The Ministry of Education and Sports has officially announced the opening of the Higher Education Students’ Financing Scheme (HESFS) for the academic year 2025/26, inviting eligible Ugandan students to apply for government-funded student loans for both undergraduate diploma and degree programmes.
The scheme, which aims to increase equitable access to higher education, particularly for students from low-income families, is now accessible online. Applications opened on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, and the deadline for submission is Thursday, July 31, 2025, at 11:59 PM local time.
What the Loan Covers
According to the Ministry, the student loan will strictly cover tuition and functional fees. It will also cover assistive devices for students with disabilities. The loan does not include allowances or funding for meals, transport, or accommodation.
Applicants must not be beneficiaries of any other scholarships or funding opportunities. All submitted information will be verified, and false declarations will result in automatic disqualification.
Eligible Institutions and Programmes
The loan is available to students admitted to approved public universities, private chartered universities, other tertiary institutions, nursing schools, vocational institutes, and teacher education institutions. Some of the approved universities include:
- Makerere University
- Kyambogo University
- Gulu University
- Busitema University
- African Bible University
- ISBAT University
- Uganda Christian University
- Kampala International University
In total, the scheme supports programmes across 14 key academic disciplines, including:
- Agriculture & Conservation Sciences
- Engineering
- Medicine and Health Sciences
- ICT & Computer Science
- Education (Teacher Training)
- Science and Technology
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Oil & Gas Engineering
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Vocational & Technical Training
Notably, the scheme will not fund programmes in humanities or any academic programme costing more than UGX 7.6 million per year.
Loan Application Process
The entire application process is online and accessible through the Higher Education Students’ Financing Scheme portal at https://www.education.go.ug under the Apply Now section or directly via https://ilmis.co.ug.
Applicants are required to pay a non-refundable loan processing fee of UGX 53,000, and provide the following documents:
- Copy of the applicant’s national ID
- Admission letter from a recognized institution
- Recent passport photo
- Academic certificates or transcripts
- Birth certificate
- Parents’ national IDs
- Sketch map of the applicant’s current residence
- A statement of the applicant’s income background (if different from parents)
The payment is to be made through Centenary Bank (Account: 3743000016) or DFCU Bank (Account: 01336690639643).
Special Considerations
Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply, and are eligible for support in programmes of their choice across all eligible institutions. The scheme also ensures regional balance through the Uganda Vocational & Technical Assessment Board (UVTAB).
