Full duration of the degree program (typically 3 to 7 years)
Deadline
Usually June or Ju
Level
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
Acceptance
Approximately 35% of eligible applicants
Difficulty
High
✨ Should I Apply for University of Zambia (UNZA) Higher Education Loans and Scholarships?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
75%
Eligibility Match
38%
Win Probability
6/10
Difficulty
10/10
Reward Score
20–35 hrs
Time Required
Moderate (High volume of applicants versus limited government funding)
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
Varies (Covers full tuition and standard allowances)
⏱
Duration
Full duration of the degree program (typically 3 to 7 years)
🗓
Deadline
Usually June or July annually
🔬
Fields
All academic fields including Medicine, Engineering, Humanities, and Natural Sciences
🏆
Awards/Year
Approximately 2,500 to 4,000 new awards per intake
🌏
Study Country
Zambia
🏛️
Provider
Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB) of Zambia
📊
Acceptance
Approximately 35% of eligible applicants
The University of Zambia Scholarship is a government-funded initiative managed by the Higher Education Loans and Scholarships Board (HELSB). It is designed to assist Zambian students who excel academically but lack the financial means to pay for higher education. The scheme operates as a revolving fund where students repay the loan portion after graduation to support future generations.
👥 Who Should Apply
Open to Zambian citizens who have completed Grade 12 within the last 3 years and have been admitted to UNZA for a full-time program.
🏛️ Host University
University of Zambia (UNZA)
🤝 Sponsor
Ministry of Education - Government of Zambia
🔬 Fields of Study
All academic fields including Medicine, Engineering, Humanities, and Natural Sciences
✨ Key Benefits
The scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees, provides a monthly stipend for meals, includes a book allowance, and covers on-campus accommodation fees.
Moderate (High volume of applicants versus limited government funding)
Competition Level
Win Probability
38%
Match Score
75%
Competition
50%
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
100%
Living Stipend
Monthly meal allowance provided to eligible students
Total Award
Varies (Covers full tuition
✈️ Travel: No (Local students are expected to cover personal travel)🏠 Accommodation: Yes, covers on-campus residence fees💊 Health Insurance: Basic student health services provided through the UNZA Clinic🔄 Renewable: Yes💳 App Fee: Non-refundable processing fee of approximately 200 ZMW
🎓 Tuition Coverage
100%
🏠 Living Stipend
Monthly meal allowance provided to eligible students
🏡 Accommodation
Yes, covers on-campus residence fees
✈️ Travel Allowance
No (Local students are expected to cover personal travel)
💊 Health Insurance
Basic student health services provided through the UNZA Clinic
🎁 Other Benefits
Book allowance and project allowance for final year students
🔄 Renewable
Yes
📋 Renewal Conditions
Subject to passing all registered courses and maintaining good disciplinary standing
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Zambian citizen, under 24 years (for school leavers), must have an admission letter from UNZA
🎓 Academic Level
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
📊 Minimum GPA
Grade 12 results with Distinction or Merit in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics
🗣️ English Requirement
Credit or better in Grade 12 English
🎂 Age Limit
24 years for regular school leavers; varies for students with disabilities
💼 Work Experience
Not required for undergraduate applicants
🏆 Leadership
Not mandatory but considered for certain competitive faculty awards
💰 Financial Need
Yes, applicants must demonstrate financial hardship through a social welfare report
🎯 Target Students
Domestic Zambian students (School leavers)
📝 Application Requirements
Essay / SOP
No (A formal application letter is required)
Rec Letters
No (Requires Grade 12 results and National Registration Card copies)
Interview
No (Selection is based on academic merit and vulnerability rankings)
Application Fee
Non-refundable processing fee of approximately 200 ZMW
Documents Required
Academic Transcripts
Passport / National ID
No (Requires Grade 12 results and National Registration Card copies) Recommendation Letters
CV / Resume
Credit or better in Grade 12 English
Interview: No (Selection is based on academic merit and vulnerability rankings)
Min GPA: Grade 12 results with Distinction or Merit in 5 subjects including English and Mathematics
📋 Application Process
Ensure all documents are certified by a Commissioner for Oaths and include a valid admission letter from UNZA.
💡 Insider Tip: Provide a detailed social welfare report if you are applying under the 'vulnerable student' category to increase selection chances.
🗺️ Application Roadmap
1
Research eligibility and gather requirements
Start Early
2
Collect all required documents
Start Early
3
Request recommendation letters early
4
Write compelling essays and personal statement
⚠ High Risk Stage
5
Submit complete application before deadline
6
Await shortlisting and attend interview if required
⚠ High Risk Stage
📅 Key Dates & Timeline
📅 Opens
Usually April or May annually
⏰ Deadline
Usually June or July annually
🎤 Interview
No (Selection is based on academic merit and vulnerability rankings)
🎓 Study Starts
October or January (depending on the academic calendar)
Usually April or May annually
Applications Open
Gather documents and begin essays
Usually June or July annually
Application Deadline
Submit complete application — no late entries
No (Selection is based on academic merit and vulnerability rankings)
Shortlisting & Interview
Selected candidates invited for interview
After results
Award Announced
Successful applicants notified
October or January (depending on the academic calendar)
Studies Begin
Commence degree at host institution
⚖️ Selection Process
📋 Selection Criteria
Academic performance in Grade 12, rural vs. urban school background, and socio-economic status.
⚡ Similar Scholarships
Scholarship
Country
Coverage
Level
University of Zambia (UNZA) Higher Education Loans and ScholarshipsCurrent
Zambia
Full Funding
Undergraduate and Postgraduate
—
🇿🇲 University of Zambia (UNZA) PhD Research Fellowship
Open to Zambian citizens who have completed Grade 12 within the last 3 years and have been admitted to UNZA for a full-time program.
This scholarship covers: The scholarship covers 100% of tuition fees, provides a monthly stipend for meals, includes a book allowance, and covers on-campus accommodation fees.. It is a fully funded scholarship.
The deadline is Usually June or July annually. Always verify with the official website as dates may change annually.
Competition level: Moderate (High volume of applicants versus limited government funding). Acceptance rate: Approximately 35% of eligible applicants. Strong academic record and clear motivation are essential.
Yes
Typically required: academic transcripts, passport, Credit or better in Grade 12 English, No (Requires Grade 12 results and National Registration Card copies) recommendation letters, CV. Check official website for the complete list.