Philippines is a beautiful country with a very good education system. It is the world’s third largest English-speaking nation with the highest rate of English literacy in Asia. For this reason thousands of foreign students are enrolled in various Philippine universities. The Philippines education system offers high-quality education and provides the students with globally competitive academic programs, highly skilled teachers as well as modern facilities they surely love.
You will not be eligible as an international student for funding specifically intended for Philippine nationals. However, the number of international scholarships to study in the Philippines has increased as Filipino universities prioritize internationalization. There are also some Filipino Universities which offer international students need-blind admission.
Below is a selection of scholarship programs in Philippines, some funded by the Filipino government, some funded by private organizations and some funded by particular institutions. Good luck with your applications!
1. Mapua Scholarship Programs in Philippines
Mapua University (MAPUA) is private institution founded in 1925 by Don Tomas Mapua as a night school for engineering and architecture students. Today, MAPUA is the biggest engineering school in the Philippines having over 15,000 students under its college. Since its establishment, Mapua University has been producing professionals in civil engineering, architecture, and information technology. It has 32 undergraduate programs and 35 postgraduate programs.
The university is one of the first schools in Southeast Asia to have programs accredited by the international organization Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET). Recognizing MAPUA’s contribution to the advancement of engineering in the country, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) awarded several of its engineering courses with a Center of Development and Centers of Excellence.
For students who are keen to study in the institution, there are scholarships, academic grants, and financial aids available to academically deserving, creatively gifted and financially challenged students of Mapua University. Scholarship grants for both undergraduate and post-graduate studies are sponsored by the Mapua administration, private companies, foundations, alumni associations, government agencies, and other entities.
Its service includes:
Scholarship for high school students
- ETY SHS Scholarship Program: The E.T. Yuchengco Institutional Scholarship is for incoming college freshmen who belong to the Top 10 performing MCL Entrance Exam (MCLEE) takers from October to April of the current school year; and/or the Top 10 MCL Senior High School graduates.
- Don Tomas Mapua Scholarship (DTMS): DTMS is offered for incoming Grade 11 students who graduated “with highest honor” among the graduating batch of at least 60 students, enrolling in the Department of Education from accredited high schools either in the Philippines or abroad.
- Sibling Discount: A discount program which is available only to freshmen students, transferee or seeking another degree who are enrolled from Batch 2011 (1st Quarter, AY 2011-2012) onwards.
- YGC SHS Promotional Discount: The promotional discount is privileged for any child of any regular employee of the Yuchengco Group of Companies members.
Scholarship for undergraduate students
- Sponsored by Mapua Administration
- Sponsored by Mapua Alumni Associations
- Sponsored by Private Agencies/Companies and Foundations
- Sponsored by Government Agencies
Financial Assistance Programs
- Income-Based Financial Assistance Program (IBFAP): IBFAP is intended to award an incoming freshman, with priority of those who came from public high school whose combined annual family income should not exceed Php 500,000.00.
- Upperclassmen Financial Assistance Program (UFAP): UFAP is awarded to currently enrolled students whose combined annual family income of not more that Php500,000.00.
- Student Assistantship (SA): SA is open for the 3rd year and 4th year student of Mapua University whose admission status has been declared “OK” by the institution.
- Tuition Installment Plan (Bukas): Bukas is an installmen plan which is awarded to an incoming or current college or postgraduate student of Mapúa University.
2. Tesda Scholarship Programs in Philippines
Under Republic Act No. 7796 or the Technical Education and Skills Development Act of 1994, the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) was established in association with the National Manpower and Youth Council (NMYC), Bureau of Technical-Vocational Education of the Department of Education, Culture and Sports ( BTVE-DECS) and the Office of Apprenticeship of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE).
Currently, TESDA is the government branch tasked with overseeing the technical-vocational education and training (TVET) system in the country.
In addition to implementing various programs and projects, TESDA also sets policy directions and guidelines on resource allocation for private and public TVET institutions.
TESDA offers the scholarship programs in Philippines below for its students.
Universal Access to Tertiary Education
Free education is provided by Republic Act 10931 or UAQTEA. This includes free competency assessment, allowances and toolkits.
Private Education Student Financial Assistance
PESFA is a TESDA program that provides financial assistance for marginalized but eligible tech-voc education and training students.
Special Training for Employment Program
STEP is a TESDA program for citizens who want to have the skills available in entrepreneurship or their own business in which they can choose from over 70 qualifications or training under STEP.
Training for Work Scholarship Program
TWSP is the answer to the “job skills missmatch” issue. It aims to ensure that the industry’s “labor force requirement” is met. Students can choose from over 230 qualifications or training under 18 sectors.
3. Adamson University Scholarship
Adamson University, a Catholic Vincentian educational institution, is a recognized leading center for quality education particularly for the socially disadvantaged.
Adamson University has endured the tests of history, first as a Greek-run school and then as a Catholic and Vincentian institution. It has emerged academically richer and stronger, accumulating layers of knowledge and experience that sustain its mission to provide education — the kind that meets stringent standards of quality yet affordable to those who have less. Now beyond its Diamond Jubilee, it confidently and ably plays its role as an agent of personal as well as social transformation.
The university has tons of scholarship programs available for its students, including:
Entrance Scholarship (for Freshman Students)
The entrance scholarship is designed to fund the education of students who belong to at least from 100 graduates on a school recognized by the government.
Academic Scholarship
The academic scholarship is applicable for students who are not currently enjoying another scholarship. It offers two schemes of scholarship, namely full scholarship and half scholarship.
4. Cebu City Scholarship Programs in Philippines
The Cebu City Scholarship Program as part of the scholarship programs in Philippines has an average of 10,000 to 15,000 scholars, and an average of 3,000 graduates every school year since 2014.
In order to address the needs of the poor but deserving residents of Cebu City who want to pursue college or vocational courses and cannot afford to pay the tuition and miscellaneous fees, the city government established a Scholarship Program that started in the year 2010 through the Executive Order 10-124 issued by Mayor Michael Lopez Rama and strengthened by the City Ordinance No. 2333 known as the Cebu City College Scholarship Program.
The scholars are allowed to enroll in any university or college in the city that is accredited under the program. A City Government scholar is entitled to P10,000 financial assistance every semester, and P1,000 school supply allowance. Scholars from the mountain barangays are entitled to another P1,000 as transportation allowance.
5. OFW Scholarship
The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) is an attached agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) and a membership institution.
It protects and promotes the welfare of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and their dependents. It was formerly known as Welfare and Training Fund for Overseas Workers and was organized in 1977.
OWWA, as it is commonly known, is present in 31 overseas posts in 27 countries. It also has its regional presence in all the seventeen regions.
OWWA focuses on the welfare of the OFWs and their families. It is present in all three stages of migration: pre-departure, on-site, and upon arrival. Before the first-time workers leave, OWWA educates them on the realities of overseas work. They also undergo basic language training. Abroad, OWWA assists the OFWs whenever they encounter concerns with their employers. Finally, when the OFW is back, OWWA is ready with its livelihood trainings and programs for the OFWs’ reintegration.
To support the education and training within the organization, some scholarship programs in Philippines are offered by OWWA Scholarships as described below.
Pre-Departure Education Program
- Country-Specific Pre-Departure Orientation Seminar (PDOS): A one-day compulsory orientation to OFWs consisting of modules on employment contract, country of destination, stages of the OFWs’ life abroad, health and safety, financial literacy, travel tips and airport procedures, and government programs and services. This is attended by all workers (all skills) prior to their deployment abroad.
- Comprehensive Pre-Departure Education Program (CPDEP): A four or six-day orientation seminar attended by Domestic Workers (DWs) consisting of language training, culture familiarization, and stress management.
Training Programs for Filipino Seafarers
- Seafarer’s Upgrading Program (SUP): It is a job-related training assistance for upgrading courses of up to P7,500.00.
- Mariner’s Dugtong Aral (Bridging) Program: A scholarship grant for prospective seafarers who are graduates of BS Mechanical Engineering (BSME) and BS Electrical Engineering (BSEE) who wish to pursue BSMarine Engineering (BSMarE) course.
Scholarships for Dependents
- Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP): A scholarship grant offered to qualified dependents of active OWWA members who intend to pursue a 4-5 year baccalaureate course in any preferred colleges/universities.
- OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP): Educational assistance of P 20,000.00 per school year to qualified dependent of an active OWWA member-OFW whose salary is not more than US$600.00.
- Educational Livelihood Assistance Program (ELAP): Scholarship for the dependents of OFWs who were active OWWA members at the time of death, including convicted OFWs facing death penalty in host country. Only one child, usually the eldest child of member-OFW is given scholarship grant.
6. iACADEMY Scholarship
Information and Communications Technology Academy, better known as iAcademy (stylized as iACADEMY) is a private, non-sectarian educational institution in the Philippines. The college offers specialized senior high school and undergraduate programs in fields relating to computer science, game development, multimedia arts, animation, and business management.
iACADEMY will award scholarships to incoming first-year college students who will be graduating from public senior high schools. The scholarship covers full amount of tuition fee, materials, transportation, and meal allowances.
Beside those six scholarships, you nee to know the other 7 scholarships in the Philippines we have reviewed previously.
