Explore CHED-listed universities and institutes, English-medium study options, admissions, tuition, living costs, scholarships, and Philippine student-visa guidance in one place.
Filipino and English are official languages; applicants must still confirm the teaching language of the exact program.
CHED reports 2,355 higher education institutions for academic year 2025–2026.
Compare institution type, campus, program status, outcomes, and total cost.
Options include health sciences, engineering, IT, business, hospitality, maritime studies, education, and the social sciences; availability varies by institution.
Students can compare Metro Manila with hubs such as Cebu, Davao, Baguio, and Iloilo.
Dormitory or regional-city budgets can be lower than private housing in Metro Manila, but students should budget from current institutional examples.
PHP 25,000–60,000 per month, excluding tuition
The 9(f) student visa is generally for foreign nationals aged 18 or older who will study above high-school level at an eligible Philippine school. A Special Study Permit (SSP) is generally used for foreign students who do not qualify for the 9(f), including those under 18 and/or in non-degree study. Only schools authorized by the Bureau of Immigration may accept foreign students. Coordinate the correct route with the school's authorized liaison and follow the current BI checklist.
Varies; allow several weeks
The Bureau of Immigration's published 9(f) conversion schedule totals PHP 9,720 plus USD 50 for the ACR I-Card. BI notes that this fee schedule dates from 6 March 2014 and may change. Obtain…
Students should maintain health or travel medical insurance that is valid in the Philippines for the full required period. Check emergency and outpatient care, hospitalization, medicines, pre-existing conditions, exclusions, deductibles, evacuation, direct billing, and the university's own minimum requirements. Insurance terms and visa requirements should be confirmed before purchase.
Do not assume an automatic post-study work period. Before the student status expires or changes, a graduate who plans to remain or work must secure the appropriate lawful immigration status and employment authorization. Eligibility depends on the role, employer, profession, and current government rules.
Use the university's international office and campus security contacts, keep copies of immigration documents, and learn local transport and neighborhood conditions. The Philippines is exposed to typhoons, flooding, earthquakes, and volcanic hazards, so students should follow PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, local government, and campus advisories. The national emergency number is 911.
Major Metro Manila education hub with large campuses including UP Diliman and Ateneo de Manila. Check travel time because traffic can make short distances slow.
National capital and dense urban study environment with major historic institutions. Expect high traffic and potentially higher private-housing costs; compare campus location carefully.
Major Mindanao education hub. Ateneo de Davao's official exchange guidance provides a useful local living-budget reference.
Mountain student city with a cooler climate than much of the country. Confirm wet-season conditions, housing availability, and travel arrangements.
Admission rules, deadlines, entrance tests, English-language evidence, document authentication, deposits, and refund policies vary by institution and program. Ask for a written fee breakdown and confirm whether credentials need apostille, authentication, certified translation, or an official evaluation. Regulated programs may have additional professional or eligibility rules.
Valid passport; completed secondary education; school records/transcripts; proof of eligibility for university study; institution-specific test, interview, subject, or English requirements; and authenticated, apostilled, or translated documents where requested.
Valid passport; relevant bachelor's degree; official transcript; program prerequisites; statement, references, research proposal, portfolio, entrance test, interview, or English evidence where requested; and authenticated or translated documents where requested.
Valid passport; completed secondary education; school records/transcripts; proof of eligibility for university study; institution-specific test, interview, subject, or English requirements; and authenticated, apostilled, or translated documents where requested.
Valid passport; relevant bachelor's degree; official transcript; program prerequisites; statement, references, research proposal, portfolio, entrance test, interview, or English evidence where requested; and authenticated or translated documents where requested.
The Philippines offers a large public and private higher-education system, widespread use of English in higher education, diverse regional campuses, and programs across many disciplines. Compare recognition, total cost, program quality, and immigration eligibility before choosing.
English is widely used and is a medium of instruction in higher education, but not every program or course is necessarily taught fully in English. Confirm the language of the exact program and assessment method with the institution.
Filipino and English are the official languages. Other regional languages are widely spoken.
Manila is the capital. Many major universities are also located elsewhere in Metro Manila, including Quezon City.
The Philippine peso, code PHP, is the national currency. Ask institutions whether published charges include all miscellaneous and international-student fees.
It varies. Many institutions begin the first semester between July and September, while second-semester, January, trimester, or quarter entry is available only at selected institutions and programs.
CHED reports 2,355 higher education institutions for academic year 2025–2026. Use the CHED directory to verify a specific institution and campus.
No. The Bureau of Immigration states that only schools authorized to accept foreign students may enroll them. Check the current BI list and confirm with the school's authorized liaison.
The 9(f) route generally applies to foreign nationals aged 18 or older who will study above high-school level at an eligible Philippine school. The current BI rules and the student's circumstances control.
A 9(f) student visa is generally for eligible foreign students aged 18 or older in study above high-school level. An SSP is generally used for students who do not qualify for the 9(f), including those under 18 and/or in non-degree study.
BI's published 9(f) conversion schedule totals PHP 9,720 plus USD 50 for the ACR I-Card, but BI says the schedule dates from March 2014 and may change. Obtain a current official assessment before paying.
BI does not publish one guaranteed national turnaround on the 9(f) service page. Allow several weeks and confirm the current timeline with the school's liaison and the BI office handling the case.
A student visa does not by itself grant unrestricted work rights. Gainful employment requires the separate labor and immigration authorization that applies to the role, including an Alien Employment Permit where required.
Do not assume one. Graduates who want to remain or work must maintain lawful immigration status and obtain the employment and immigration authorization required for their situation before working.
There is no single national rate. Program, institution type, campus, and laboratory or professional requirements matter. For initial planning, many non-medical programs may be around PHP 50,000–250,000+ per academic year, while specialized programs can be much higher. Confirm the current official fee schedule.
A practical starting estimate is PHP 25,000–60,000 per month excluding tuition. Dormitory or regional-city living can be lower; private housing in Metro Manila can be higher.
Options may include university dormitories, private student residences, boarding houses, shared apartments, and condominiums. Confirm deposits, utilities, internet, lease length, cancellation terms, and travel time before paying.
Requirements vary by institution, immigration route, and applicant. Even where a specific policy is not mandated, international students should maintain suitable medical coverage and verify the university's requirements before purchase.
Some universities, partner exchanges, home-country sponsors, and external foundations may offer aid. Do not assume eligibility for CHED's national merit scholarship, which is for Filipino citizens and excludes foreign students under the current guidelines.
Common items include a passport, secondary-school certificate, transcripts, proof of eligibility for university study, and any required test, interview, language, authentication, apostille, or translation documents. The institution's current checklist controls.
Common items include a passport, relevant bachelor's degree, transcript, and program-specific items such as references, a statement, research proposal, portfolio, interview, entrance test, or English evidence.
Often yes. Regulated and clinical programs can have subject prerequisites, entrance tests, health checks, professional requirements, and extra CHED or immigration documentation. Confirm the exact program checklist before applying.
Check the institution and program with CHED, then separately confirm that the school is authorized by BI to enroll foreign students. Regulated professions can require additional professional recognition.
Risk varies by location and circumstances. Use campus security and official local guidance, take normal urban precautions, and prepare for typhoons, flooding, earthquakes, and volcanic hazards by following PAGASA, PHIVOLCS, and local alerts.
The national emergency number is 911. Save the university's campus security, international office, accommodation, insurer, and local emergency contacts as well.
Common choices include Manila and Quezon City in Metro Manila, Cebu City, Davao City, Baguio, and Iloilo City. The best option depends on the exact campus, program, budget, climate, and preferred city size.
Start several months before the intended intake so there is time for admission review, document authentication or translation, school endorsement, immigration filing, housing, and travel. Follow the institution's exact deadline.
Possibly, but credit transfer is institution- and program-specific. Submit official course descriptions and transcripts and obtain a written credit decision before assuming prior study will reduce duration or cost.
Not always. Requirements depend on the university, program, applicant's prior medium of instruction, and admissions policy. Obtain written confirmation of any exemption.
Choose and verify the institution and program, confirm fees and intake, submit the official application and documents, complete any assessment, accept a written offer, and coordinate the correct 9(f) or SSP route through the school's authorized liaison.
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