Study Abroad Scholarships for Filipino Students: Programs Worth Applying To

Fulbright Philippines (United States)

The Fulbright Foreign Student Program, run in the Philippines by the Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF), funds Filipino graduate students for master's or doctoral study, or non-degree doctoral research, in the United States. The grant covers round-trip international travel, tuition and fees, a monthly living stipend, a book and supplies allowance, and health and accident insurance. Applicants need a completed undergraduate degree, at least two years of relevant work experience after college, strong English proficiency, and generally must be based in the Philippines at the time of application. For the 2027-2028 cycle, PAEF set its application deadline at April 30, 2026, submitted through its online portal . Check the current cycle's deadline on the Fulbright Philippines site , since it shifts slightly year to year.

Chevening Scholarship (United Kingdom)

Chevening, funded by the UK government, funds a one-year master's degree at any UK university for outstanding early and mid-career professionals. You need at least two years of work experience (2,800 hours) after your undergraduate degree, an undergraduate degree that qualifies you for a UK master's, and a commitment to return to the Philippines for at least two years after the award ends. You cannot apply if you already studied in the UK on a UK government-funded scholarship, or if you are a UK resident at the time of application. Chevening covers tuition, a monthly stipend, and airfare. Applications for the current cycle close on 6 October 2026, 11:00 UTC, through the official Chevening Philippines page .

MEXT Scholarship (Japan)

The Japanese government's Monbukagakusho (MEXT) Scholarship, applied for through the Japan Information and Culture Center at the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, funds several tracks: Undergraduate, Research (for master's or doctoral-level research), Specialized Training College, and College of Technology. Coverage includes tuition, a monthly stipend, and round-trip airfare, and most tracks do not require you to already hold a place at a Japanese university before applying, since MEXT places accepted scholars itself. For the 2027 intake, the Embassy set its submission deadline at May 29, 2026, with hand-delivered or mailed physical documents only, no online submission. Guidelines and forms post on the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines site when each cycle opens.

Australia Awards (Australia)

Australia Awards, the Australian government's flagship scholarship for the Indo-Pacific region, funds postgraduate study in Australia for Filipino professionals from the public and private sectors, on the condition that the awardee returns to the Philippines to apply what they learned. Coverage includes tuition, round-trip travel, a living allowance, health insurance, and academic support. Eligibility requires an undergraduate degree and at least two years of relevant work experience, and successful applicants commit to at least two years back in the Philippines after their award. The program runs an open category, for public and private sector applicants generally, and a targeted category for specific priority groups. Applications open annually. Check current dates and requirements on the Australia Awards Philippines site .

University-Direct Scholarships

Outside these government-funded routes, many foreign universities offer their own scholarships or tuition waivers to international applicants, ranging from partial tuition discounts to fully funded graduate assistantships tied to teaching or research work. These are usually listed on the university's own financial aid or international admissions page and applied for alongside, or shortly after, your admission application. They rarely cover as much as a government award, but they do not require the multi-year work experience that Chevening or Australia Awards ask for, which makes them a realistic option for students applying straight out of an undergraduate degree.

How to Strengthen Your Application

• Start building work experience or research output early. Chevening, Fulbright, and Australia Awards all weight this heavily, and two years is a hard minimum for most of them.

• Draft your personal statement around a specific plan for how you will apply your degree back in the Philippines. Every major government scholarship on this list asks for this, directly or indirectly.

• Apply to more than one program if you qualify for several. Timelines rarely overlap enough to cause a conflict, and this improves your odds of funding.

• Track each program's deadline separately and start at least a year ahead. Government scholarships for a given intake typically open applications 12 to 18 months before classes start.