Scholarships and education loan application

Digital ID verifies students' identities during loan and scholarship applications. As of May 2025, the Higher Education Students' Loans Board (HESLB) has made the national identification number (NIN) mandatory for all students who apply for education loans. Students must provide their NIN during the application process. The National Identification Authority (NIDA) database then verifies the NIN to ensure accurate identity verification and prevent fraud. In the 2024-2025 academic year, around 245,799 students were expected to receive HESLB loans. NIN verification helps ensure loans reach legitimate beneficiaries and improves accountability in education financing.