About LEAP Programme?

The Lending for Education in Africa Partnership (LEAP) Programme is a higher education student financing programme designed to provide aspiring students like you with affordable financing to pursue your higher education, as well as to support you throughout your studies and in your future job search.

The programme is implemented by Volta Capital, in partnership with Future First, Equity Group Foundation, Mandela Institute for Development Studies and Lundin Foundation. LEAP Fellows will benefit from the programme in the following ways:
• Access to affordable financing (in the form of a student loan) to cover tuition and/or living cost
• Access to financial literacy training programme;
• Access to an employability training programme tailored to your needs – topics will include, leadership and career development, and linkages with employers; and
• Become part of a vibrant student community that will provide academic support during your university experience and a professional alumni network after graduation.

Am I eligible to become a LEAP Fellow?

We are currently inviting students attending a select higher education institutions in Kenya to be considered for the LEAP Programme, refer to the list of institutions and programmes below;
o A citizen of a country LEAP operates (i.e Kenya, Uganda)
o At least 18 years old, with a National Identity (ID) or a waiting card
o Have applied to or currently enrolled in one of our partner institutions
o Have demonstrated strong academic background
o Have applied to or admitted to pursue one of our eligible/supported courses

Why is my institution or programme not listed in the application form?

A core part of the LEAP Programme offering is leadership, employability and financial literacy training programmes organised through the LEAP university chapters. As a result, the LEAP Programme will initially target select higher education institutions and courses (i.e. Engineering, Health Sciences, Accounting and Actuarial Science) to provide targeted support to students seeking to transition into employment across relevant sectors post higher education.

Below is a list of the courses supported per institution. However, the LEAP Programme will be expanding the list of eligible institutions and programmes.

Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT)

·    Bachelor of Architecture

·    Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option)

·    Bachelor of Commerce (Finance Option)

·    Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (M.B.Ch.B.)

·    Bachelor of Pharmacy

·    Bachelor of Radiography

·    Bachelor of Science In Actuarial Science

·    Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering - Biomechanical and Processing Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering - Soil, water and Environmental Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Applied Bioengineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine (BSc. Clinical Medicine)

·    Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine (Comprehensive Ophthalmology and Cataract Surgery)

·    Bachelor of Science in Clinical Medicine and Community Health (Both regular and upgrading)

·    Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

·    Bachelor of Science in Computer Technology

·    Bachelor of Science in Control and Instrumentation

·    Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Electronics and Computer Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Energy and Environmental Technology

·    Bachelor of Science in Geomatics Engineering and Geospatial Information Systems

·    Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Information Science

·    Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering & Maritime Operations

·    Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Mechatronics Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences 

·    Bachelor of Science in Medical Microbiology

·    Bachelor of Science in Mining and Mineral Processing Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Nursing

·    Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy

·    Bachelor of Science in Telecommunications and Information Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Water and Environmental Management

University of Nairobi (UoN)

·   Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting Option

·   Bachelor of Commerce - Finance Option

·   Bachelor of Dental Surgery

·   Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

·   Bachelor of Pharmacy

·   Bachelor of Science In Actuarial Science

·   Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry

·   Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

·   Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

·   Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronic Engineering

·   Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering

·   Bachelor of Science in Environmental and Biosystems

·   Bachelor of Science in Geospatial Engineering

·   Bachelor of Science in Human Anatomy

·   Bachelor of Science in Industrial Chemistry

·   Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

·   Bachelor of Science in Medical Laboratory Sciences and Technology 

·   Bachelor of Science in Medical Physiology

·   Bachelor of Science in Nursing

·   Bachelor of Science in Surveying

Kenyatta University (K.U)

·    Bachelor of Architecture/Architecture Studies (B.Arch)

·    Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Option)

·    Bachelor of Commerce (Finance Option)

·    Bachelor of Information Technology

·    Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery

·    Bachelor of Pharmacy

·    Bachelor of Science (Medical Laboratory Science)

·    Bachelor of Science in Aerospace Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Applied Computer Science

·    Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Computer Science

·    Bachelor of Science in Electrical and Electronics Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Energy Technology

·    Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering

·    Bachelor of Science in Nursing and Public Health

·    Bachelor of Science in Petroleum Engineering

Strathmore University

·   Bachelor of Business Information Technology (BBIT)

·   Bachelor of Business Science - Actuarial Science (BBS-ACT)

·   Bachelor of Commerce (BCOM)

·   Bachelor of Science in Informatics (BIF)

·   Bachelor of Science in Informatics and Computer Science (BICS)

United States International University (USIU)

·    Bachelor of Accounting

·    Bachelor of Applied Computer Technology

·    Bachelor of Finance

·    Bachelor of Information Systems Technology

·    Bachelor of Pharmacy

Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC)

·   Diploma in Clinical Medicine (full time)

·   Higher Diploma in Clinical Medicine

·   Diploma in Kenya Registered Nursing (full time)

·   Diploma in Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing (full time)

·   Higher Diploma in Kenya Registered Nursing

·   Higher Diploma in Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing

·   Diploma in Dental Technology (full time)

·   Diploma in Medical Engineering Technology (full time)

·   Higher Diploma in Medical Engineering tech (Diagnostic & Therapeutic E

·   Diploma in Medical Lab Sciences (full time)

·   Higher Diploma in Medical Lab Sciences

·   Diploma in Optometry (full time)

·   Higher Diploma in Optometry

·   Diploma in Pharmacy (full time)

·   Diploma in Public Health

·   Higher Diploma in Public Health

·   Diploma in Radiography and imaging

·   Higher Diploma in Radiography and imaging

Cicely McDonell College of Health Sciences

·    Kenya Registered Nursing (KRN)

·    Kenya Registered Critical Care Nursing (KRCCN)

·    Kenya Registered Accident & Emergency Nursing (KRAEN)

·    Kenya Registered Peri-Operative Course

·    Neonatal Critical Care Nursing (NCCN)

·   Kenya Registered Oncology Nursing (KRON)

Karen Hospital Medical Training College (TKHMTC) 

·   Diploma in Kenya Registered Nursing

·   Diploma in Peri-Operative Theatre Technology

·   Higher Diploma in Clinical Cardiology

·   Higher Diploma in Cardiac Perfusion

·   Kenya Registered Critical Care Nursing

·   Post graduate Diploma in Cardiology

Catherine McAuley Nursing School 

·   Diploma in Kenya Registered Nursing (KRN)

·   Higher Diploma in Peri-operative Nursing (KPON)

·   Higher Diploma in Critical Care Nursing (KRCCN)

·   Higher Diploma in Kenya Registered Nephrology (KRNN)

·   Higher Diploma in Kenya Registered Midwifery (KRM)

Oshwal College

·   Bachelor of Commerce - Accounting Option

·   The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants – ACCA

·   Certified Public Accountant – CPA

·   The Chartered Financial Analyst – CFA

·   Pearson BTEC Level 4 Higher National Diploma in Computing

Moringa School

·   Software Development (Core)

·   Data Science (Core)

St. Kizito Vocational Training Institute

·    Electrical and Eletronics

·    Motor Vehicle mechanics

·    Plumbing and Metalwork

I already have a loan from HELB (or an alternate funding source) and/or a scholarship/bursary. Can I still be considered for the LEAP Programme?

Yes. We will consider the eligibility of applicants based on the applicant’s ability to afford the cost of attending a higher education institution while taking into account the applicant’s existing income and/or funding sources.

If you have received any scholarships and/or are currently receiving funding support from HELB or any other funding sources, it is important that you inform us through the application to enable us to accurately determine your existing financial need. All responses will be verified and cross-checked. If you provide inaccurate information about your financial standing, you will automatically be disqualified from the LEAP Programme application process.

How will the information that I provide in this application be used?

If you wish to be considered for the LEAP Programme, you must complete the LEAP Programme application form. By providing information or content in this application, you expressly agree to grant us the right to use the information that you provided in connection with the LEAP Programme by the LEAP Trust and its authorised representatives.

The information and content that you provide will be used to conduct the necessary selection and verification processes for the LEAP Programme. This includes using them to conduct KYC checks, verifying the information contained therein by sharing it with the IPRS and your enrolled institution, sharing it with credit reference agencies as part of conducting credit checks and sharing it with the LEAP credit committee to allow them to make selection decisions and approve loans.

The application is administered free of charge by LEAP and the completion and submission of this application do not guarantee a fellowship award. Students who do not complete this application will not be eligible for further consideration by the LEAP Programme. In the event that you are disqualified from the LEAP Programme, you may choose to let us know if you do not wish for us to keep your information. Your information will be deleted, and we will no longer be able to communicate with you regarding future opportunities with LEAP.

I have forgotten my password to my application. What do I do?

In the event you lose or forget your password, please follow this link and click on ‘Forgot my Password?’. You will then need to type in the same email you used while setting up your account, and an email will be sent to you to renew your password.

Why do I need to submit documentation for the application? What if I cannot submit documents in time?

The information that you provide through the application will be used to assess your eligibility for the LEAP Programme. In particular, for verification purposes we ask for you to provide scanned copies of the following documentation:
1. National ID (or waiting ID card if unavailable)
2. Higher education institution admissions letter
3. High School Diploma Transcript (KCSE transcript, IGSE or IB certificate)
4. Accommodation confirmation/booking/payment receipt
5. HELB loan letter (please provide this if you currently receive or have received a HELB loan in the past; please provide a screenshot of your HELB confirmation letter where it indicates the loan amount awarded/will be awarded. Do NOT submit your HELB application form)
6. Other funding letters (please provide a screenshot of your funding confirmation where it indicates the loan amount awarded/will be awarded. Do NOT submit your application that you submitted when you request the funding)
7. Higher institution transcripts from the previous year (please provide this if you are in your 2nd year of University or above)
Based on your previous answers, the application portal will indicate which of the above documents are compulsory (marked with an asterisk (*)).
You must submit all compulsory documents, otherwise submitting an incomplete application with missing documents will result in significant delays in reviewing your application.

I do not have a National ID. What do I do?

To be eligible for the LEAP Programme, all applicants must be Kenyan citizens, aged 18 years or older at the time of entering into the loan agreement. Therefore, we expect all eligible applicants to have a national ID number.
If you:
1) recently turned 18 and do not yet have your national ID or
2) lost your ID card, please upload confirmation of your application for a new ID, and a scanned copy of your waiting ID card where prompted in the ‘Part I: Supporting Documents’ section of the application. Once your new ID has been received, please email us at info@leapfellows.com with your ID immediately.
Please note that if you do not obtain a National ID, or provide a clear reason why your ID is unavailable within your application, you may be disqualified from the LEAP selection process

I am having issues submitting my application. What do I do?

The application form includes several mandatory fields marked by an asterisk (*).

Please ensure that all mandatory fields have been filled before moving to the next page or attempting to submit your application. If you do not have the information available to answer a mandatory field, you may save your work and return to your application at any time using the ‘Save & Return’ function at the bottom of your application page.

In addition, there are certain fields within the application form which will only accept answers in a certain format (i.e., numeric, word limits, etc.) If you do not input these fields correctly, you will receive an Error message and will not be able to proceed with the remainder of your application. Please follow the instructions provided in the Error prompt to ensure all application fields are inputted correctly.

When submitting your documentation, please ensure that the file type is one of the following: .PDF, .JPG, .JPEG, .BNP, or .DOC. Any other file types cannot be uploaded. For best results, please scan documents using a scanner rather than a camera. Each file can be a maximum size of 10 Mb.
When submitting your application, please ensure that you are using a supported web browser and have an Internet connection. If you are still experiencing technical difficulties, please contact the LEAP Support Team at info@leapfellows.com.

What happens once I have submitted the application and my documentation?

This is the first step to be considered for a LEAP Programme seat. We will notify you of your eligibility for the LEAP Programme as soon as we receive your application via the email address that you provided in the application.

What is a LEAP Information Session? Must I attend?

Applicants must attend at least one Information Session to be to be considered as a LEAP fellow. During the LEAP Information Sessions, prospective Fellows, like you, will be provided with detailed information on the LEAP Programme’s financial and non-financial support.
Kindly ensure that you make the necessary arrangements to attend one of the scheduled Information Sessions listed on the 2nd page of the Application Form. Remember to bring your National ID.
The information session will also give you:
● A chance to interact with other prospective LEAP Fellows
● Details on what you will gain from being a LEAP Fellow, personally and professionally
● Information on what you can expect from the LEAP Programme and what we expect from you as LEAP Fellows
● An introduction to the LEAP loan offering, including a walk-through of LEAP loan terms and documentation
● An overview of additional academic and career training and support offered by the LEAP Programme
● Information about what happens after the LEAP Information Session and details on when you will find out if you have been accepted into the programme.

When will my application be processed? What are the next steps?

We aim to evaluate all applications within 3 to 6 weeks of receiving a completed application, including all documentation requested.

Kindly you ensure you submit your application as soon as possible to allow for enough time to review your application ahead of your next semester. More information will be provided during the LEAP Information Session.

Does the LEAP Programme guarantee employment after graduation?

While you are enrolled in your university programme, the LEAP Programme delivers career-readiness training through its university chapters and linkages to industry through career fairs and other activities.

Through training and these career-readiness activities, LEAP Fellows will have a competitive edge in the job market. However, the LEAP Programme does not guarantee employment after graduation.