LIST: Scholarship opportunities to look out for in 2026

SM College Scholarship

SM College Scholarship caters to students who will study priority courses in science, technology, engineering, and accountancy. Eligible applicants must be Grade 12 graduates from public and private schools. Students from private schools must have a DepEd voucher and must be Grade 10 finishers from public high schools.

They must have a general weighted average grade of at least 92% or its equivalent for Grade 12 – 1st semester, and a total household income not exceeding P250,000 per year.

After you have submitted your requirements, been deemed eligible to proceed, and passed the examination, you will be interviewed by the SM Foundation on the same day of the exam. The next step will be a home visit. If you pass this, you will be contacted to confirm your school and course. Later, you will receive an email with the schedule for orientation and contract signing.

Online applications will be from Feb. 1 to March 31. Check out the SMFI partner schools via this link.

Megaworld Foundation Inc.

Megaworld Foundation Inc. offers full tuition fees, allowances, and career opportunities after completion of the program. They also partner with several private and state universities and colleges across the Philippines.

Here are the requirements for incoming freshmen applicants:

• Senior high school final report card with a general average of at least 85% (or equivalent) and no subject grade lower than 80%
• Proof of passing a university entrance examination, a letter of admission, or a certificate of enrollment
• Certification indicating inclusion in the top 10% of the graduating class (if available)

Here are the requirements for incoming sophomore and junior applicants:

• Official grade reports from all previous semesters up to the current term, with a GPA of at least 85% (or equivalent) and no subject grade below 80%
• Enrollment assessment or registration form showing a full academic load and class schedule
• Complete and most recent course curriculum

Here are the general requirements:

• Income Tax Return (ITR) showing a combined annual gross income not exceeding P400,000.00 (original copy), or a BIR Tax Exemption Certificate for both parents, along with an Affidavit of Non-Filing of Income Tax
• Birth certificate
• Endorsement letter from the college or university (if applicable)
• Copies of utility bills (e.g., rent, electricity, water, telephone, internet)
• Two pieces of 2×2 ID photos
• Two pieces of 1×1 ID photos
• A photograph of the applicant with their family or guardian

Note that the online application requires clear scanned copies of the documents, and the original physical copies must be submitted at a later stage of the application process. Incomplete requirements will not be processed. 

There are no announcements yet about the application period as of writing, though it usually starts around March or April. Check out the scholarship opportunity here.

CHED Merit Scholarship

The CHED Merit Scholarship Program is a competitive scholarship opportunity being offered by the Commission on Higher Education. It is open to incoming or current first-year college students with excellent academic performance.

Eligible applicants must be Filipino citizens, senior high school graduates with a final GWA of at least 93. Their guardian or parents' combined annual income must not exceed P500,000.

Applicants from special equity groups may receive additional points in the ranking, specifically those underprivileged and homeless citizens (RA 7279), the poor (RA 11291), persons with disabilities (RA 7277, as amended), solo parents (RA 11861, as amended), senior citizens (RA 9994), indigenous peoples (RA 8371), and other marginalized groups such as first-generation college students.

All applicants must still meet the minimum qualifications and will be ranked according to the program’s selection criteria.

CHED is expected to start accepting applications around May or June. Check out the requirements, privileges, and downloadable forms on its official website.

Ayala Foundation U-GO Scholar Grant

U-GO is a global nonprofit that supports high-achieving Filipina students from state universities. It has supported 1,000 scholars since 2023.

Those who are interested in applying for the grant must be female Filipino citizens and incoming first-year, second-year, or third-year college students for the next school year. Incoming fourth-year students may apply only if they are taking a five-year course. They must not have any existing scholarship.

Applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Have a minimum GPA of 85%
• Demonstrate financial need
• Have no disciplinary or administrative cases
• Be an active member of their community
• Aspire to bring positive change to society
• Be a model of integrity in the community
• Be willing to pursue personal and professional development opportunities

The required documents include the following:

• Current official Certificate of Registration/Enrollment signed by registrar
• Latest copy of grades
• Documentation of financial need. (Only the following are accepted: parents’ or guardians’ most recent Income Tax Return (ITR), tax exemption certificate from the BIR, Certificate of Indigency of parents, recent contract or proof of income for children of Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) and seafarers, or latest copy of their electric bill)

Applications for the academic year 2026-2027 are currently closed, though they're expected to open mid-year. Wait for the announcement on Ayala Foundation's official Facebook page and website.

Aboitiz Future Leaders Scholarship Program

Led by Aboitiz Foundation with local academic partners, this annual program supports Filipino students selected based on merit and academic performance by offering quality education, mentorship, and leadership development. This initiative aims to cultivate future leaders.

To apply, check first whether your school is part of the scholarship program. Then, complete all the steps outlined in the university’s scholarship application form, which will be available only when the application process is open. Shortlisted applicants will be notified via email, and interviews will be conducted on each applicant’s campus.

The partner schools include:

• Ateneo de Manila University
• University of the Philippines - Diliman
• University of the Philippines - Cebu
• University of the Philippines - Mindanao
• De La Salle University
• Mapua University Manila
• University of Santo Tomas

Eligible applicants must meet the following criteria:

• A sophomore student enrolled in any of the partner universities
• Enrolled in a degree program identified by the Foundation
• Has achieved at least 88% or equivalent GPA/GWA during the first year of college
• Has no failing/incomplete grade in any subject
• Has no record of disciplinary action

Here are the required documents:

• Copy of student ID
• Copy of certificate of good moral character
• Copy of 1st year college grades or transcript of records
• Copy of Certificate of Enrollment/Registration
• Copy of certificates of college leadership/awards/seminars

The tentative start date for the application period is in August. Learn more about it here.

Iskolar ng Landbank

Iskolar ng Landbank, established in 2023, is dedicated to underprivileged but deserving students, particularly those belonging to the bank's mandated sectors, including the children or grandchildren of agrarian reform beneficiaries, small farmers, and fishers coming from marginalized provinces. 

Per its website, applicants must be:

• A child or grandchild of an agrarian reform beneficiary, or of a small-scale farmer or fisher
• Recommended by a LANDBANK-affiliated agriculture-based cooperative, association, or organization within the identified provinces
• A graduating high school student with a minimum required average grade or who belongs to the top of their class
• Endorsed by the high school principal
• Not receiving any other financial aid, grant, or scholarship from external sources
• Qualified to meet the admission requirements of any state university or college within the province
• Has a total annual family income not exceeding P300,000, with possible exemptions evaluated on a case-by-case basis

The programs eligible for scholarships are the following:

• Agribusiness Management
• Horticulture
• Animal Science
• Food Technology
• Agricultural Engineering
• IT Engineering
• Industrial/Management Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Accounting
• Information Technology
• Data Analytics/Science

As of this writing, Landbank has not released any announcements yet regarding scholarship applications for 2026. It usually opens in August.

Fulbright Scholarships

If you're dreaming of studying abroad, there are scholarship programs you can check out at Fulbright.

For Filipinos pursuing graduate studies in space science and technology, Fulbright-PhilSA provides grants for master’s and doctoral degrees, as well as support for non-degree doctoral dissertations under the Fulbright Foreign Student Program (FFSP), for up to two years.

The Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship Program also supports mid-career Filipino professionals and leaders, offering a unique opportunity for professional growth and leadership development.

For early-career Filipino English teachers, the Fulbright FLTA program allows participants to work as Filipino-language teaching assistants at a US university for one academic year.

Filipino undergraduates can apply for the Global UGRAD program, a non-degree exchange in the United States, while primary and secondary Filipino teachers can enhance their teaching skills through the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program.

The binational, non-profit organization was established by the United States and Philippine governments to foster educational and cultural exchange between the two countries.

Learn more about its scholarship opportunities, as well as the requirements and eligibility, on its official website.