Aside from educational scholarships offered by the Overseas Workers Welfare Administration (OWWA) and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), there are private or corporate scholarships that are also available to dependents of overseas Filipino workers (OFWs). One of these is the Gokongwei Brothers Foundation (GBF) STEM College Scholarship.
As the name implies, the GBF STEM College Scholarship aims to support outstanding college students who are pursuing Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) courses. Upon graduation, scholars are given opportunities to work for the Gokongwei Group of companies.
Program Benefits
Scholars of the GBF STEM College Scholarship can look forward to getting the following benefits:
- Fixed annual financial grant ranging from PHP 80,000 to PHP 120,000 (transferred directly to the scholar’s bank account);
- Access to scholar development programs (e.g. leadership training, upskilling activities, etc.);
- On-the-job training (OJT) opportunities with a Gokongwei Group partner; and
- Employment opportunities with the Gokongwei Group of companies.
NOTE: All scholars are expected to comply with scholarship retention requirements every semester. Likewise, employment opportunities with the Gokongwei Group are subject to company vacancies and passing all pre-employment requirements.
Eligibility
To qualify for the program, an applicant must:
- Be enrolled in a GBF priority STEM course;
- Have an outstanding academic record with a general weighted average (GWA) of 85% or 2.0 or its equivalent;
- Be of good moral standing, exhibiting active participation and involvement in extra-curricular activities; and
- Be in need of financial support to complete his/her studies.
Requirements
Applicants need to prepare the following documentary requirements:
- Proof of academic standing: (a) For incoming freshmen – Certified True Copy of Grades Grade 12 Report Card or Form 137 and Notice of Admission or Proof of University Application; (b) For continuing students – Certified True Copy of Grades from past two consecutive semesters;
- Proof of annual household income: (a) For employed parents – recently filed annual Income Tax Return (ITR) Form 2303 and Certificate of Employment with salary; (b) For self-employed parents — latest ITR Form 1701 and income statements for past three months; (c) For OFWs — Employment Contract with salary; (d) For senior parents’ pension — proof of pension;
- For parents without a regular source of income and are exempted from filing taxes: Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) Tax Exemption Certificate.
How to Sign Up
Interested applicants are encouraged to check their eligibility through the GBF official website. Access to the online application link will be given to eligible applicants via email. Consequently, qualified applicants will be invited to take a live online exam and undergo a panel interview.
Degree Programs
For Academic Year 2026-27, the STEM courses prioritized by the GBF STEM College Scholarship include:
- BS Accountancy
- BS Animal Science
- BS Aircraft Maintenance Technology
- BS Avionics Technology
- BS Chemical Engineering
- BS Chemistry
- BS Civil Engineering
- BS Computer Science
- BS Data Science
- BS Electrical Engineering
- BS Industrial Engineering
- BS Information Technology
- BS Mechanical Engineering
- BS Pharmacy
- BS Radiologic Technology
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Gokongwei Group Partners
Meanwhile, below is a list of the Gokongwei Group’s partners:
- Aviation Partnership Philippines Corporation
- Cebu Pacific
- Go Global Business Services, Inc.
- GoTyme
- JG Summit Holdings, Inc.
- JG Summit Olefins Corporation
- Maxicare Health Services, Inc.
- Robinsons Land Corporation
- Robinsons Retail Holdings, Inc.
- Rose Pharmacy
- Southstar Drug
- Universal Robina Corporation
For more information about the scholarship, interested applicants are urged to fill out the “Contact Us” form on the GBF official website.
Incoming freshmen and continuing college students who are pursuing STEM courses should apply for the GBF STEM College Scholarship. Not only does it provide financial assistance and development programs, but also internship and employment opportunities after graduation.
Speaking of scholarships, CHED offers a program for children of farmers and fisherfolk. Visit this link to learn more about the agency’s Agricultural Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (ACEF ) Scholarship Program.