Study in the Philippines: Education in the Philippines

Higher education in the Philippines has been heavily influenced by the American system. Most degrees take four years to complete and can be earned either by undertaking a preset program or by accumulating credits through standalone courses in a specific subject area. 

Schools in the Philippines are regulated by the Commission on Higher Education (CHE), responsible for overseeing the quality of education and arbitrating student-institution disputes. 

In recent years, a number of less-regulated institutions - with ‘autonomous status’ - have sprung up across the country. These colleges aren’t necessarily worse, but, as they’re less-regulated, they may not have their qualifications recognized outside of the Philippines. Do check that any institutions that you might want to apply to are regulated by the CHE. 

Undergraduate degrees in the Philippines take four years to complete. Medical programs take approximately seven years. Most postgraduate degrees are one or two years, while programs in engineering and science take three years. As for doctoral degrees, these take longer than in many Western countries. It takes at least five years of full-time study to complete - with some taking up to seven years. 

As for how you study, it’s a mix of classroom-based learning and independent study at the under and postgraduate levels, while doctoral programs will consist of almost entirely independent study. If you’re studying a practical subject, then you’ll spend time doing practical-based work.

As English is an official language in, and is widely spoken across, the Philippines, many higher education programs are taught entirely in English.