal information.

Applicants should also use an email address and phone number they can access reliably because account verification and application communication may depend on these details.

HELSB Loan Application Deadlines for 2026/2027

HELSB does not necessarily use one closing date for every university. Application windows are organised according to participating institutions.

For the 2026/2027 academic year, HELSB announced the following deadlines:

Current update — 23 September 2026: applications for UNZA remain open until 30 September 2026, while applications for Kapasa Makasa University, Zambia University College of Technology and Levy Mwanawasa Medical University remain open until 30 October 2026. The application windows shown above for the other six institutions have closed.

Students reading this article after the 2026/2027 cycle should check the current HELSB official website rather than relying on old closing dates.

How HELSB Decides Who Receives a Loan

HELSB funding is limited, so submitting an application does not guarantee selection.

Financial vulnerability is particularly important. Applicants seeking significant support should provide credible documents showing why financial assistance is needed.

For the current cycle, HELSB advises households with some capacity to contribute towards university costs to consider requesting lower sponsorship levels rather than automatically applying for 100% support.

Students should therefore treat the application as an assessment of need rather than simply an online registration process.

Provide accurate information, attach supporting evidence and ensure that documents are readable and consistent with the information entered on the portal.

How to Check Your HELSB Application Status

Applicants can monitor their applications through the HELSB student portal.

HELSB has specifically advised 2026 applicants to monitor their application progress regularly through the portal and report technical problems or anomalies when they arise.

Do not assume that submitting the application is the final step. Continue checking your dashboard, registered email address, SMS messages and official HELSB announcements.

What Happens If You Are Awarded a HELSB Loan?

Successful applicants are normally published or notified through HELSB’s official systems.

Being selected does not mean students should stop monitoring HELSB instructions. Beneficiaries may need to complete registration, verification or progression processes before payments and allowances are processed.

HELSB lists responsibilities for beneficiaries that include maintaining satisfactory academic performance, using the funds for educational purposes, keeping personal and contact information updated and notifying HELSB of changes in academic or personal circumstances.

Students should therefore keep copies of application documents and maintain accurate contact details throughout their studies.

Can a HELSB Loan Be Transferred to Another University?

A HELSB student loan is not transferable from one university to another.

Students must apply using the admission letter for the institution they genuinely intend to attend. HELSB specifically warns applicants that the loan is tied to the university under which it was awarded.

Students considering changing institutions should contact HELSB before making assumptions about how an existing award will be affected.

HELSB Scholarships in Zambia

HELSB does more than provide student loans.

The Board also administers scholarship opportunities for Zambian students. These can include international opportunities arising from arrangements with foreign governments and other development or education partners.

The HELSB website advertises international scholarship opportunities in destinations including countries such as China, Algeria, Russia, Morocco, India and the United Kingdom, although the countries and programmes available vary from one application cycle to another.

Scholarships may be available for undergraduate, Master’s, PhD, vocational or other levels depending on the particular programme.

There is therefore no single permanent HELSB scholarship eligibility formula that applies to every opportunity.

Who Qualifies for a HELSB Scholarship?

Students should read the advertisement for the particular scholarship they want.

A scholarship may impose requirements concerning nationality, age, academic results, previous qualifications, intended field of study, work experience, passport availability, language ability or programme level.

For postgraduate scholarships, applicants may also be required to provide academic transcripts, research or study plans, references and evidence relating to their previous degree.

The crucial rule is simple:

Eligibility for one HELSB scholarship does not automatically mean you qualify for another.

Students should compare their qualifications against the current scholarship advertisement before spending money obtaining supporting documents.

Are HELSB Scholarships Fully Funded?

Some HELSB-administered international scholarships can provide extensive funding, but students should not assume that every scholarship covers every expense.

The scholarship advertisement should specify what the sponsor will pay for. Depending on the programme, funding may include tuition, accommodation, airfare, living allowances, medical insurance or other costs.

Other expenses may remain the student’s responsibility.

Always check the “conditions” or “financial coverage” section of the relevant scholarship advertisement.

HELSB Scholarship Applications in 2026

Scholarship application windows operate independently of the undergraduate student loan calendar.

As of 23 September 2026, the HELSB website shows no currently open scholarship application window and lists the displayed Moroccan vocational scholarship programme as closed.

That does not mean HELSB will not advertise additional scholarships. New opportunities can be announced at different points during the year.

Students interested in scholarships should therefore check the HELSB website frequently instead of waiting for the annual student-loan application period.

HELSB Loan vs Scholarship vs Bursary

This distinction is particularly important for students searching online.

A HELSB student loan is financial assistance that the beneficiary is expected to repay.

A scholarship is an education award that normally does not have to be repaid, provided the recipient complies with the conditions of the award.

The word bursary is still commonly used by Zambian students when discussing government education funding, partly because the former Bursaries Committee administered government sponsorship before HELSB was established.

However, students applying for local undergraduate support today should pay close attention to whether the official HELSB advertisement describes the opportunity as a student loan or a scholarship.

That difference determines whether repayment will eventually be required.

Do HELSB Loans Have to Be Repaid?

Yes. HELSB student loans are repayable.

The Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Act establishes obligations for beneficiaries to begin repayment after completing their studies. The law also provides mechanisms through which repayments can be collected from beneficiaries, including those in formal employment.

HELSB’s current loan information states that beneficiaries receive a one-year grace period after graduation and that beneficiaries who settle their balance within this period avoid the standard 10% interest charge described by HELSB.

Graduates should contact HELSB for their individual balance and current repayment instructions rather than estimating the amount from information found on social media.

Why HELSB Loan Repayment Matters

Repaying a HELSB loan does more than settle an individual graduate’s debt.

The student loan system is designed to recover money from previous beneficiaries so that those resources can continue supporting higher education financing.

This is one of the major differences between a loan scheme and a traditional government bursary.

Students should therefore consider the future repayment obligation before accepting the funding.

Common Reasons a HELSB Application May Fail

An application may be unsuccessful for different reasons, including failure to satisfy eligibility requirements, missing or unreadable documents, applying after a deadline, providing inconsistent information or not demonstrating sufficient financial need.

Funding limitations can also affect awards. HELSB explicitly states that eligible admission does not guarantee financing because loans are awarded according to available financial capacity.

An unsuccessful application therefore does not necessarily mean the student was academically unqualified for university.

How to Improve Your HELSB Application

Start by reading the current advertisement rather than relying on requirements from a previous year.

Prepare certified documents early, ensure scans are clear and use the same names and identification details consistently throughout the application.

If you are applying on the basis of financial vulnerability, provide credible supporting documents instead of making unsupported statements.

Choose a level of support that realistically reflects your household circumstances.

Most importantly, apply before the deadline. Waiting until the final day creates unnecessary risk if you encounter internet problems, payment difficulties or document-upload errors.

How to Avoid Fake HELSB Scholarship and Loan Scams

Students should be cautious when messages about “guaranteed HELSB loans,” “special scholarship slots” or paid application assistance circulate online.

Use helsb.gov.zm and the official HELSB portal as your primary sources.

Do not send your NRC, academic certificates, passwords or mobile-money PIN to strangers claiming they can influence the selection process.

A genuine application must still go through the official process and satisfy the relevant eligibility criteria.

HELSB Contact Details

Students who need clarification should use HELSB’s official communication channels.

According to its current website, the main office is located at Plot No. 8, UCZ Synod, Second Floor, Mosi-O-Tunya Road, Woodlands, Lusaka, with postal address P.O. Box 320298, Woodlands, Lusaka, Zambia. The website currently lists +260 211 447 110 and info@helsb.gov.zm as contact details.

Because contact information can change, confirm details on the official website before travelling to an office.

Frequently Asked Questions About HELSB Zambia

What is HELSB Zambia?

HELSB Zambia is the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board, the statutory body responsible for administering higher education student loans and scholarships for eligible Zambians.

It was established under the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Act No. 31 of 2016.

How do I apply for a HELSB student loan?

To apply for a HELSB student loan, create or access your account on the official HELSB student portal, complete your personal and academic information, upload the required documents and submit a loan application during your university’s open application window.

Applications should only be submitted through the official system unless HELSB specifically announces another procedure.

Which universities are eligible for HELSB loans?

The universities currently eligible for HELSB loans are UNZA, CBU, Mulungushi University, Kwame Nkrumah University, Chalimbana University, Mukuba University, Palabana University, Kapasa Makasa University, Levy Mwanawasa Medical University and Zambia University College of Technology.

Does HELSB pay 100% of university fees?

HELSB can pay 100% of applicable university fees when a student receives full support, but applicants may instead receive 75%, 50% or 25% sponsorship.

HELSB determines the final level awarded according to factors including financial need and available funding.

Does HELSB give students allowances?

HELSB gives eligible student-loan beneficiaries allowances that can include meal, book and project allowances. HELSB states that these student allowances are payable in full across the different fee-sponsorship levels.

Is a HELSB loan the same as a bursary?

A HELSB loan is not the same as a traditional bursary because the student loan must be repaid.

Students may still informally refer to government sponsorship as a bursary because Zambia previously operated the Bursaries Committee, but applicants should use the terminology in the current HELSB advertisement.

Do I have to repay a HELSB student loan?

A HELSB student loan has to be repaid by the beneficiary after completing their studies in accordance with the applicable loan terms and the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Act.

Can I apply for HELSB before getting university admission?

A HELSB undergraduate student loan application requires admission to a participating university for the relevant academic year.

The admission or acceptance letter is one of the documents required during the application process.

Can I get a HELSB loan at a private university?

The current HELSB undergraduate student-loan programme lists 10 participating public universities rather than a general loan programme covering every private university in Zambia. Students should check the latest HELSB advertisement because participating institutions can change.

Can I apply for HELSB if I am over 26?

For the 2026/2027 undergraduate student-loan application, applicants must be 26 years old or younger by the specified cut-off date of 31 October 2026.

Future application cycles may use different requirements, so students should check the advertisement for their intended academic year.

Can I apply for a HELSB loan and another government scholarship?

The current HELSB student-loan eligibility requirements state that an applicant must not already be a beneficiary of another government-funded scholarship or student loan.

How do I know whether HELSB applications are open?

To know whether HELSB applications are open, check the application status on the official HELSB website and student portal.

Application windows can differ by university, so a closed application for one institution does not necessarily mean that every HELSB loan application has closed.

When is the HELSB deadline for 2026?

The HELSB deadline for 2026 depends on the university. For the remaining open 2026/2027 applications, UNZA closes on 30 September 2026, while Kapasa Makasa University, Zambia University College of Technology and Levy Mwanawasa Medical University close on 30 October 2026.

Are HELSB scholarships only for undergraduate students?

HELSB scholarships are not limited to undergraduate students. Scholarship opportunities may target undergraduate, Master’s, PhD, vocational or other levels depending on the sponsoring country, institution or programme.

Applicants must therefore read the specific scholarship advertisement rather than applying general student-loan requirements to scholarship opportunities.

Final Advice for Students

HELSB remains one of the most important sources of higher education financial assistance for Zambian students, but applicants need to understand exactly what type of funding they are applying for.

For students entering participating public universities, the principal HELSB funding option is the GRZ student loan, which can cover tuition and other university costs together with student allowances but must eventually be repaid.

Scholarships operate differently. They are advertised as individual opportunities, may support study in Zambia or abroad and have their own eligibility, funding and application conditions.

The safest approach is to obtain your university admission, prepare your identification and academic documents early, follow the current HELSB advertisement, provide genuine evidence of financial need and submit your application through the official portal before the relevant deadline.

Above all, do not rely on an old Facebook post, WhatsApp message or previous year’s requirements when making an important education funding decision. Always verify the latest application rules directly with the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board.