The Philippines put a high value in education compared to most other aspect of life. It is not exactly a surprise then, that the country offers a diverse array of educational financial assistance programs, all of which were designed to support students across various levels and needs. These programs range from scholarships and grants to conditional cash transfers, emergency assistance, and educational loans, ensuring that financial barriers do not hinder access to quality education.
Whether you are a student seeking higher education, technical-vocational training, or international study opportunities, there are tailored programs to suit every situation. In fact, there are special grants available for those who wish to pursue research and innovation and targeted support for the underprivileged groups, ensuring inclusive access to educational opportunities across the country. In this article, we listed all the available educational financial assistance programs im the country that you may be interested in, so please do take a look.
Types of Educational Financial Assistance Available in the Philippines
The Philippines offers a wide range of educational assistance programs designed to support students across various levels and needs. These programs are actually categorized into different types and offer different benefits according to the type and level of education of the interested party.
- Conditional Cash Transfer Programs: These programs provide financial aid to poor families under specific conditions, such as ensuring children’s regular school attendance and healthcare, to improve their health, nutrition, and education.
- Crisis or Emergency Assistance Programs: Targeted at individuals and families facing economic hardships, these programs offer immediate financial assistance, including q for educational needs, during times of crisis.
- Scholarship Programs for Higher Education: These scholarships support students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, or specialized degrees by covering tuition fees, offering stipends, and providing other forms of educational support.
- International Scholarships: These scholarships allow Filipino students to study abroad in partner countries, offering comprehensive financial support for tuition, living expenses, and other related costs.
- Sector-Specific Scholarship Programs: These scholarships target students or families within specific industries or sectors, encouraging education that contributes to industry growth and modernization.
- Research and Innovation Grants: These grants fund research and extension activities within higher education institutions, aiming to foster innovation and address key developmental challenges in the Philippines.
- Technical-Vocational Education Programs: These programs offer financial support to students pursuing technical or vocational courses, aiming to enhance employability in specific trades or skills.
- Educational Loan Programs: These loan programs provide financial assistance for educational purposes, offering support for tuition and fees with low-interest rates and manageable repayment terms.
- Grants for Special Groups: These grants and scholarships are designed to support specific groups, such as young women in low-income countries or underprivileged students, ensuring access to education and empowerment.
With these, you can now tell the categories of the program you are applying for. For more information on the specific educational assistance programs to check, then keep reading this guide to the available educational assistance programs in the Philippines.
Please see the list below for more details on the program and the benefits it entail:
DSWD Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps)
The 4Ps is a government initiative pioneered by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) that is designed to provide conditional cash transfers to poor families with children aged 0-18 years. It aims to improve their health, nutrition, and education, with beneficiaries required to meet specific conditions such as regular school attendance and healthcare. The program is capped at seven years for each family.
Purpose: To alleviate extreme poverty by investing in health, nutrition, and education.
Benefits:
- ₱750.00 monthly Health Grant per household
- ₱300.00 per child in elementary, ₱500.00 per child in junior high school and ₱700.00 per child in senior high school monthly Education Grant per child (varies by education level) for up to three children per household for 10 months in a school year
- ₱600.00 monthly Rice Subsidy for compliant households
DSWD Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situations (AICS) Educational Assistance
The DSWD AICS is a program designed to provide financial aid and other forms of support to individuals and families who are facing emergencies or severe hardships. The program also includes educational assistance to help beneficiaries cope with the various crises, get back on their feet, and recover from the setback.
Purpose: To deliver immediate support to those facing economic difficulties or crises.
Benefits:
- Financial aid for educational needs
- Transportation assistance
CHED Cash Grant to Medical Students Enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (CGMS-SUCs)
This educational assistance program offered by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) is designed to give financial assistance to medical students in selected SUCs, helping with the challenges in their medical education. The initiative is a collaboration between CHED and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM). Â
Purpose: To support aspiring doctors by subsidizing tuition fees in SUCs offering the Doctor of Medicine program.
Benefits:
- Full coverage of tuition fees for medical students in participating SUCs
- Available to all Filipino medical students, both new and continuing.
CHED Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship Program
The CHED Stipendium Hungaricum is a program meant to provides scholarships for Filipino students to study in Hungary. It supports a range of priority fields and fosters cross-cultural academic exchanges.
Purpose: To enable access to high-quality education in Hungary for international students.
Benefits:
- Free tuition
- Monthly stipend
- Accommodation assistance
- Health insurance
CHED Merit Scholarship Program (CMSP)
The CMSP is a CHED program designed to support academically talented students, especially from underprivileged backgrounds, to pursue undergraduate studies in priority programs.
Purpose: To provide financial assistance to deserving students from special groups.
Benefits:
- Tuition and other school fees coverage
- Monthly stipend
- Book/connectivity allowance per semester
CHED Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and their Families (CoScho)
The CoScho program by CHED offers educational opportunities to coconut farmers and their families in an attempt to enhance productivity and modernize the local coconut industry.
Purpose: To improve the education and livelihood of coconut farmers and boost industry productivity.
Benefits:
- Php 35,000 stipend per semester
- Php 5,000 book allowance per semester
- Php 75,000 thesis/OJT allowance per academic year
- One-time laptop allowance: Php 30,000
- Return service obligation
CHED Scholarship Program for Future Statisticians (ESTATISTIKOLAR)
This educational program by CHED offers scholarships to students pursuing degrees in Statistics or Applied Statistics, focusing on underprivileged groups, persons with disabilities, solo parents, senior citizens, and Indigenous Peoples. It aims to address the shortage of statisticians in the Philippines.
Purpose: To increase the number of trained statisticians in the Philippines and provide financial support to deserving students.
Benefits:
- Covers TOSF.
- Monthly stipend for living expenses.
- Book/connectivity allowance per semester.
- Open to all qualified Filipino incoming fourth-year students.
Scholarship for Children and Dependents of Sugarcane Industry Workers and Small Sugarcane Farmers
This CHED scholarship program provides financial support for the undergraduate and graduate education of children and dependents of sugarcane industry workers and small sugarcane farmers, focusing on agriculture and related fields.
Purpose: To support the educational advancement of children and dependents in the sugarcane industry, contributing to its development.
Benefits:
- Undergraduate Program:
- Stipend: Php 100,000 per academic year.
- Book allowance: Php 10,000 per academic year.
- Thesis/OJT allowance: Php 75,000.
- One-time conference attendance: Php 15,000.
- Graduate Program:
- Tuition and fees: Php 60,000 per academic year.
- Stipend: Php 100,000 per academic year.
- Book allowance: Php 10,000 per academic year.
- Dissertation allowance: Php 100,000 (Doctoral).
- Thesis allowance: Php 75,000.
- One-time conference attendance: Php 15,000.
- Return service: 1 year per year of scholarship in the Philippines, prioritizing work in the coconut industry.
Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund Grants-in-Aid for Higher Education Program (ACEF-GIAHEP)
The ACEF-GIAHEP is yet another CHED Program designed to support students pursuing degrees in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, veterinary medicine, and related fields to promote agricultural competitiveness and development in the Philippines.
Purpose: To increase the number of graduates in agriculture-related fields, enhancing agricultural competitiveness and development.
Benefits:
- Private HEIs:
- TOSF: Php 20,000 per academic year.
- Stipend: Php 35,000 per academic year.
- Book allowance: Php 5,000 per academic year.
- Total: Php 60,000 per academic year.
- SUCs/LUCs:
- TOSF: Free.
- Stipend: Php 35,000 per academic year.
- Book allowance: Php 5,000 per academic year.
- Total: Php 40,000 per academic year.
Research, Innovation, and Extension Grants-in-Aid (GIA) Program
The CHED GIA Program offers grants to enhance research, innovation, and extension activities among Philippine higher education institutions (HEIs) in key thematic areas, promoting collaborative efforts and strategic development.
Purpose: To strengthen research, innovation, and extension initiatives in Philippine HEIs, focusing on critical developmental areas impacting communities and industries.
Benefits:
- Maximum of Php 10 million for one-year research programs/projects.
- Maximum of Php 2 million for one-year extension programs/projects.
- Six thematic areas/platforms:
- Education for STEAM
- Environment, Disaster Prevention, Climate Change, and Energy
- Terrestrial and Marine Economy: Biodiversity and Conservation
- Smart Analytics and Engineering Innovation
- Health Systems
- Food Production and Security
OWWA Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP)
The OWWA-EDSP is a program offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) that provides college scholarships to qualified dependents of OFWs through competitive grants. It offers financial support of up to Php 60,000 per year.
Purpose: To support the college education of OFW dependents.
Benefits:
- Up to Php 60,000 per year for tuition and fees
OFW Dependent Scholarship Program (ODSP)
The OWWA-ODSP is a program that offers financial assistance to dependents of OFWs with monthly incomes of $600 or less, supporting them in completing fouror five-year degree programs.
Purpose: To assist the education of dependents of lower-income OFWs.
Benefits:
- Up to Php 20,000 per academic year
Skills for Employment Scholarship Program (SESP)
The OWWA-SESP offers financial support for OFWs and their dependents to pursue technical or vocational courses in accredited institutions.
Purpose: To enhance employment opportunities for OFWs and their dependents through improved technical education.
Benefits:
- Up to Php 14,500 for one- to two-year courses
- Up to Php 7,250 for six-month courses
SSS Educational Loan
This educational loan program provides financial assistance to Social Security System (SSS) members or their beneficiaries for educational purposes, offering support for degree or vocational courses.
Purpose: To help SSS members finance their education or that of their legal dependents.
Benefits:
- Up to Php 20,000 per semester for degree courses
- Up to Php 10,000 per semester for vocational courses
- 6% per annum interest rate
- Repayment terms of up to 5 years for degree courses and 3 years for vocational courses
R.A. 7687 Undergraduate S&T Scholarship
R.A. 7687 is a Department of Science and Technology (DOST) program that offers scholarships to deserving students from low-income families who wish to pursue priority fields in science, technology, and engineering.
Purpose: To support the education of talented students in science and technology fields.
Benefits:
- Tuition and other school fees coverage
- Monthly stipend
- Book allowance
- Transportation allowance
DOST-SEI Merit Scholarship
This DOST-SEI merit-based scholarship is for students with high aptitude in science and mathematics, aiming to produce future leaders in science and technology.
Purpose: To encourage students with strong science and math skills to pursue careers in S&T fields.
Benefits:
- Tuition and other school fees coverage
- Monthly stipend
- Book allowance
- Transportation allowance
Graduate Research and Education Assistantship for Technology (GREAT) Program
The GREAT Program is a scholarship initiative under the DOST-PCAARRD Human Resource Development Program aimed at enhancing the capabilities of staff in NAARRDN member agencies. It offers financial and technical support to graduate students conducting research under DOST-PCAARRD-funded projects. The program provides comprehensive assistance to scholars to help them complete their degrees, including funding for research and potential re-entry research grants.
Purpose: To support the completion of graduate degrees for qualified students through financial assistance and to enhance research capabilities in agriculture, aquatic, and resources development.
Benefits:
- Tuition & Other School Fees: Covered for both MS (GRA) and PhD (GRF)
- Monthly Allowance:
- MS/GRA: Php 35,000
- PhD/GRF: Php 48,000
- Book Allowance (per academic year): Php 20,000 for both MS and PhD
- Transportation Allowance: Actual cost for both MS and PhD
- Annual Insurance Coverage: Php 1M for both MS and PhD
- Thesis/Dissertation Budget:
- MS/GRA: Php 50,000
- PhD/GRF: Php 100,000
- Research Grant: Integrated into DOST-PCAARRD R&D projects
- Graduation Fees:
- MS/GRA: Php 3,000
- PhD/GRF: Php 5,000
- Re-entry Research Grant: Up to Php 5M upon program completion
SM Foundation College Scholarship Program
This program by SM Foundation provides scholarships to financially challenged but deserving students, allowing them to pursue higher education.
Purpose: To make higher education accessible to deserving students.
Benefits:
- Full tuition coverage
- Monthly allowance
- Opportunities for part-time jobs during vacations
Metrobank Foundation, Inc. (MBFI) Scholarships for Technical-Vocational Education Program (STEP)
This MBFI program supports marginalized students in gaining technical-vocational skills necessary for employment.
Purpose: To equip underprivileged students with practical skills for the workforce.
Benefits:
- Provides scholarships for technical-vocational education.
- Focuses on marginalized students.
- Aims to improve employability.
College-Level Scholarships
This Metrobank Foundation program partners with universities to support high-potential students in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Purpose: To nurture future leaders and innovators in STEM fields.
Benefits:
- Offers scholarships for college-level STEM education.
- Targets high-potential students.
- Collaborative effort with partner universities.
Metrobank-MTAP DepEd Math Challenge (MMC)
The Metrobank-MTAP DepEd Math Challenge (MMC) is an annual competition designed to enhance mathematical skills among elementary and high school students nationwide.
Purpose: To promote excellence in mathematics education across the country.
Benefits:
- Nationwide math competition.
- Open to elementary and high school students.
- Aims to boost mathematical proficiency.
Metrobank Scholarship Programs (MSP)
The MBFI also offers various scholarship programs aimed at suporting the education of exceptionally academically gifted but financially challenged students, in the form of programs like ACCESS, GRACE, and YES.
Purpose: To support the education of bright students who face financial difficulties.
Benefits:
- Scholarships for different educational levels.
- Includes specialized programs like ACCESS, GRACE, and YES.
- Focuses on academically gifted students in need.
Ayala Foundation’s U-Go Scholar Grant
Ayala Foundation’s U-Go Scholar Grant is a private institute’s initiative that provides grants for young women in low-income countries, with a focus on enabling them to pursue higher education. Ayala Foundation acts as the implementing partner in the Philippines.
Purpose: To empower young women through education in low-income regions.
Benefits:
- Grants for higher education.
- Targets young women in low-income countries.
- Implemented by Ayala Foundation in the Philippines.
ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation Inc. Scholarships
The ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation, Inc., formerly known as ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. (AFI), also offers scholarships and learning materials to underprivileged students to support their academic endeavors.
Purpose: To assist underprivileged students in pursuing their education.
Benefits:
- Cash aid in the form of scholarships.
- Provision of learning materials.
- Focuses on underprivileged students.
Video: DSWD Educational Assistance Program
Sure, there are a lot of educational assistance programs available in the country. Despite the abundance of such programs, some are more in demand and well known than the others. One such program is the DSWD Educational Assistance Program. If you are one of those who are interested in availing the benefits offered by this program, then you better watch this video from Barangay Bagtas Tanza Cavite until the end:
Summary
In the Philippines, there are numerous options for educational financial assistance programs available to ensure that financial challenges do not hinder access to quality education. If you or someone you know is interested, then you can take a look at this list and explore your options today to find the support that best fits your needs so you may take the next step toward achieving your academic goals.