THE Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) has awarded 3,926 student loans to first-year students at the University of Zambia (UNZA) for the 2025/2026 academic year.
A total of 5,798 students applied for financial support, with 4,929 applicants, or 85 percent, meeting the eligibility requirements.
The remaining 869 applications were rejected because some students had completed Grade 12 before 2020, submitted incomplete or incorrect documents.
Some exceeded the age limit of 26 years, scored more than 30 points or had already received loans at other universities.
About 43 percent came from urban areas, 26 percent from peri-urban zones, and 31 percent from rural areas.
HELSB also received 29 applications from students with disabilities, granting loans to all 28 who met the requirements.
According to HELSB’s Manager of Corporate Affairs, Chiselwa Kawanda, priority was given to students showing strong academic performance and high socio-economic need.
“HELSB remains committed to ensuring equitable access to higher education for students from all backgrounds,” Kawanda said.
Currently, HELSB is supporting 17,378 students at UNZA, as part of the Board’s role in helping thousands of young Zambians access higher education and to ensure that financial challenges do not prevent deserving students from pursuing university studies.
By George Musonda
Kalemba November 17, 2025
