The Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) acceots applications for its Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) for School Year 2026–2027. The program offers eligible OFW dependents up to ₱60,000 per academic year — covering the full duration of their chosen degree.
The EDSP is OWWA’s flagship scholarship for children and siblings of active OFW members who are about to enter college. It provides ₱60,000 annually until the scholar completes a four- or five-year baccalaureate program at any accredited college or university in the Philippines.
Also Read: How to Apply OWWA SESP Scholarship Program
Who Can Apply
The scholarship is open to children or siblings of active OWWA members. To qualify, an applicant must be:
- Single and not more than 21 years old at the time of application
- A graduating Grade 12 student
- Holding a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 80%, with no failing grade
- Willing to enroll in any four- or five-year baccalaureate course at a Philippine-based college or university
NOTE: Application Update: The OWWA EDSP application for AY 2026–2027 is not yet open. Applicants should prepare the required documents in advance and wait for OWWA’s official announcement regarding the application period.
Benefits
Qualified dependents of OFWs shall receive Php 60,000 per academic year or Php 30,000 per semester. The amount to receive per academic year will be divided into every semester or term for the year. This is a scholarship grant to the dependent of an overseas Filipino worker in the Philippines, enrolled or will enroll in any college or university.
OWWA EDSP Category 1 Online Scholarship Application
Before submitting your online application for the OWWA Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) Category 1, make sure you understand and agree to the application guidelines below.
Eligibility Requirements
To qualify, the applicant must:
- Be the child of an active OWWA member, or the sibling of an active OWWA member who is single or married without children.
- Have no immediate family member who has already received an OWWA scholarship.
- Be single.
- Be 21 years old or younger.
- Be a graduating Grade 12 student.
- Have a minimum General Weighted Average (GWA) of 80% or its equivalent.
Documents Required
Prepare clear copies of the following before applying:
Proof of Identity
- OFW applicant: Passport information page.
- Student applicant: Valid school ID or any government-issued ID, plus a Birth Certificate or Baptismal Certificate.
Academic Records
- Report Card (Form 138), Form 137, Form 10/TOR, or a Certificate of Grades from the school.
- If the latest grades are unavailable, grades from the previous two school years may be submitted.
2×2 ID Photo
- White background.
- With the applicant’s name tag and signature.
Online Application Reminders
- Use an active email address and a working mobile number.
- Submit only one application to avoid delays during verification.
- Prepare all required documents before starting the application.
- Double-check that all names and information are complete and accurate.
- Make sure you have a stable internet connection before submitting your application.
OWWA EDSP Category 2 Online Scholarship Application
The OWWA Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) Category 2 is open to qualified college students who are already enrolled from their second to fifth year in a Philippine college or university. Before submitting an online application, applicants should make sure they meet all eligibility requirements and have the necessary documents ready.
Who Can Apply?
To qualify for EDSP Category 2, an applicant must:
- Be the child of an active OWWA member, or the sibling of an active OWWA member who is single or married without children.
- Have no family member who has previously received any OWWA scholarship benefit.
- Be single.
- Be 30 years old or younger.
- Have a General Weighted Average (GWA) of at least 85% or its equivalent.
- Have no failing grades.
- Be currently enrolled in a college or university in the Philippines.
Required Documents
Applicants must prepare and upload the following documents during the online application:
Proof of Identity
- For the OFW: Copy of the valid passport information or bio page.
- For the student applicant: Valid school ID or any government-issued valid ID, plus a Birth Certificate or Baptismal Certificate.
Academic Records
- Report Card (Form 138)
- Form 137
- Transcript of Records (TOR) or Form 10
- Certificate of Grades issued by the school
2×2 ID Photo
- White background
- With your printed name tag
- Signed by the applicant
Important Reminders Before Applying
To avoid delays or problems with your application, remember the following:
- Use an active email address that you can access regularly.
- Provide a working mobile number for updates or verification.
- Submit only one application. Multiple submissions may affect the evaluation process.
- Prepare all required documents before starting the online application.
- Double-check that all names and personal information are complete and correctly spelled.
- Use a stable internet connection while completing the application.
Also Read: CHED Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)
Video: Learn More About the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) Financial Assistance by OWWA
This video will give you some more insights about the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) offered by OWWA for the dependents of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). This video is very helpful to anyone who wishes to apply for this scholarship grant because of its financial benefit of Php 60,000 per school year which can sustain the studies of a child dependent on an OFW throughout his/her college education. Here, the uploader explains the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance or scholarship grant. He also further explained the scope of the scholarship grant as well as who can avail of the financial assistance. In the video, he also tackled the qualifications or eligibility of student applicants for the scholarship program.
Hence, if you have an overseas Filipino worker in your household, you should grab this opportunity. You just have to qualify and pass the qualifying exam and secure all the necessary documents for application and meet all the qualifications to apply. Visit the official website of OWWA here – https://owwa.gov.ph/ to stay updated of the opening of the scholarship grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please check out these FAQs about EDSP scholarship from OWWA:
1. Who can apply for the OWWA Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance or scholarship grant?
Dependents of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) are encouraged to apply for an OWWA Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance or scholarship grant. This financial assistance is solely intended for the children or siblings of a single overseas Filipino worker that will enroll or is currently enrolled in any higher education institutions (HEIs).
2. How much is the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance that the beneficiaries entitled to receive?
Beneficiaries or student grantees of the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance are entitled to receive Sixty Thousand Pesos (Php 60,000) every school year or Thirty Thousand Pesos (Php 30,000) per semester. The total amount of Php 60,000 per year shall be divided by the number of terms per academic year.
3. What are the qualifications for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance?
To qualify for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance, student applicants must meet the following qualifications:
A child of an active member of OWWA, a sibling of a single active OWWA member who may be an:
A. Incoming Senior High School students
- Who have at least 80% of a general weighted average (GWA) and have no failing grades upon application.
- Shall pass the qualifying examination provided by the DOST and belong to the top 400 passers nationwide.
B. Incoming freshmen or first year college students
- Single and a Grade 11 graduate or incoming Grade 12, or currently enrolled in Grade 12.
- Shall not exceed 21 years old and has a general weighted average of 80% or higher.
- Can use their grades or their general weighted average in the two consecutive preceding terms of the school year as the basis for the evaluation of the required general weighted average (GWA) is not available at the time of application.
- Become one of the 400 passers of the qualifying examination given by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
C. Currently enrolled in 2nd year to 5th year in college
- Does not exceed the age limit or older than 30 years old.
- The general weighted average (GWA) must be less than a B letter grade or 85% equivalent in all the subjects (academic or non-academic) during the last school year attended in a full load.
4. What are the documents required that I need to prepare and secure when applying for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance or scholarship grant?
When applying for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance or scholarship grant, you must secure a duly accomplish Scholarship Form, provide an OFW Membership Record, 2 pcs of I.D. with a nametag on it, at least one (1) valid I.D. of the OFW and/or the Authorized Representative, Proof of Relationship to OFW Member such as an OFW Birth Certificate, if the dependent is sibling, an OFW Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR, if single), and dependent’s birth certificate, a Form 137 or a Certified True Copy of Form 138 or a Transcript of Records (TOR) and a Notice of Regional Welfare Offices (RWOs) of qualifying the DOST-OWWA Pre-Qualifying Examination for EDSP and other requirements such as a Certificate of Good Moral and Medical Certificate.
5. How can I get the application form for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance?
You can access the application form for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance here – https://owwa.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/APPLICATION-FORM-FOR-EDSP-FOR-REGIONS.pdf.
6. Where can I apply for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance?
You can apply on the official website of OWWA here – https://owwa.gov.ph/ and wait for announcements when the application for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance is held open. Usually, applications start every June of each academic year and the deadline for submission is every first week of August as prescribed by the Responsible Outgoing College Students (ROCS) based on the scheduled qualifying examination by DOST.
7. How can I pass for the EDSP financial assistance or scholarship grant?
You must be able to pass the qualifying examination conducted by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and provide all the required documents.
8. Is there a minimum age requirement in applying for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance or scholarship grant?
Interested incoming freshmen or first-year student applicants must not be over 21 years old. For 2nd-year to 5th-year student applicants, they must not be over 30 years old at the time of application.
9. Is there a maintaining grade or general weighted average for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance or scholarship grant?
Student grantees must have excellent academic performance. When applying for the scholarship grant, incoming first-year students shall have at least 80% general weighted average without failing grades. Meanwhile, 2nd year to 5th-year students must have at least 85% general weighted average. They are also measured and tested daily. Additionally, students who excel in their studies shall be given recognition and awards for outstanding performance.
Summary
In conclusion, the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance or scholarship grant is intended for the dependents of the Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the Philippines who are enrolled or wish to enroll in any higher education institution (HEI). OWWA is a recognized agency of the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) which is responsible for protecting the welfare and well-being of the OFWs. Hence, they provide different types of scholarships and training programs for the dependents of the OFWs.
The scholarship grant aims to support the studies of the child or sibling of an overseas Filipino worker. Hence, this financial assistance or scholarship grant is a huge help to the dependents of the OFWs in the Philippines to support their higher education as long as they can pass the qualifying exam conducted by DOST and secure all the documents required when applying for the Education for Development Scholarship Program (EDSP) financial assistance or scholarship grant.