Why study a Bachelor or Master in Philippines

Study in Philippines

There are many reasons why you should study in the Philipines, besides enjoying the stunning touristic destinations and great food. Read on to learn why you should study in Philippines and how much tuition fees cost there. 

Why should you study in Philippines?

Here are some reasons why you might choose to study in Philippines: 

• Affordable study and living cost: The country has low tuition fees and costs of living, which means you can spend less on them and more on exploring the country and enjoying yourself. 
• English is an official language: This means that not speaking the local language won’t be a barrier when dealing with locals or studying. English is also the language that most university programs are taught in. In fact, the educational system, all the way from the age of kindergarten is taught in English. 
• US-based university system: Another good reason to study in the Philippines is the university and college system based on the American one. That means you’ll get an excellent educational level with the same structure and benefits as in the US, while paying incredibly low tuition fees and living costs and enjoying a great culture and environment. 

How much does it cost?

International students who choose to study in Philippines will pay tuition fees ranging from 500 to 2,000 euros. This applies to both public and private schools and depends on the school and degree program. Another thing to know is that some degree programs don’t have fixed fees. Instead, you calculate your tuition based on the number of credits you are taking.

Living in Philippines

When living in the Philippines, you should expect to pay anywhere between 850 and 1,500 dollars a month, based on the type of accommodation you are staying at and your lifestyle. Read on to learn more about accommodation costs and other costs of living. 

Accommodation

For accommodation when you study in Philippines, you’ll pay somewhere between 200 and 800 dollars per month, based on accommodation type and the services offered along with the housing. 

 

Some of the most popular accommodation types that international students choose to live in are the following: 

• Private rentals: Private rentals are an accommodation option for international students that they can rent either alone or along with other students. You’ll pay an average of 600 dollars per month, based on whether your apartment is in the city centre or outside of it. 
• Dormitories: Dorm rooms are another option that international students choose for housing in the Philippines. Dorms are typically near schools and universities, though students may not like them as they have strict visiting hours and implement curfews. Dorms are typically cheaper than renting an apartment, though if they have many amenities, you’ll probably pay around the same price range. 

Other costs of living

Other costs of living to take into consideration are utilities like electricity, heating and cooling systems, which will cost you from 200 to 250 dollars a month. Groceries will also cost you around 360 dollars a month. A monthly transportation pass will cost you somewhere around 15 to 20 dollars, depending on the kind of transportation. 

Universities in Philippines

There are many highly ranked universities in the Philippines to study at if you are interested. Top universities include the University of the Philippines and De La Salle university. Read on to learn more about them, along with other highly ranked schools in the country. 

Degrees available

Degrees available in the Filippino higher education system are the same as the American higher education degrees. That means they offer degrees like Associate degrees, Bachelor’s degrees, Master’s and doctorates of different kinds. These doctorates include highly prestigious Medical and Law PhD degrees. 

Top-ranked universities

Here are some of the top-ranked universities in the Philippines to look into if you want to study in Philippines: 

University of the Philippines (UP)

Location: Quezon City, Diliman 

 

The University of the Philippines (UP) is a public university system that has seven universities and 15 campuses, located across the Philippines across the country. The flagship campus with the administrative buildings are in Diliman, which is in Quezon City. Almost 23,000 students study at that campus. The university was established by the American colonial government in the year 1908. It’s known as the best university in the country. It even ranks among the top 150 universities in the world for English language and literature degree courses. Furthermore, it ranks in the top 250 universities around the world for the subjects of social sciences and management.

Ateneo de Manila University

Location: Manila 

 

The Ateneo de Manila University is a private university, which has a focus on research. It has four campuses in Metro Manila area, and the main campus is in  Quezon City. Originally a Christian establishment, it was founded in 1859 by the Society of Jesus. This makes it one of the oldest universities in the country. The university ranks in the top 200 for English language and literature degrees, while it ranks in the top 350 universities worldwide for arts and humanity degree subjects. 

 

De La Salle University (DLSU)

Location: Manila 

 

The third top university in Philippines is considered De La Salle University (DLSU). DLSU is a private university with Roman Catholic roots. It was established in 1911 by the Brothers of the Christian Schools. It was originally a boys only school. The school currently has almost 20,000 students studying there. Much like the previous two universities, De La Salle University ranks in the top 200 worldwide for the subjects of English language and literature.  

The University of Santo Tomas 

Location: Manila

 

The University of Santo Tomas, known also by the names of Pontifical and Royal University of Santo Tomas or the Catholic University of the Philippines, is a private Roman Catholic university in the city of Manila. It has a main focus on research and is the oldest university in both the Philippines and Asia entirely, founded in the year 1611. It’s also one of the biggest Catholic universities in the world, with over 43,000 students studying there. It’s also one of the largest Catholic universities in the world, with over 42,000 students attending the university. 

Examples of other universities

Other universities to research if you want to study in the Philippines include Silliman University, Ateneo de Davao University and the University of the East, as they are also highly ranked. They offer many degree programs in many fields of study so you’ll surely find a university that is perfect for you, if none of the previous 4 universities suit your fancy. 

Student Visa - Philippines

Like in any other country, you might need a student visa to study in the Philippines. In fact, most nationalities need a study visa, but thankfully, the process to obtain one isn’t hard. All you do is contact the nearest embassy of the Philippines to you, fill out an application and hand in the required documents in person. Then you wait for your visa to be processed and hopefully accepted! Read on to find out about the requirements of the study visa to study in Philippines. 

Visa Requirements 

If you are going to apply for a study visa, you’ll need the following: 

• 2 copies of filled out visa application form
• Valid passport, with validity at least 6 months after period of staying in the Philippines
• Two passport size photographs
• Original and one photocopied birth certified, verified at Philippines Embassy
• Proof of parental support that they’ll support you financially, verified at Philippines Embassy
• Two photocopies of parent’s passport 
• Original and one copy of academic transcript of records, verified at the Embassy of the Philippines
• Original and one copy of police certificate, proving good conduct,verified at Philippines Embassy
• Original and one copy of medical examination reports with x-ray film in an envelope,verified at Philippines Embassy
• Personal History Statement forms from university
• Contact person in the Philippines information
• Diploma for students who will pursue graduate studies (authenticated at the Embassy of the Philippines)
• Proof of payment of 210 dollars as a visa fee, in demand draft payable to the Embassy of the Philippines.

 

How to apply - Philippines

In order to apply to a university in the Philippines, you’ll need to go to the website of the university you want to apply to, as each one has its own admission system. When you know which university you want to apply to, go directly to the website and check out the requirements and admission process and go ahead.

Required documents 

There are some general documents that are required by most universities. They are the following:

• Copy of diploma(high school or Bachelor’s degree)
• Previous Academic transcripts
• Scan of passport or birth certificate or other identification document
• CV or portfolio 
• Test scores
• Proof of scholarship or funding
• 2 or 3 letters of recommendation
• Proof of English language proficiency: PTE Academic, TOEFL iBT, IELTS Academic or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency test scores.

Scholarship in Philippines

If you want to study in the Philippines, there are some scholarship opportunities for international students to apply to. These are either full or partial scholarships, based on the scholarship. 

 

Here are some of the best ones to apply to:

•  Ateneo Freshman Merit Scholarship (AFMSS): this scholarship offers Full tuition and allowance to undergraduate international students who want to study in the Philippines. 
• Freeman-ASIAA Program: this scholarship offers 3,000 to 7,000 USD dollars to eligible undergraduate students. 
• Global Study Awards: this scholarship offers undergraduate and graduate students a scholarship funding amount of 14,000 dollars. 
• Agropolis Foundation-SEARCAA Joint Scholarship Program: this scholarship is for doctorate students and offers either partial or full scholarships, based on the scholarship awarded to the student.