The Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program (BPMSP) is a government scholarship for top-performing Senior High School graduates in the Philippines. It pays for tuition and other school fees, gives a yearly stipend, and even offers a bonus for scholars who keep excellent grades. Students can use it to study a priority college degree through the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), or a priority technical-vocational course through TESDA. In exchange, scholars agree to give back to the country after they finish — through work, skills, or service that helps the Philippines grow.
The program is run jointly by three agencies most Filipinos already know: the Department of Education (DepEd), the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA). This shared setup means a student’s Senior High School records, college or training school choice, and government support are all connected under one system, under the “Bagong Pilipinas” banner — the current administration’s push toward national renewal and progress.
What Is It For?
At its core, BPMSP recognizes academic excellence and turns it into real opportunity. It does this in two ways:
- Widens access to education so income isn’t the deciding factor in who gets to study.
- Builds the country’s workforce by steering scholars toward fields the Philippines needs most, like healthcare, engineering, agriculture, digital technology, and skilled trades.
The idea is simple: help the country’s best young minds keep learning, then have them return that investment by working and contributing here in the Philippines.
BPMSP Tracks
BPMSP splits into two tracks depending on where a student wants to continue studying.
Track A — Higher Education (HE) Track, through CHED
This is for students heading to a four-year (or longer) college degree.
Covers:
- Tuition and other school fees
- A yearly stipend or living allowance
- An Academic Excellence Incentive for scholars who land in the top 10 of their term and region based on grades
Who qualifies:
- Filipino citizen, first-year college entrant
- Part of the Top 5 of the Grade 12 graduating class, or has a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 95%
- Family’s combined annual income of ₱2,000,000 or less
- Enrolled in a CHED-identified priority degree program at a qualified college or university
- Has not yet earned college credits or a degree
Track B — Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Diploma Track, through TESDA
This is for students who want hands-on, job-ready skills instead of (or alongside) a college degree.
Covers:
- Tuition and other school fees
- A stipend
- A book or internet/connectivity allowance
Who qualifies:
- Filipino citizen, entering a TVET diploma program for the first time
- GWA of at least 90% in Senior High School
- Family’s combined annual income of ₱2,000,000 or less
- Does not already hold a tech-voc diploma or a TESDA National Certificate Level III or higher
- Enrolled in a TESDA-identified priority program at a registered training institution
BPMSP Priority Programs
Not every course or program qualifies — BPMSP only supports fields that meet strict quality standards and match national needs.
For college programs, a degree qualifies if it has at least one of the following:
- It’s recognized as a Center of Excellence (COE) or Center of Development (COD) by CHED
- It holds Level III or Level IV accreditation from a recognized accrediting body
- It has been formally approved by the CHED Commission En Banc
Priority fields under the Higher Education track include healthcare, engineering, education, agriculture and fisheries, digital technology, financial services, creative industries, and science and mathematics.
Priority fields under the TVET track include agriculture, information and communication technology, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing and semiconductors.
These lists can shift slightly depending on the region and the application cycle, so it’s worth double-checking current priority programs before applying.
Who Should Apply?
BPMSP is built for Senior High School graduates who:
- Are Filipino citizens entering college or a TVET program for the very first time
- Belong to households earning ₱2,000,000 or less per year, combined
- Meet the grade requirements for their chosen track
- Are willing to render return service in the Philippines after they finish their studies
Note: That return service requirement is worth pausing on. It’s not a punishment — it’s the whole point of the program. BPMSP is an investment in people, and the “return” is simply asking scholars to put their new skills and knowledge to work for the country that helped fund their education.
Requirements
You’ll need:
- PSA Birth Certificate
- SF9 / Form 138 (Learner’s Progress Report Card) for Senior High School
- Proof of household income (one of: BIR Certificate of Tax Exemption, DSWD/C-MSWD Certificate for 4Ps beneficiaries, latest Income Tax Return of parents/guardians, or OFW/seafarer contract)
- Enrollment form or proof of admission to your chosen school
- A signed Parent or Legal Guardian Certification (Annex L)
- For older graduates (on or before School Year 2015–2016): a certified true copy of the Fourth Year High School report card
How to Apply
To start with the application, you may visit the BPMSP website (https://bpms.ched.gov.ph/), scroll to the bottom of the page, and click Apply.
Step 1: Choose your track. You will be required to choose your preferred track (Higher Education or TVET Diploma).
Step 2: Choose the right status. You can then choose whether you are filing a new application or updating an already existing one.
Step 3: Verify your email. Register and confirm your email to create a BPMSP applicant account.
Step 4: Fill out personal information. Enter your personal, family, and academic details.
Step 5: Select your school. Choose your preferred program and your college (HEI) or TESDA-registered training center (TVI).
Step 6: Upload documents. Submit clear, complete copies of all required papers.
Step 7: Review and submit. Check everything carefully, then submit before the deadline.
Step 8: Wait for evaluation. The CHED or TESDA Regional Office reviews, ranks, and validates applications, then releases the results.
Step 9: Complete the requirements. Qualified applicants will then need:
- Enrollment proof: If provisionally accepted, you’ll need to submit proof of enrollment, usually within a month.
- Notice of Award (NOA): Once fully qualified, you’ll receive your NOA and must sign and return it within the given timeline.
- Scholarship Agreement: The CHED Regional Office prepares the formal agreement and informs both DepEd and your chosen school that you’re officially a scholar.
Contact Information
If you or someone in your family is a Senior High School graduate with strong grades and a household income within the ₱2,000,000 limit, this scholarship is worth a serious look. For inquiries and other concerns, you may contact the following:
TESDA (for the TVET Diploma Track)
- Phone: 8886-7679
- Email: smo.oed@tesda.gov.ph
- Office hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
CHED (for the Higher Education Track)
- Email: osds@ched.gov.ph
- Website: ched.gov.ph
- Facebook: Commission on Higher Education (CHED)