The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) offers a wide range of scholarship programs to aid the students of the Philippines to finish their studies in higher education. One of these scholarships is the CHED Full and Half Merit Scholarships under the Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs). Filipino students who meet a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 90% or equivalent can avail of the full or half merit scholarships, respectively.
Also Read: How to Apply CHED Tulong Dunong Program under StuFAPs
These Merit scholarship programs aim to assist and provide eligible Filipino students with a financial grant to help them with the expenses to pursue their education. Students in Full Merit will get PHP 60,000 while students in Half Merit will receive PHP 30,000 for both Private HEIs and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) or Local Universities and Colleges (LUC). If you wish to learn more details about this particular CHED StuFAPs program, please follow the guidelines as we provide an in-depth guide for interested students.
What is the CHED StuFAPs Merit Scholarship Program?
The Commission on Higher Education offers different types of scholarship programs. This is to aid Filipino students in higher education to continue and finish their studies. The scholarship projects of CHED are governed under Republic Act No. 7722 which states to provide financial assistance through scholarships for deserving students, preferably the underprivileged and homeless citizens of the country.
One of the CHED StuFAPs Scholarship Programs features a Full Merit Scholarship and a Half Merit Scholarship that aim to provide financial assistance to students who plan to pursue their tertiary education. Hence, this is a huge help for students to pursue their studies.
CHED Full Merit Scholarship
Full Merit Scholarship (FS) is a State Scholarship Program (SSP) or Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) that is offered to graduating high school students who plan to enroll either in public or private HEIs, State Universities, and Colleges or Local Universities and Colleges with a general weighted average of at least 90% or its equivalent. Student scholars expect to receive Php 60,000 for Full Merit Scholars per academic year.
CHED Half Merit Scholarship
Half Merit Scholarships (HS) is a State Scholarship Program (SSP) or Private Education Student Financial Assistance (PESFA) which is offered to graduating high school students with a general weighted average of at least 90% or its equivalent who plans to enroll in any degree programs in private HEIs, State Universities, and Colleges or Local Universities and Colleges. Students qualified can expect Php 30,000 for Half Merit Scholars per academic year.
The application period starts from March 1 to March 31 every academic year.
Benefits
This financial assistance for scholars will be allocated per semester of their chosen program or course. For a three-year program, it will be a total of six (6) semesters, eight (8) semesters for a four-year program, and ten (10) semesters for a five-year program. Full Merit scholars will receive Php 30,000 per academic year and a Half Merit scholar will receive Php 30,000.
Qualifications
To qualify for the CHED Scholarship, students must meet the following qualifications:
- He/She must be a Filipino citizen of good moral character.
- Must not exceed 30 years of age at the time of application except for senior citizens.
- He/She must be a high school graduate or a candidate for graduation.
- He/She must have a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 90% or its equivalent for Full and Half Merit Scholarships.
- His/Her parents or guardian’s combined annual gross income does not exceed Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 400,000). In cases, it exceeds Php 400,000 applicant must present a written certification or medical findings of a family member, or school certifications of two or more dependents enrolled in college.
- He/She is not a recipient of any government scholarship or financial assistance.
- Student applicants belonging to a special group of persons such as the underprivileged and homeless citizens, persons with disability, solo parents and their dependents, and indigenous peoples, shall submit certifications and Identification Cards (IDs) issued by the government.
- Students belonging to persons with disabilities (PWD), solo parents and their dependents, members of cultural minority members of the hill tribe, and senior citizens can also apply or avail of the scholarship programs if they are qualified.
Also Read: List of CHED Scholarship Programs
Requirements
Additionally, student applicants for the CHED StuFAPs – Scholarship must submit to CHED Regional Office their CHED StuFAP’s Application Form (OSS Form 1) with the following documents required for further evaluation purposes.
- A certified true copy of a Birth Certificate.
- High school report cards for incoming college freshmen.
- A certified true copy of grades for Grade 11 and 1st semester of Grade 12 for graduating high school students.
- A Certificate of good moral character from the high school principal or guidance counselor.
- Complete CHED StuFAP’s Application OSS 1 Form.
- They shall also submit any of the following documents required:
- Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) of parents or guardians.
- Certificate of Tax Exemption from BIR.
- Certificate of Indigence issued by their Barangay or DSWD.
- Case study report from DSWD.Latest Copy of Contract or proof of income for the children of OFW and Seafarers.
Also Read: How to Apply CHED Study Now Pay Later Plan (SNPLP) Program – StuFAPs
How to Get CHED Merit Scholarship Assistance
To apply for the CHED StuFAPs – Scholarship, student applicants must do the following step-by-step process.
Step 1: Visit the official website of CHED and read the guidelines for the Scholarship program and assess yourself if you are qualified for the scholarship.
You can read it here – https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/CMO-8-s.-2019-Policies-and-Guidelines-for-CHED-Scholarship-Programs-CSPs.pdf.
Step 2: Check if your course or degree program is one of the CHED priority courses.
The priority courses are as follows:
1. Science and Mathematics
- Applied Physics/Physics
- Applied Mathematics/Mathematics
- Applied Statistics/Statistics
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Geology
- Human Biology
- Marine Biology
- Marine Science
- Meteorology
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
2. Information Technology Education
- Computer Science
- Cyber Security
- Entertainment and Multimedia Computing/Game Development and Animation
- Information System
- Information Technology
- Library and Information Science
3. Engineering and Technology
- Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering
- Ceramic Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics Engineering/Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Food Engineering
- Geodetic Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing/Production Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Mining Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Robotics Engineering
- Sanitary Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Aircraft Maintenance Technology
- Aviation Related Programs
- Engineering Technology
- Industrial Technology
- Mechatronics Engineering Technology
4. Architecture
- Architecture
- Fine Arts
- Interior Design
- Landscape Architecture
- Environmental Planning
5. Business and Management
- Accountancy
- Business Analytics (straight or major)
- Hospitality Management/Hotel and Restaurant Management
- Tourism Management/Tourism
6. Health Profession Education
- Doctor of Dental Medicine
- Doctor of Optometry
- Medical Technology/Medical Laboratory Science
- Midwifery
- Nursing
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Radiologic Technology
- Respiratory Therapy
- Speech Language Pathology
7. Maritime Education
- Marine Engineering
- Marine Transportation
8. Social Sciences
- Community Development
- Human Services (Guidance and Counselling)
- Indigenous Peoples Studies/Education
- Peace Studies/Education
- Psychology
- Social Work
9. Teacher Education
- Secondary Education major in Science and Mathematics
- Culture and Arts
- Early Childhood Education
- Special Needs Education
- Sports and Exercise Science
10. Multi and Interdisciplinary Cluster
- Agribusiness
- Agro-Forestry
- Data Science and Analytics
- Disaster Risk Management/Climate Change
- Renewable/Sustainable Energy
Step 3: Prepare all the documents required to be attached along with the CHED StuFAP’s Application OSS (Office of Student Services) 1 Form.
You can use the link here – https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/CHED-Scholarship-Program-Application-Form.pdf.
Step 4: Complete an online application form based on your region and submit it along with the other required documents in a PDF format, which is subject to further verification against the original documents if necessary and it may also be submitted through a courier.
For example, student applicants in Region 1 can access the link to an online application here – https://stufaps.chedro1.com/csp-application-for-ay-2021-2022-is-now-open/.
Do not also forget to print your accomplished application form.
Step 5: You can also go to the CHED Regional Office of your location to apply with all of the requirements attached to it.
Step 6: Wait for a response. You will be soon contacted if you are one of the successful applicants.
CHED Scholarship Application Form
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has released the online application form for the CHED Scholarship Program for the School Year. If you wish to apply for any CHED scholarship program, you can fill out the application form. You may download a copy of the CHED application form here – https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/CHED-Scholarship-Program-Application-Form.pdf.
Below is a sample of the scholarship application form:
Important Reminders
When applying for a scholarship program, scholars should observe the following rules.
- Must enroll in duly authorized higher education institutions and in identified priority programs of CHED.
- Must maintain a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 2.5, B, or 80% for scholars.
- They must have a full load per semester and finish within a normal duration of the course or degree program.
- If they plan to transfer schools and courses, they should transfer to duly authorized higher education institutions and in identified priority programs of CHED upon approval of the concerned CHED Regional Office.
- CHED allows deterring enrolment during the semester for meritorious reasons (not more than one academic year in the whole duration of the academic year).
- Must render a return service within the Philippines after graduation. Two (2) years for Full Merit scholars and one (1) year for Half Merit scholars.
Video: Current Update of the StuFAPs Merit Scholarship Program 2022
This video will give you some insights into the status of the Merit Scholarship Program for the Academic Year 2022-2023. This video is an interview with CHED Chairperson Prospero de Vera III about the suspension of the Merit Scholarship Program for the academic year 2022-2023.
Here, you will know the reason CHED postpones the scholarship for the incoming first years of the academic year 2022-2023. He explained in this interview the current status of the scholarship program to address the public and clear the speculations about CHED Scholarships programs. You can stay updated with the recent announcements of CHED through their official website here – https://ched.gov.ph/.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who are qualified for the CHED scholarship?
Graduating high school students as well as students of persons with disabilities (PWD), solo parents and their dependents, members of cultural minority members of the hill tribe, and senior citizens can also apply or avail of the scholarship programs if they are qualified.
2. What are the financial benefits of the CHED scholarship?
Student applicants who are qualified for a Full Merit Scholarship shall receive Php 30,000 and Php 15,000 for Half Merit Scholarship for every academic year.
3. What are the documents required I need to prepare to apply for the scholarship program?
When applying for a CHED StuFAPs – Scholarship, applicants must prepare a duly certified Hgh School report card for the third year and grades for the first three grading periods for the fourth year, the latest Income Tax Return (ITR), Certificate of Tax Exemption or Copy of Contract or proof of income of parents or guardian from BIR, and a Certificate of good moral character from the high school principal or guidance counselor that are attached to CHED StuFAP’s Application OSS 1 Form.
4. How can I pass for a scholarship?
You must have at least a general weighted average of 90% in the first three grading periods of the fourth year to avail of a Full Merit Scholarship and at least 85% in the first three grading periods of the fourth year to avail of a Half Merit Scholarship.
5. Does CHED require a maintaining grade or a general weighted average?
Scholars must maintain a General Weighted Average (GWA) of 2.5, B, or 80%.
6. Is there a minimum age requirement to qualify for the scholarship program?
Student applicants must not exceed 30 years of age at the time of application except for senior citizens.
Summary
Students from different regions can avail themselves of the Half and Full Merit Scholarships if they are qualified for the program.
To apply, you have to evaluate yourself first if you qualify for the scholarship program and then go to your previous school to get the documents required as well as certificates from BIR. After that, you can apply online through CHED’s website or you may also opt to go to CHED Regional Office to submit your application with the documents required attached to it.
Hence, if you are interested in applying for a CHED scholarship but don’t have any idea which one you are qualified for, you can further read some of the CHED scholarships here – https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/CMO-No.56-s2012.pdf. You may also visit the official website of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to stay updated and check for other announcements regarding the CHED Scholarships application.