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 a current National Physical Address (NaPA) issued by the Ministry of Information, Communication and Information Technology.
(iii) Applicants aged 18 years and above are required to have National Identification Numbers (NIN) during application. This includes applicants who are expecting to turn 18 years between June and August 2026.
(iv) Ensure that all birth/death certificates are certified by the Registration, Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA) or the Zanzibar Civil Status Registration Agency (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, or 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) Applicants should provide their registered and reachable mobile phone numbers. The provided mobile phone number will be used to inform applicants on the loan application progress and payment process.
(ix) Ensure that the online loan application form is duly filled and that 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. (A 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 subjected to other necessary legal actions.
(xiv) Applicants are advised to follow up on their application process results through their SIPA accounts.
2.0 APPLICATION WINDOW
The loan application window for the academic year 2026/2027 opens from 19th June 2026 to 31st August 2026.
These Guidelines are available on www.heslb.go.tz.
3.0 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
In accordance with the HESLB Act, the Board has set general and specific eligibility criteria for loan applicants.
3.1 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 any 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 the previous loan amount.
(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 to 2026 inclusive.
3.2 Specific Criteria for First-Time Continuing Applicants (FTCA)
In addition to the general eligibility criteria mentioned in item 3.1, continuing students must:
(i) Have passed examinations of the previous academic year.
(ii) Ensure examination results are submitted to HESLB through their tertiary education institution Loan Desk Officer.
(iii) In case of resumption, submit a resumption letter to HESLB through the institution’s Loan Desk Officer.