The Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) is a grant-in-aid program that supports the full or partial cost of tertiary education of qualified students in State/Local Universities and Colleges (SUCs/LUCs), and in private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) recognized by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED). Meanwhile, the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP) is a subsidy under the TES program.
Both programs fall under R.A. 10931 or the “Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act,” which was signed in 2017. This law promotes universal access to quality tertiary education by providing free tuition in SUCs, LUCs, and state-run Technical-Vocational Institutions.
Program Benefits
Student-grantees can look forward to getting the following benefits from the TES and TDP programs:
TES
Under this program, students enrolled in SUCs/LUCs will receive PHP 20,000 financial assistance per academic year, while those in private HEIs will get PHP 27,000 per academic year.
What’s more, persons with disabilities (PWDs) will get additional PHP 10,000 per academic year. Likewise, board/licensure exam takers will receive PHP 8,000 as one-time reimbursement.
TDP
Under the TDP, student-grantees are entitled to PHP 7,500 financial assistance per regular semester. This amount is subject to prioritization and availability of funds.
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Eligibility
Here are the lists of eligibility criteria for the two programs:
TES
- Filipino citizen;
- Meets the admission and retention policies of the SUC/LUC;
- Has no previous undergraduate degree; and
- Not overstaying in the program.
NOTE: Starting AY 2024-2025, the TES program prioritizes the following applicants:
- Students under the most updated Listahanan for all SUCs, LUCs, Private HEIs, and Places with No SUC/LUC (PNSLs);
- Students included in the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), ranked according to household per capita income for all SUCs, LUCs, Private HEIs, and PNSLs; and
- Poor students with no SUC/LUC or PNSL, who are not included in the first and second prioritization categories.
TDP
- Filipino citizen;
- Combined annual household gross income from parents/guardians does not exceed PHP 400,000;
- Enrolled in any first undergraduate degree program in SUCs, LUCs, or private HEIs; and
- Not a beneficiary of TES, CHED scholarship programs, and other national government-funded student financial assistance programs (StuFAPs).
Requirements
For each program, applicants need to prepare the following documents. Note that for TDP, requirements vary for new applicants and continuing grantees.
TES
- Certificate of Registration/Enrollment;
- Certificate of Residency (for private No SUC/LUC Category); and
- PWD ID (if applicable).
TDP
For New Applicants:
- TDP-TES Application Form;
- Certified true copy/electronically generated Certificate of Enrollment (COE)/Certificate of Registration (COR) with number of units as proof of enrollment; and
- Certificate of Indigency as proof of income duly signed by the Barangay Chairperson where the applicant resides.
For Continuing Grantees:
- Certified true copy/electronically COE/COR with number of units as proof of enrollment; and
- Certified true copy of Leave of Absence (LOA) submitted to HEI for returning students who failed to enroll one semester in one academic year (if applicable).
Application Process
For both programs, the first step is to go to the Office of Student Affairs (OSA), Financial Aid Office, or designated UniFAST Focal Person in the university/college where the student will enroll/is enrolled. There, the student can request for an Application Form and ask for the schedule of submissions.
Next, the student submits the filled out Application Form and supporting documents to the school’s Scholarship Coordinator. Applications will then be submitted to the CHED Regional Office for validation.
Finally, the CHED Regional Office evaluates all submitted applications, then comes up with a list of selected student-grantees, who will be given a Notice of Award (NOA). The student will then sign and submit the NOA for processing of disbursement.
For more information about the TES and TDP programs, interested applicants may visit the CHED official website.
Thanks to the TES and TDP programs, students from vulnerable sectors will have the opportunity to gain quality tertiary education and fulfill their aspirations.
Speaking of vulnerable sectors, CHED also has a program for children of coconut farmers. Check out this link to know more about the Scholarship Program for Coconut Farmers and their Families (CoScho).