Step-by-Step Process of Registering on HEF Portal

The New Funding Model abbreviated as NFM that was introduced by the President of the Republic of Kenya on May 3, 2023, is designed to address the persistent challenges faced by public universities and TVET colleges here in Kenya. These challenges, primarily stemming from issues of massive enrollment and insufficient funding, prompted the adoption of a student-centric approach through the New Funding Model (NFM).

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Under this innovative model, instead of the traditional block funding in the form of capitation, universities and TVET colleges will now rely on a funding system that integrates scholarships, loans, and household contributions. The allocation of these funds will be determined by the Means Testing Instrument (MTI) on a graduated scale. Notably, students from extremely needy and vulnerable backgrounds will be exempt from paying any fees to colleges and universities.

To streamline the application process for students, the Higher Education Financing (HEF) Portal has been established. To access education loans and scholarships under the NFM, students must register on the HEF Portal. This initial registration serves as the crucial first step in the application process for funding. Going forward, all applications for loans and scholarships will be exclusively conducted online through the HEF Portal. The portal utilizes a user-friendly interface that requires registration before applying for various loan categories available under the New Funding Model (NFM). Therefore, it is imperative for students to register on HEF Portal so as to facilitate their application for education funding in Kenya.

Registering on HEF Portal involves the following; Visit HEF Portal, Click On The Register Button, Specify If You Have an ID Number To Proceed, Fill In HEF Portal Registration Form and finally Activate HEF Portal Account. Below is an in depth step-by-step process that you need to follow.

How To Register On HEF Portal

The following are the 5 main steps involved in the process of How To Register on HEF Portal that you need to follow.

Step 1: Visit HEF Portal

The first and foremost step in the process of HEF Portal account registration, is to visit HEF Portal by using https://portal.hef.co.ke/auth/signin

Step 2: Click On The Register Button

Next, once you are on the HEF Portal website,  click on the “Register” button to begin the registering on HEF Portal (new HEF Portal account registration).

Step 3: Specify If You Have an ID Number To Proceed

To continue with the HEF Portal account registration process, you need to indicate whether you possess an ID Number. If your response is “Yes,” proceed to input your ID Number, First Name (matching the ID) and select the Type of ID (either Kenyan ID card or Alien ID card). After completing these fields, click the “Validate” button to confirm the accuracy of the provided details within the HEF Portal database.

Step 4: Fill In HEF Portal Registration Form

After successfully validating the details in the preceding step (Step 3) on HEF Portal, you will then proceed to complete the HEF Portal Registration Form. This entails providing the following information: a valid Email Address, confirming the Email Address, entering a Password, confirming the Password, and completing the Captcha Challenge to verify your human status. Once these details are filled in, click the “Register” button.

Upon clicking the register button, you will receive a notification stating, “You have created an account on HEF Portal. Please check your email address for the link to activate your account. If you do not activate the account within 24 hours, your information will expire, and you will need to sign up again.” Subsequently, log in to your email address and click on the activation link sent there so as to activate your new HEF Portal account that you have just registered. 

Step 5: Activate HEF Portal Account

Last but not the least, you need to click on the activation link sent to your email address to activate your new HEF Portal account. The email simply informs you that an account has been established for you on the HEF Portal and provides a link for activation. After clicking on the HEF Portal activation link, you will be directed to the portal where a notification will confirm, “Your HEF Portal account has been Activated; log in with your email and password.”

Now, you have successfully registered on the HEF Portal, it is important to note that during your initial (first time) login into the HEF Portal account, you will be prompted to verify your mobile number by entering the verification code (OTP) sent via SMS to your phone number (mobile number). Once you input the phone verification code, you will gain access to your new HEF Portal account dashboard.

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The process of registration on HEF Portal is quite simple and straightforward as long as you have the necessary requirements that are needed in the whole HEF Portal account registration process. You need to ensure that you have with you ID Number, Email Address and Mobile Number, which form part of the requirements that are needed for registering on HEF Portal. Once you have with you these three requirements, you can follow the above 5 steps so as to successfully register on HEF Portal.