Your Guide To Choosing The Right College Course in PH

You will need to prepare all the necessary documents for your college application. These differ per school, but the usual needs are:

Accomplished Application Form with attached 2x2 photo
Official Receipt of Application Fee
Original and Photocopy of PSA/NSO Authenticated Birth Certificate
Original and Photocopy of Transcript of Records or Certified True Copy of Grades

As the country deals with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, many colleges and universities in the Philippines have suspended their respective entrance exams 2-years in a row.* These include top schools such as the University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, University of Santo Tomas, and De La Salle University.

This may depend on the school. But, many have opted for the online application system. Instead of an entrance exam, students are evaluated based on their high school academic performance and criteria, recommendations from teachers, and a personal essay (if applicable).

*News as of School Year 2022-2023. May be subject to change depending on the situation.

According to the Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act (UAQTEA), enrolled college students in the Philippines are offered free tuition and miscellaneous fees in state universities and colleges (SUCs). This means parents can send their children to any of the 112 universities nationwide that offer free college education.

Meanwhile, for private schools, this can be costly. As reported by Coins.ph, college tuition can range from PHP 70,000 to PHP 250,000. This does not take into account possible tuition fee increases. If you want to have the specific price for your dream college, you can check out our Course and Strand Finder — A tool that helps you search for schools based on education level, tuition range, and locality.

Contrary to popular belief, scholarships aren't just for students at the top of the class. There are different factors to financial aid opportunities.

First, you will need to figure out what type of scholarship you are under. There are four (4) types: Merit-based (academic), Skills-based (arts and sports), Needs-based (family income), and Context-based (family background). Next, you will need to find out where you will apply. There are three (3) different bodies that offer scholarships: Foundation and Corporations, Schools, and the Government.

Finally, the next part comes the application process. You will need to take note of the deadlines for your chosen scholarship and submit your application form and supporting documents before then. For tips on the process, you may check this guide.

For more information, go to our scholarships page here.

Not necessarily. You can apply to any degree program you genuinely want to study in and to develop your knowledge and skills for, regardless of your academic background. It's important you prioritize a course you truly aspire for rather than sticking to a set path.

However, take note that Senior High School tracks and strands act as preparatory course work. Aside from a possible subject mastery advantage, those taking up courses unrelated to their tracks and strands will need to take up a bridging program to deal with the mismatch. This lets students take additional classes to help them catch up on the required subjects in college.

According to the Professional Regulation Commission of the Philippines, there are currently forty-five (45) Professional Regulatory Boards. Below is a full list of the professions that would need a board exam before the actual practice:

Accountancy
Aeronautical Engineering
Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
Agriculture
Architecture
Chemical Engineering
Chemistry
Civil Engineering
Criminology
Customs Brokers
Dentistry
Electrical Engineering
Electronics Engineering
Environmental Planning
Fisheries Technology
Food Technology
Foresters
Geodetic Engineering
Geology
Guidance Counseling
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture
Librarianship
Master Plumbing
Mechanical Engineering
Medical Technology
Medicine
Metallurgical Engineering
Midwifery
Mining Engineering
Naval Architecture
Nursing
Nutrition and Dietetics
Optometry
Pharmacy
Physical and Occupational Therapy
Professional Teachers
Psychology
Radiologic Technology
Real Estate Service
Respiratory Therapy
Sanitary Engineering
Social Workers
Speech Language Pathology
Veterinary Medicine

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