Criteria for Obtaining a HESLB Loan 2024/2025

Criteria for Obtaining a HESLB Loan 2024/2025:- 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

HESLB Act and regulations provide for general eligibility and criteria for postsecondary financial assistance. Therefore, students admitted in accredited higher education institutions will be subjected to the following parameters:-

Primary Criteria for Financial Support

1 First year applicants

(i) A Tanzania citizen not older than 35 years at the time of application;

(ii) Full time admission into an accredited higher education institution in Tanzania including the Open University of Tanzania;

(iii) A complete and correct application through the Online Loan Application and Management System (OLAMS);

(iv) Must not have a formal or regular income from employment or established contract in either public or private sector;

(v) Proof to have repaid at least 25% of any previous loan received from HESLB. This is applicable only to students ever dropped or discontinued from studies;

(vi) Must have completed ACSEE or other equivalent qualifications within five (5) years, i.e. from 2019-2023 inclusive.

2. Primary Criteria for continuing loan beneficiaries (CLB) and firsttime continuing applicants (FTCA)

For the purpose of these Guidelines, CLB are HESLB loan beneficiaries who are proceeding into second and subsequent years of studies.

Further, FTCAs are continuing students who are not HESLB loans beneficiaries and they would wish to be considered for loans in the 2024/2025

In addition to criteria under 3.1, for both CLBs and FTCAs to be considered for loans; HESLB must receive approved academic progress report from respective HEIs establishing that the applicant has qualified/passed. 

Therefore, FTCAs are advised to consult Loan Desk Officers at their respective institution for guidance.

Secondary Criteria Resource allocation parameters

To balance equity and national priorities, the following parameters will be applicable in the order of priority

The socio-economic status (SES)

(i) Orphanage

(ii) Household vulnerability such as TASAF or any other relevant national support schemes

(iii) Self and parent disability

(iv) Sex

(v) Parent/ guardian employment status

Ranking and awarding considerations

The following parameters will be used to determine weights for individual applicants:-

(i) National priority programs as detailed in program impact clustering under Section 4 of these Guidelines;

(ii) Academic performance based on entry qualification award (academic merit); and

(iii) Affirmative and inclusion parameters to respond to sex, geopolitics and union related ambitions.

Relevant documents to support application

The following are the key documents to support application: -

(i) Death certificate to prove orphanage (RITA or ZCSRA);

(ii) Self-Disability Form (SDF-1) endorsed by the District Medical Officer (DMO) or Regional Medical Officer (RMO) or any designated medical expert with recognized affiliations;

(iii) Parent Disability Form (PDF-2) endorsed by the District Medical Officer (DMO) or Regional Medical Officer (RMO) or any designated medical expert with recognized affiliations;

(iv) Corporate Sponsorship Form (SCSF-3) supporting financial assistance received by applicant during pre-university/college schooling. SCSF-3 to be endorsed by applicant’s corporate sponsor;

(v) Household vulnerability evidence endorsed by approved District Social Welfare Officer;

(vi) Retirement letter endorsed by the last employer recognized by the National Pension Scheme;

(vii) Social Support Beneficiary’s number from Tanzania Social Action Fund (TASAF).

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