According to the Act, eligible and needy Tanzanian students who secure admission in higher education institutions to pursue academic programmes that lead to the attainment of Advanced Diplomas or Degrees may seek loans from HESLB to meet part of, or all costs of their education. This stipulation is the legal interpretation of paragraph 6.2 of Higher Education Policy (1999) which ushered in cost- sharing in the provision of higher education in the country. Cost- sharing in higher education is construed to mean a shift in shouldering at least part of the costs of education from the Government, which had hitherto been the main financier, to the beneficiaries.

Section 6 (b) of the Act gives powers to the Board “to formulate the mechanism for determining eligible students for payment of loans” and Section 6 (c) empowers the Board “to administer and supervise the whole process of issuance and repayment of loans”. On the strength of these legal powers, these Guidelines and Criteria are hereby issued to prospective loan applicants and the public at large to guide the whole process of application and issuance of loans for 2009/2010.

Provision of students’ loans falls under section 16 and 17 of the Act No. 9 of 2004. Section 16 (1) of the Act provides that:-

2.1 Subject to the provisions of the Act, the Board may provide, on a loan basis, financial assistance to any eligible student who is in need of the loans and who has applied for such assistance as is required to meet all or any number of the students’ welfare costs of Higher Education.”

Financial Assistance implies that parents or Guardians have the primary obligation on meeting higher education costs of students.

• • A poor orphan,
• • A poor disabled applicant or applicant who has disabled poor parents,
• • An applicant from a poor single parent family
• • An applicant from poor marginalized and disadvantaged groups, and
• • An applicant from a low income threshold family earning equivalent to or below the national minimum salary.

 i. Meals and accommodation charges ii. Books and stationery expenses

iii. Special Faculty Requirement expenses

iv. Field practical expenses

v. Research expenses

vi. Tuition fees

Eligible student for loans in 2009/2010 academic year must meet the following conditions (for first degree and Advanced diploma students):-

          3.1 Be a Tanzanian (as defined by HESLB Act No 9 of 2004 as ammended)

3.2 Has been admitted to an accredited (recognized) Higher Learning Institution in Tanzania as a candidate for a First Degree or Advanced Diploma on full time basis.

3.3 A continuing student who has passed the examinations necessary to enable him to advance to the next year or stage of study.

3.4 A person who is not fully funded by other organizations or sources

3.5 First time applicants with Division I or II in form six examinations.

3.6 First time applicants holding an Ordinary Diploma of at least second class grade or an average of “B” scores (if the diploma is not graded) or Full Technician Certificate (FTC) with average of “C” scores.

3.7 Priority shall be given to applicants admitted to pursue Sciences and Teaching Profession Programmes.

3.8 An Overseas student under bilateral agreements between the Government of the United Republic of Tanzania and other Governments.

3.9 Students studying at the Open University of Tanzania for a maximum period of six (6) years.

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