KenyaKenya · Funding your studies

Study Abroad Loans
for Kenya Students

Kenya’s Higher Education Loans Board (HELB) primarily funds students at home, and while the government has opened HELB to some Kenyans studying abroad, the support is limited in scale. Most students heading overseas fund their studies through family savings, forex remittances and international lenders rather than a large domestic loan.

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How it works

Financing study abroad from Kenya

HELB lends to Kenyan students in accredited universities, and policy has been extended toward supporting some students abroad — but current foreign funding is small (on the order of a few thousand students, mostly within East Africa, at modest annual amounts). There is no large collateral-based study-abroad loan product comparable to India’s.

Collateral & guarantor: Because domestic study-abroad lending is limited, collateral loans for overseas study are uncommon. Students who need financing usually look to international no-cosigner lenders.

Options

Schemes & lenders

HELB (limited abroad support)

Primarily domestic; some provision for Kenyans studying abroad exists but is small in scale and amount. Check eligibility directly with HELB.

International no-cosigner lenders

Prodigy Finance and (when open) MPOWER lend to Kenyan students abroad based on the university and future earnings, without local collateral.

Paying the university

Foreign exchange & remittance

Tuition and living costs are sent abroad through commercial banks. Keep your offer letter and fee schedule ready, and confirm any applicable foreign-exchange requirements with your bank.

Paperwork

Documents you’ll typically need

  • University offer letter and fee schedule
  • Passport and student visa
  • Proof of funds / sponsor income
  • Academic records and test scores
No collateral?

International no-cosigner lenders

Prodigy Finance

Lends to international master's students (MBA, STEM, law, public policy and similar) from 120+ countries without a co-signer, assessing future earning potential and the university/programme rather than a guarantor's income. Can finance up to 100% of the cost of attendance. Students must be admitted to a supported university and programme.

MPOWER Financing

Offers no-cosigner, no-collateral loans to students from 150+ countries studying in the US and Canada, with a lifetime limit around US$100,000. Note: MPOWER paused new lending for 2026 after reaching funding capacity, so check current availability before relying on it.

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

Can HELB fund Kenyans studying abroad?

HELB is primarily for students at accredited universities in Kenya. The government has extended some support toward Kenyans abroad, but it is limited in scale and amount, so most overseas students rely on family funds and international lenders. Confirm current eligibility with HELB.

How do Kenyan students finance study abroad without a local loan?

Many combine family savings and forex remittances with an international no-cosigner loan from Prodigy Finance (or MPOWER when open), which assess the university and future earnings rather than local collateral.

Plan your funding

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Sources: Kenyans could get government loans for overseas study — The PIE News

Last reviewed October 2026. This is general educational information, not financial or lending advice. Loan products, rates, scheme rules and foreign-exchange limits vary by lender and change over time — verify current details with regulated lenders and your bank, and speak to a qualified adviser about your own situation.