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 applications were received for sponsorship at UNZA, with 4,929 applicant’s representing 85 percent meeting the eligibility criteria. The remaining 869 applicant’s representing 15 percent were ineligible due to:
- Completion of Grade 12 before 2020
- Incomplete or incorrect documentation
- Exceeding the age limit of 26 years
- Having points exceeding 30
- Having been awarded at other universities
Geographic Distribution of Eligible Applicants was as follows:
- Urban: 2,477 (43%)
- Peri-Urban: 1,544 (26%)
- Rural: 1,777 (31%)
HELSB also received 29 applications from students with disabilities, of which all the 28 were granted loans.
The awards were carefully considered to ensure a balanced distribution across the provinces, with priority given to students demonstrating both academic merit and high socio-economic vulnerability.
Editors Notes
Currently HELSB is supporting 17,378 students at UNZA. HELSB remains committed to ensuring equitable access to higher education for students from all backgrounds
For media inquiries, please contact:
Ms. Chiselwa Kawanda
Manager – Corporate Affairs, HELSB
Email: chiselwa.kawanda@helsb.gov.zm | Tel: +0211250726