Where to Find A Scholarship

It's no secret how expensive quality education can be. While education is a right that everyone should have, in the Philippines, it's an expense that many struggle to meet, whether paying for the cost of basic study aids and uniform or supporting tuition fees for undergraduates. According to the 2017 Annual Poverty Indicators Survey of the Philippine Statistics Authority, nine per cent of 39.2 million Filipinos were out of school, citing financial problems as the primary reason. With the cost of education continually rising, several institutions and government agencies offer financial aid and scholarships.

Scholarships are designed to reward academically promising students and support financially-challenged and deserving children. Aside from receiving financial support, becoming a scholar also looks impressive on a CV and leads to other opportunities. Whether you're eyeing a scholarship in an international school or a top university in the Philippines, here are some helpful tips to increase your chances of receiving a scholarship.

Search for the right scholarship

Three types of awards exist to target different kinds of student.

• Merit-based Scholarship - This type of scholarship is usually related to academic performance. Those who are at the top of their class have a good chance of qualifying. Aside from consistently high grades, leadership experience and strong involvement in extracurricular activities also matter when applying for merit-based scholarships.
• Skills-based Scholarship - This type of scholarship is perfect for those who excel in the arts or sports. However, to continue enjoying its benefits, the scholar needs to maintain a certain grade or show consistent excellence and involvement in their chosen field.
• Needs-based Scholarship - While any scholarship provides financial aid, need-based scholarships focus on deserving students who are unable to continue their education because of insufficient funds. In this type of scholarship, financial capability to pay for education is the main assessment criterion.

Get every information you need
After identifying the right type of scholarship, the next step is to find an institution offering scholarships. This process can be long and taxing. One quick google search will find scholarships offered by government agencies and the paperwork required for the application. Mainly if needs-based, someone may visit to assess your living conditions. If you want to enter a particular school, search their website to see if they offer scholarships or financial aid. Non-government scholarships exist but will take more time to find. When information about scholarships is not available online, contact the institution directly or arrange to visit their office.

Be patient

Competition is stiff. To increase your chances of landing a scholarship, apply to as many programs as you can find. If you are fortunate enough to be called for an interview, prepare thoroughly. Understand the organization and think through questions about yourself that they could ask. Also, practice patience in every step of the process, especially in waiting for results. The final decision in awarding a scholarship may take months.


Scholarships are available to help give equal opportunities for students to achieve academic excellence. Obtaining a scholarship is hard but worthwhile work. With a positive attitude, a brighter future could be waiting for you.