List of requirements and documents needed when applying for university scholarship
By Mabonga Makhanu, July 21, 2026The government has released the requirements for students seeking to apply for the Universities Fund Scholarship, urging prospective beneficiaries to prepare all the necessary documents before beginning the application process.
According to the Universities Fund, applicants who have the required information readily available will experience a smoother and faster application process, encouraging students to “check the list, gather their documents, and apply with confidence”.
The requirements
According to the agency, applicants must have a valid email address and telephone number, their KCPE and KCSE index numbers together with the examination years, a recent passport-size photograph, and a university admission letter.
They will also be required to provide either a birth certificate or a national identification card, as well as their parent or guardian’s registered telephone number and national ID number. Where applicable, students whose parents are deceased must also attach a death certificate as part of the application.
The announcement comes as thousands of students admitted to universities prepare to seek government funding for the upcoming academic year.
Free university scholarship
This announcement comes moments after President William Ruto unveiled plans to provide full government funding for every Kenyan student admitted to a university or college, signalling what could become the largest overhaul of higher education financing in years.
The proposal, if implemented, would end the requirement that parents make household contributions before students can access university education.
This system has left thousands struggling to enrol despite securing admission.
Addressing the issue on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, Ruto declared that qualifying for admission would be the only requirement for government sponsorship.
“Going forward, any student, so long as they have passed their examinations and they have been placed in a college or university, will get full funding for their higher education. It will be the choice for parents if they want to pay.”
The current funding model could be replaced
The announcement marks a significant policy shift as the government seeks to calm growing concerns over the affordability of higher education following months of debate surrounding Kenya’s university funding model.
Unlike the current structure, the president’s proposal would see all placed students receive full funding regardless of their background.
Ruto argued that investing in education is one of the surest ways to accelerate national development, saying countries that have transformed their economies first built strong education systems.