Scholarships, Bursaries and Student Loans in Tanzania
By Muntasir • Published Jun 19, 2026 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • African Countries & Cities, African Scholarships & Student Funding
The Higher Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB) funds most Tanzanian students in accredited universities and colleges, alongside smaller bursary and scholarship routes.
💵 HESLB loans mainly cover meals and accommodation, tuition, books and special faculty needs, in that priority order.
📩 Apply through the OLAMS portal only after you secure admission, within HESLB's yearly application window.
🎓 Eligibility needs Tanzanian citizenship, an age limit, admission to an accredited institution, and no unpaid default on a past loan.
⏱️ Loans are not free money. You repay a share of your income once you find work after graduation.
HESLB: the main loan route
The Higher Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB) funds the large majority of Tanzanian students at accredited public and private universities and colleges. In the first allocation batch of the 2023/24 academic year alone, HESLB approved 56,132 loans worth TZS 159.7 billion, and it releases further batches through the year as verification continues.
You apply through the Online Loan Application and Management System (OLAMS) on the HESLB website. The application window opens in the middle of the year and closes before the academic year starts, so submit as soon as you confirm your university admission rather than waiting for the deadline.
Who qualifies
To qualify for a HESLB loan, you need to be a Tanzanian citizen under 35 years old at the time of application , hold admission to an accredited higher education institution, study full time, and have no other formal or reliable source of income. If you defaulted on a previous HESLB loan, you generally need to have repaid at least a quarter of it before you qualify for a new one. Applicants also need to check the specific cycle's cutoff for how recently they completed ACSEE or an equivalent qualification, since HESLB adjusts this window year to year.
What the loan covers
HESLB pays out loan components in a set priority order: meals and accommodation first, then tuition fee, then books and stationery, then special faculty requirements, then research expenses and field practical costs where relevant. Meals and accommodation get calculated at a daily rate for the time you spend on campus during the academic year. The tuition fee component caps near what public institutions charge, so if you study at a private university with higher tuition, expect a gap between your loan and your actual bill that you or your sponsor need to cover.
Bursaries and university-level aid
Some universities and non-government organizations run smaller bursary schemes for students facing acute financial hardship, alongside merit scholarships for top performers in specific programs. These sit outside HESLB and vary by institution, so ask your university's dean of students or financial aid office what it offers directly, rather than assuming a HESLB loan is your only option.
How and when to apply
Secure admission to an accredited university or college first. HESLB will not process a loan application without it.
Gather required documents: birth certificate, national identity documents, admission letter, guardian or sponsor income evidence, and next of kin details.
Submit your application through OLAMS within the yearly window and track your status online.
If your first allocation comes back partial or unsuccessful, use HESLB's verification and appeal process rather than assuming the decision is final.
Repaying the loan
A HESLB loan is not a scholarship. Once you graduate and start earning, you repay a share of your income under the terms set in your loan contract, and HESLB tracks repayment through your employer or, if you are self-employed, through your own declared income. Budget for this obligation as part of your career planning, not as an afterthought after you finish your degree.