HESLB Degree Guidelines and Criteria For Loan 2026/2027 Download PDF

GUIDELINES AND CRITERIA FOR ISSUANCE OF LOANS TO BACHELOR DEGREE STUDENTS FOR ACADEMIC YEAR 2026/2027, Mwongozo na sifa za Kuomba Mkopo HESLB Kwa wanafunzi wa Tanzania, HESLB Degree Guideline Book 2026/2027 Download PDF

ABOUT HESLB

The Higher Education Students’ Loans Board (HESLB) is a body corporate established under Act No.9 of 2004 (as amended in 2007, 2014 and 2016) with the objective of assisting needy and eligible Tanzania students to access loans and grants for higher education.

THE MAIN MANDATES OF HESLB INCLUDE:

1. To assist, on a loan basis, needy students who secure admission in accredited higher learning institutions, but who have no economic power to pay for the costs of their education.

2. To collect due loans from loan beneficiaries and use it as a revolving fund to sustain operations of the Board.

3. To create synergies through establishing strategic partnerships in the student financing ecosystem.

IMPORTANT INSTRUCTIONS TO ALL LOAN APPLICANTS

All loan applicants for the academic year 2026/2027 are required to observe the following: –

(i) Read and follow the application procedures stated in these Guidelines,

(ii) Loan applicants must have current national physical address (NaPA) issued by Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology,

(iii) Applicants aged 18 years and above are required to have National Identification Numbers during application. This includes applicants who are expecting to turn 18 years between June to August, 2026,

(iv) Ensure that all birth/death certificates are certified by the RITA or ZCSRA to ascertain their validity,

(v) Applicants born abroad should obtain a letter from RITA or ZCSRA to validate birth information. Applicants whose parent(s) died abroad should also obtain a letter from RITA or ZCSRA to validate the information provided,

(vi) All foreign entry qualifications must be evaluated and approved by NECTA/ NACTVET/TCU, and upon application, the equivalent index number provided should be declared,

(vii) Provide a bank account which is active and carries the same name as that on the academic certificates (CSEE certificate),

(viii) Applicant should provide his/her registered and reachable mobile phone number. The provided mobile phone number will be used to inform the applicant on the loan application progress and payment process,

(ix) Ensure that the online loan application form is duly filled and page numbers two (2) and five (5) are signed and certified by relevant authorities before submission,

(x) Applicants must review the entire application form and make corrections (where necessary) before submission,

(xi) Every applicant must have a guarantor aged 18 years and above who has a National Identification Number (NIN) or Zanzibar Resident ID, (Guarantor means a parent, guardian or any relative who can provide information on the whereabouts of an applicant when required)

(xii) All applicants must strictly observe the loan application deadline,

(xiii) For any identified forgery, the applicant will be disqualified from the whole application process and subject him/her to other necessary legal actions, and

(xiv) Applicants are advised to make follow-up of their application process results through their SIPA accounts.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

In accordance with the HESLB Act, the Board has set general and specific eligibility criteria for loan applicants.

General Criteria

(i) Must be a Tanzanian not older than 35 years at the time of application,

(ii) Must have admission into an accredited tertiary education institution in Tanzania,

(iii) Must have a complete and correct application made through OLAMS,

(iv) Must not have income from employment or an established contract in either the public or private sector,

(v) Should not be a beneficiary of other form of sponsorship or financial assistance,

(vi) For students who have dropped out or discontinued from studies, must have proof of payment of at least 25% of previous loan amount, and

(vii) Must have completed ACSEE or other EQUIVALENT QUALIFICATIONS (Enabling the applicant to secure admission to a tertiary education institution) within five (5) years, i.e. from 2022 – 2026 inclusive.