College expenses can be a major challenge for many Filipino families, but the government continues to provide support through the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP), a financial assistance program under the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). The program aims to help financially challenged college students continue their studies by providing educational assistance for tuition and other school-related expenses.
Qualified students may receive ₱7,500 per semester or ₱15,000 per academic year to help cover their educational needs. Through this grant-in-aid program, CHED provides additional support to students who need financial assistance but are not currently receiving other government-funded scholarships.
Also Read: How to Apply CHED Full and Half Merit Scholarship Program under StuFAPs
Benefits
- Financial Assistance Worth ₱7,500 Per Semester – Approved TDP beneficiaries can receive ₱7,500 every semester to support their educational needs. This amount can provide additional help for students while completing their college studies.
- Support for Daily College Expenses – The grant can help students pay for important expenses such as transportation, meals, school supplies, learning materials, and other costs needed for attending classes.
- Helps Students Stay in School – By providing financial assistance, the program helps lessen the chances of students stopping their studies due to financial difficulties.
- Additional Support for Low-Income Families – TDP gives families extra financial relief by reducing some of the expenses related to sending a child to college.
- Opportunity to Continue Higher Education– The program gives deserving Filipino students better access to college education and helps them work toward finishing their degree.
- No Need to Repay the Grant – Students who are approved for the program do not need to pay back the assistance, as it is provided as an educational grant.
Overall, the Tulong Dunong Program serves as a helping hand for Filipino students who need financial support, giving them a better chance to complete their education and achieve their goals.
Qualifications
To apply for the CHED-TDP scholarship grant, student applicants must meet first the following qualifications:
- Must be a Filipino citizen.
- Enrolled in an Eligible School
- Belongs to a Financially Challenged Household
- Must Not Be Receiving Similar Government Assistance
Requirements
Academic Requirements:
- High School Report Card – for incoming freshmen students that are eligible for college.
- A duly Certified True Copy of Grades for the latest semester/term attended – for student applicants with Earned Units in college in CHED recognized Private HEIs and SUCs/LUCs with COPC.
- A duly Certified Copy of ALS Accreditation and Equivalency Certificate – for ALS passer.
- A duly Certified Copy of the PEPT Certificate of Advancing to the Next Level – for Philippine Educational Placement Test passer.
Income Requirements (whichever is applicable):
- The latest Income Tax Return (ITR) and a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Form 2316 are for fixed income earners’ parents/guardians if employed.
- A Certificate of Tax Exemption from the BIR for unemployed parents/guardians.
- A Certificate of Indigence from the Barangay.
- A Certificate of Indigence/Case Study from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).
- For the children of OFW and Seafarers, the latest copy of the contract or proof of income.
CHED Tulong Dunong Application Form
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has released the online application form for the CHED Tulong Dunong program for the School Year. If you wish to apply for this particular program, you can fill out the application form. You may download a copy of the CHED application form here – https://chedro1.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/FORM1-StuFAPs2017.pdf
Below is a sample of the scholarship application form:
Important Reminders
Here are some of the few reminders that student grantees must remember:
- Before applying for the CHED-TDP scholarship grant, they must pass the admission tests of the HEIs.
- They must also enroll in a CHED-recognized degree/programs of Private HEIs, SUCs, or LUCs with COPC. You can check the recognized degree/programs mentioned above.
- Students must maintain a GWA of at least a passing grade, regardless of the passing grade for each subject.
- They must also carry a regular load per term or semester as determined and approved by HEIs.
- To transfer school or shift to another course, student grantees must only transfer to duly authorized HEIs or may shift to CHED-recognized degrees/programs of Private HEIs, SUCs, or LUCs upon the written approval of CHEDRO.
Video: How the CHED Tulong Dunong Program Scholarship Grant Aid Filipino Students in their Studies
This video will give you an understanding of how much help does the CHED Tulong Dunong Program scholarship grant had helped many students in the Philippines to pursue their higher education. In this video, you will be able to hear it from one of the student grantees or beneficiaries of the CHED-TDP from Paul College of Leadership. If you are financially struggling and have doubts about whether to continue and pursue your tertiary education, this video may inspire you and become your hope to continue and live up to your dreams.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Who is qualified for the CHED-TDP scholarship grant?
CHED-TDP scholarship grant is intended for qualified and deserving Filipino students. They may be High School graduates or College students with earned units in CHED recognized degree/programs of Private Higher Education Institutions (Private HEIs), SUCs or LUCs with COPC having at least a passing General Weighted Average (GWA), or a passer of Alternative Learning System (ALS) or a passer of the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT).
2. How much are the financial benefit(s) student grantees are entitled to receive?
Student grantees are entitled to receive Fifteen Thousand Pesos (Php 15,000) per academic year.
3. What are the qualifications for the CHED-TDP scholarship grant?
To qualify CHED-TDP scholarship grant, student applicants must be Filipino citizens. They must also be High School graduates or College students with earned units in CHED recognized degree/programs of Private Higher Education Institutions (Private HEIs), SUCs or LUCs with COPC having at least a passing General Weighted Average (GWA), or a passer of Alternative Learning System (ALS) or a passer of the Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT). Additionally, their parents/guardians’ combined annual gross income shall not exceed Four Hundred Thousand Pesos (Php 400,000).
4. What are the required documents when applying for the CHED-TDP scholarship?
Some of the documents required are from the previous or current HEIs such as a High School Report Card for incoming freshmen students that are eligible for college, a duly Certified True Copy of Grades for the latest semester/term attended for student applicants with Earned Units in college in CHED recognized Private HEIs and SUCs/LUCs with COPC, a Certified Copy of ALS Accreditation and Equivalency Certificate for Alternative Learning System (ALS) passer, and a Certified Copy of PEPT Certificate of Advancing to the Next Level for Philippine Educational Placement Test passer.
Additional documents required are any of the following documents; the latest Income Tax Return (ITR) and a Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Form 2316 for fixed income earners’ parents/guardian, if employed; a Certificate of Tax Exemption from the BIR for unemployed parents/guardian; a Certificate of Indigence from the Barangay; Certificate of Indigence/Case Study from the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD); or the latest copy of contract or proof of income for children of OFW and seafarers.
5. What are the different options in the application for a CHED-TDP scholarship?
Student applicants can apply through the three options. They can apply directly to the Commission on Higher Education Regional Office (CHEDRO) of their region or through an online application. The third option in applying for a CHED-TDP scholarship grant is through sending the application by courier. If you opt to choose an online application, additional documents required must be in a PDF format.
6. Is there a maintaining General Weighted Average for student grantees of CHED-TDP?
Student grantees must at least have a general weighted average of a passing grade, regardless of the passing grade for each subject.
7. Is the CHED-TDP scholarship grant renewable or not?
Student grantees are advised to renew their application per academic year to receive financial benefits continuously until their last year in college.
Summary
In conclusion, the Commission on Higher Education offers diverse scholarship programs or student financial assistance for Filipino students who want to pursue and finish tertiary education. As long as you can meet the qualifications and you can provide all the documents required as well as can maintain passing grades, you are welcome to apply for a CHED-TDP scholarship grant.
You just have to bear in mind that there is a renewal of the CHED-TDP scholarship every academic year. Hence, you need to renew your application to receive continuous financial assistance until you finish your studies.
Additionally, you should enroll in HEIs with COPC offering CHED-recognized degrees/programs to become qualified for the CHED-TDP scholarship grant. The application period per academic year ends every September 30. Hence, you must be updated on CHED announcements for the opening of applications for CHED-TDP scholarships.
You can check it through their official website here – https://ched.gov.ph/. If you want to know more about the CHED-TDP scholarship grant, you can read it through the link here – https://ched.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/Joint-Memorandum-Circular-No.-04-Series-of-2019-Revised-Implementing-Guidelines-of-the-CHED-Tulong-Dunong-Program-CHED-TDP.pdf.