Scholarships for Filipinos Studying Abroad — 2026

Fulbright Foreign Student Program (USA)

• Coverage: Full tuition, living allowance, airfare, health insurance, book allowance
• Level: Master's degree at US universities
• Fields: All fields (STEM, social sciences, arts, education, public health)
• Deadline: Usually April-May for programmes starting the following August
• Requirements: Filipino citizen, bachelor's degree, 2+ years work experience, strong English proficiency
• Apply: Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF)

Chevening Scholarships (UK)

• Coverage: Full tuition, monthly stipend (GBP 1,133-1,516), return airfare, thesis/dissertation grant
• Level: Master's degree (1 year) at any UK university
• Requirements: 2+ years work experience, bachelor's degree (2:1 equivalent), return to Philippines for 2 years after
• Deadline: Usually November (for September start next year)
• Highly competitive: ~100 awards for the Philippines annually

Australia Awards Scholarships

• Coverage: Full tuition, living allowance (AUD 3,500+/month), return airfare, health insurance, introductory academic programme
• Level: Master's or PhD at Australian universities
• Priority areas: Economic governance, infrastructure, education, health, stability
• Deadline: Usually April-May
• Bond: Must return to Philippines for 2 years after completion

MEXT Scholarship (Japan)

• Coverage: Full tuition waiver, monthly stipend (JPY 143,000-145,000), return airfare
• Level: Undergraduate, Master's, PhD, or research student
• Duration: 2-7 years depending on programme
• Includes: 6-12 months Japanese language training before academic programme
• Apply through: Embassy of Japan in Manila or university recommendation

DAAD Scholarships (Germany)

• Coverage: Monthly stipend (EUR 934 Master's / EUR 1,300 PhD), health insurance, travel allowance
• Note: Tuition at German public universities is already free — DAAD covers living costs
• Programmes: Development-Related Postgraduate Courses (EPOS), Research Grants, bi-national programmes
• Deadline: Varies (typically October-November for following October start)

Erasmus Mundus Joint Master Degrees (Europe)

• Coverage: EUR 1,400/month + tuition + travel + installation + insurance
• Unique: Study in 2-3 different European countries during the programme
• Deadline: Varies by programme (typically January-March)

Korean Government Scholarship (KGSP)

• Coverage: Full tuition, monthly allowance (KRW 900,000-1,000,000), airfare, health insurance, Korean language training (1 year)
• Level: Undergraduate (4+1 years) or Master's/PhD
• Apply through: Korean Embassy in Manila or partner universities

CHED K to 12 Transition Scholarship

For graduate studies abroad in priority fields. Covers tuition and allowance.

DOST-SEI Scholarships

For science and technology fields. Includes ASTHRDP (Accelerated S&T Human Resource Development Program) for master's and PhD abroad.

CHED Faculty Development Program

For state university faculty pursuing master's or PhD at top universities abroad. Full funding.

1. Start 12-18 months early — Most prestigious scholarships have long lead times. Begin researching and preparing documents well in advance.
2. Tailor your personal statement — Each scholarship has specific selection criteria. Show how your goals align with the scholarship's purpose.
3. Demonstrate leadership and community impact — Government scholarships value applicants who will return and contribute to the Philippines.
4. Get strong recommendation letters — Ask professors or employers who know your work well. Give them 4-6 weeks notice.
5. Ace the interview — Fulbright and Chevening have interview rounds. Practice explaining your study plans and post-graduation goals clearly.
6. Apply to multiple scholarships — Don't put all your eggs in one basket. Apply to 3-5 programmes.