Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) has approved additional student loans for 431 first-year students at the Copperbelt University (CBU) for the 2025/2026 academic year.
The latest awarding increases the total number of beneficiaries at CBU for the 2025/2026 academic year to 5,114, bringing relief to learners who were previously left out during the initial awarding process.
In a statement, HELSB Manager – Corporate Affairs, Chiselwa Kawanda, revealed that the Board received 5,143 appeals from applicants who were not selected in the October round of awards.
“Of the appeals received, 3,375 of the applications are from science-based programme, while 1,768 are art based programmes representing 66% and 34% respectively,” Ms. Kawanda stated.
She further disclosed that HELSB received a total of 11,329 applications from prospective first-year students this year but only 4,683 were initially successful.
“HELSB advertised student loans for school leavers who completed Grade 12 in 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024, and who hold acceptance letters from Copperbelt University for the 2025/2026 academic year,” she added.
She said the Board is currently supporting 13,441 students at the institution, reaffirming its mandate to promote access to higher education through financial support.
