Accessing higher education is crucial for unlocking opportunities and achieving one’s dreams. However, for many Filipino students, especially those from low-income households, the financial burden of pursuing tertiary education can be overwhelming.
Recognizing this challenge, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has introduced the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program as a solution to ease the financial barriers hindering students’ access to higher education.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore the CHED-Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program, covering qualifications, requirements, how to apply, where to submit, and more.
Disclaimer: The UniFAST Board approved the 2026 Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) (Memorandum Circular No. 01, Series of 2026) on April 16, 2026, and signed it on June 3, 2026. These guidelines took effect starting the 1st Semester of AY 2026-2027. As with previous years, there is no single nationwide TES application deadline — each SUC, LUC, and PHEI runs its own schedule, tied to its own enrollment period. This guide covers everything you need to know about TES under the new guidelines; we’ll update the school-based links section as verified AY 2026-2027 announcements come in.
Table of Contents
About CHED UniFAST Tertiary Education Subsidy
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) was established on May 18, 1994, through Republic Act No. 7722, also known as the Higher Education Act of 1994. CHED is a vital government agency in the Philippines, operating under the Office of the President.
It plays a crucial role in regulating and governing higher education institutions and post-secondary educational programs in the country.
In collaboration with the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST), CHED offers the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) program to deserving Filipino students.
What is TES?
- TES stands for Tertiary Education Subsidy.
- It is a grant-in-aid program established under Section 7 of Republic Act No. 10931, or the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education (UAQTE) Act.
- TES supports qualified students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), CHED-recognized Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), and Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs) — including private HEIs in cities/municipalities without a public SUC or LUC (known as TES-PNSL).
- TES covers students in Higher Education only. TES for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is governed by separate guidelines issued by TESDA, though TESDA and UniFAST coordinate on eligibility verification, prioritization, and fund disbursement so beneficiaries aren’t double-counted across programs.
Eligibility:
To qualify for the CHED Unifast Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES), applicants must meet the following criteria:
- You are a Filipino citizen
- You are enrolled in college/university at any year level, in a school recognized by CHED — this includes:
- State Universities and Colleges (SUCs)
- Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs)
- Private Higher Education Institutions (PHEIs)
- This is your first college degree (you have no previous undergraduate degree)
- You have not exceeded the maximum number of years allowed for your course/program (typically four (4) or five (5) years), plus a one-year (1) grace period if needed
- You are not currently receiving any other government scholarship or ongoing financial assistance program (e.g., TDP, DOST Scholarship, or CHED Merit Scholarship)
Note: A one-time emergency grant — such as DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) or CHED’s Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) — will not disqualify you.
Institutional coverage: Both your school and your specific program must be CHED-recognized. In practice, this means your school has a signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with CHED-UniFAST, and your program is covered by a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC) — or, for new program offerings at SUCs/CHED-recognized LUCs, at least a Report on the Result of Preliminary Assessment (RRPA) — with Institutional Recognition (IR) for SUCs/LUCs, and Government Recognition (GR) for programs at private HEIs.
Prioritization:
The TES prioritizes students based on specific categories to ensure that the subsidy benefits those most in need.
Because TES funds are limited, applications are ranked using a two-tier priority system:
Priority 1
Students from households included in the DSWD’s most updated Listahanan (the official list of poor households). If Listahanan is discontinued, the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps) list – certified and provided by DSWD – is used instead. This priority tier also automatically includes:
- Children/dependents of solo parents
- Members of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs)
- Persons with Disabilities (PWDs)
Priority 1 applicants are all ranked according to household per capita income, as determined by DSWD, and this tier applies across all SUCs, LUCs, PHEIs, and PNSLs.
Priority 2
Pursuant to the Special Provision of the 2026 General Appropriations Act (GAA), remaining slots go to other enrolled students in SUCs, LUCs, and PHEIs (including PNSLs) who are not part of Priority 1 but fall under:
- Dependents of solo parents — as defined under RA 11861, the Expanded Solo Parents Welfare Act: children/dependents living with and dependent on the solo parent, who are unmarried, unemployed, and 22 years old or below — or over 22 but unable to fully care for or protect themselves due to a physical or mental disability/condition. Applicants must have active status as dependents of solo parents at the time of application, reflected in the official DSWD Registry.
- Members of Indigenous Cultural Communities/Indigenous Peoples (ICCs/IPs) — as defined under RA 8371, the Indigenous Peoples Rights Act (IPRA). Applicants must be part of a household officially recognized as ICC/IP by the National Commission on Indigenous Peoples (NCIP).
Priority 2 applicants are ranked according to household per capita income, as determined by the concerned agencies.
Ineligibility
The following individuals are ineligible for the CHED Unifast Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES):
- Foreign citizens
- Individuals who are not Filipino citizens.
- Non-students
- Individuals not currently enrolled in a higher education program.
- Students enrolled in HEIs or programs not in the CHED Registry
- Institutions or programs not recognized by CHED.
- Students already in their 2nd undergraduate post-secondary program.
- Students who are already beneficiaries of the Tulong Dunong Program (TDP), CHED Scholarship Programs (CSPs), or other national government-funded StuFAPs – except students who received a one-time grant or subsidy, such as DSWD’s Assistance to Individuals in Crisis Situation (AICS) or CHED’s Student Monetary Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART). Receiving one of these does not disqualify you.
- Applicants who submitted falsified (spurious) documents.
If you’re not eligible for the CHED for Future Statisticians (Estatistikolar), don’t worry. You can explore other government scholarships and other CHED scholarships here that might interest you.
Benefits
Grantees of the CHED Unifast Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) for the Academic Year 2025-2026 will receive the following financial assistance:
1. Priority 1 Grantees
| Enrolled in a… | Per Academic Year | Per Semester |
|---|---|---|
| Public school (SUC or LUC) | ₱20,000 | ₱10,000 |
| Private school (PHEI) | ₱27,000 | ₱13,500 |
2. Priority 2 Grantees
₱10,000 per Academic Year (₱5,000 per semester), a flat rate, the same whether you’re enrolled in a public or private school.
3. Additional Benefits for PWD Students (TES-3A)
+₱5,000 per semester / +₱10,000 per academic year
4. TES-3B for Licensure Exam Takers (one-time reimbursement)
Up to ₱8,000 to cover:
- Licensure exam fees
- Review center fees
- Notarial fees
- Required documents (NBI, PSA, TOR, etc.)
Unless the UniFAST Board sets a different timeframe, TES-3B must be claimed within two (2) fiscal years from the date of your graduation.
5. Students-at-Risk-of-Dropping-Out (SARDO) Allowance
A one-time additional subsidy of ₱10,000, subject to your HEI’s evaluation, for students identified under DepEd’s Dropout Reduction Program (DORP) criteria as at risk of dropping out. Financial risk factors your HEI may consider include the death or serious illness of a primary income earner, or households affected by natural calamities, pandemics, or other sudden economic crises.
6. TES for PNSL (private HEIs with no nearby SUC/LUC)
If you’re studying at a private HEI in a city or municipality with no SUC or LUC, you may qualify as a TES-PNSL grantee:
- If the nearest SUC/LUC is at least 20 kilometers away, you automatically qualify.
- If the nearest SUC/LUC is within 20 kilometers, you may still qualify if any of these apply: your chosen course isn’t offered there; it is offered but you weren’t admitted due to admission/eligibility requirements; or it is offered but you weren’t admitted due to full capacity/no available slots.
The exact TES-PNSL subsidy amount is set by the UniFAST Board.
How you’ll receive your funds: These benefits are disbursed in this order of priority: (1) direct credit to your account via LDDAP-ADA, (2) check payment, or (3) payment coursed through your HEI. CHEDROs/HEIs are required to disburse benefits to grantees within 15 working days of receiving the funds.
Application Process:
TES applications remain school-based, not a nationwide online application. Your college or university manages your application through a national process that now runs in three stages:
- Call for Applications: The UniFAST Secretariat issues a memorandum calling for TES applications before the start of the first semester of each academic year. The submission window lines up with your own school’s enrollment period, based on the academic calendar your school has submitted. Your school uploads its applicant list through the HEI Portal.
- Eligibility Cross-Matching: After the application period closes, the UniFAST Secretariat cross-checks the uploaded applicant list (Annex 1) to catch duplicate applications, both across other schools nationwide, and within TES’s existing grantee database.
- Name-Matching: UniFAST matches applicants against the prioritization criteria (see Prioritization above), finalizes the list of qualified applicants, and releases the results to your school through the HEI and Regional Coordinator (RC) Portals.
Important: Submitting an application does not automatically mean you’re eligible or qualified, it’s still subject to validation and the availability of funds.
General Requirements:
Start by gathering the following requirements and providing the necessary attachments.
For New Applicants
Your HEI submits to your CHEDRO:
- Annex 2: Forms 1, 2, and 3
- A Notarized Registrar’s Certificate
- Your Certificate of Registration/Enrollment (COR/COE), PDF copy
If your HEI fails to submit these on your behalf, you may submit directly to your CHEDRO:
- COR/COE (PDF copy)
- A valid ID with your specimen signature — your school ID or any government-issued ID (PDF copy)
If you’re applying under the PWD category, you’ll also need your PWD ID issued by the Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO) of your city or municipality (PDF copy).
For Continuing Grantees
Your HEI submits to your CHEDRO:
- Annex 2: Forms 1, 2, and 3
- A Notarized Registrar’s Certificate
- The school’s Enrollment List (EL), certified by the registrar and/or attested by the school head, submitted in both PDF and Excel formats (or a COR/COE in PDF if you’re not yet reflected on the EL)
Plus, depending on your situation:
- Returning after a Leave of Absence (LOA): your COR/COE (PDF), plus the LOA you previously filed with your HEI (PDF)
- Transferee grantee: your COR/COE from your previous semester (PDF) and your COR/COE for the current semester (PDF) — plus, only if you’re a PNSL grantee who enrolled prior to AY 2026-2027, a Certificate of Residency (PDF)
If your HEI fails to submit on your behalf, you may submit directly to your CHEDRO: COR/COE (PDF), a valid ID with specimen signature, and — depending on your case — your previously filed LOA or Certificate of Residency, as above.
For Availment of TES-3B (Licensure Exam Reimbursement)
Submit to your CHEDRO, within two (2) fiscal years of your graduation:
- A Letter of Availment addressed to CHEDRO, summarizing your allowable expenses with actual amounts and proof of payment (official receipt, invoice, or acknowledgment receipt)
- Your licensure examination form
Plus any relevant receipts/invoices for: Professional Regulation Commission application/exam fees, notarial fees, review center fees, insurance premium fees, Transcript of Records/Certificate of Good Moral Character issuance, PSA/BIR/NBI documents (birth certificate, marriage certificate, documentary stamps, NBI clearance, etc.), or other entities’ fees necessary to comply with licensure exam requirements.
Note: CHEDRO may request additional documents at any time, for further verification of authenticity.
How to Apply
Here is a student-friendly version of the TES application steps:
- Step 1: Ask Your School About TES Applications
- Visit your school Facebook Page, registrar, or guidance office.
- Step 2: Prepare the Required Documents
- These usually include:
- Certificate of Registration (COR)
- School ID or government ID
- Additional documents for PNSL, PWD, transferees, or returning students
- (Requirements differ per school.) For the general Requirements you can see it above.
- These usually include:
- Step 3: Submit Your Details
- Put your Information on the application form or
- Follow the instructions given by your school.
- Step 4: Wait for Confirmation
- If you qualify, CHEDRO and UniFAST will validate your records.
- Step 5: Claim Your TES Grant
- Once validated, you will receive updates from your school or CHED.
It is important to remember: Submitting an application does NOT guarantee approval. Selection still depends on prioritization and availability of funds.
Where to Apply
TES applications are NOT submitted on a national website.
All TES applications must be submitted through your school. Each SUC, LUC, and private HEI has its own procedure.
Examples may include:
- Online school portal
- Google Form
- On-site submission at the Registrar
- Official school email instructions
If your school has not yet released their TES announcement, continue monitoring their Facebook page or official website.
Before you submit anything, here’s what UniFAST recommends:
- Verify first. Contact UniFAST through official channels to confirm any announcement. See the directory of UniFAST regional offices at unifast.gov.ph/dir-reg.html.
- Check only official sources. Legitimate announcements are published on verified CHED and UniFAST websites and social media accounts — look for the blue checkmark.
- Coordinate with your school. Your school’s UniFAST Focal Person is your most reliable source for accurate, updated information.
- Protect your personal information. Never click suspicious links or share personal details with unofficial pages or individuals.
- Report suspicious content. If you see posts or accounts impersonating CHED or UniFAST, report them immediately to help prevent others from being misled.
Deadline
The 2026 Revised TES Guidelines took effect starting the 1st Semester of AY 2026-2027, following approval by the UniFAST Board (Board Resolution No. 2026-011, issued at its 13th Special Meeting on April 16, 2026) and signing on June 3, 2026.
As before, there is no single nationwide TES deadline. Your submission window is tied to your own school’s enrollment period, based on the academic calendar it submits to CHED.
Some schools open applications early; others run shorter windows with limited slots.
Note: Always check with your school registrar or UniFAST Focal Person for the exact deadline — and be cautious of unverified social media posts (see the safety checklist above).
School-Based TES Application Links (AY 2026–2027)
This list includes only some of the schools that have posted their TES application announcements on Facebook. Other schools may already be accepting applications even if they are not listed here. Please check your school’s official page or Registrar for updates.
| School Name | Application | Status |
|---|---|---|
| (to be updated with verified AY 2026-2027 links) |
Important Reminders and Eligibility Criteria for the CHED UniFAST Tertiary Education Subsidy Program
Here are some essential reminders to consider before applying for the CHED UniFAST Tertiary Education Subsidy(TES) Program:
- For Higher Education: You may apply only to undergraduate courses/programs at a SUC, LUC, or PHEI campus that meets CHED’s quality-assurance requirements — that is, programs covered by a Certificate of Program Compliance (COPC), or at least a Report on the Result of Preliminary Assessment (RRPA) for new program offerings in SUCs and CHED-recognized LUCs with Institutional Recognition (IR), and Government Recognition (GR) for programs at private HEIs.
- For TVET: TES does not cover Technical and Vocational Education and Training programs. If you’re enrolled in a TVET program, check TESDA’s separate TES-TVET guidelines instead — TESDA and UniFAST coordinate their systems to prevent duplicate benefits across programs.
Additional Grounds for Ineligibility (for New Applicants):
See the Ineligibility section above, foreign citizens, non-students, students in non-CHED-registered HEIs/programs, students already in a 2nd undergraduate program, existing TDP/CSP/StuFAP beneficiaries (except one-time AICS/SMART recipients), and applicants who submitted falsified documents are all ineligible.
Continuing Grantees may be disqualified or have their grant terminated if they:
- Fail to enroll for one (1) academic term without filing a Leave of Absence (LOA)
- Fail to enroll for at least two (2) academic terms within one academic year
- Are suspended by their HEI for one (1) academic term or more
- Are expelled from their HEI
- Fail to qualify under their HEI’s retention requirements, as certified by the HEI
- Fail to complete their bachelor’s degree (or comparable undergraduate degree) one year after the period prescribed in their program
- Submitted falsified (spurious) documents
Duration of Eligibility & Transferring Schools/Programs
Your TES eligibility period begins the academic year your TES award number is issued (regardless of your year level at the time), and lasts for the standard duration of your degree program, plus a one-year grace period. Academic years you’ve already used are deducted from your remaining eligibility.
- If you file an LOA: that term is excluded from the computation, and your eligibility is simply paused — not lost — during the leave.
- If you transfer or shift to a different program: your eligibility duration is still based on your original program, plus a one-year grace period:
- Equal-duration program: your eligibility period stays aligned with your original program’s required years, plus the 1-year grace period.
- Longer-duration program: your eligibility is still capped at your original program’s required years plus 1 year — the new program’s longer timeline does not extend it.
- Shorter-duration program: your eligibility period is adjusted down to match the new (shorter) program’s required years, plus 1 year.
Final Thoughts:
The CHED Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) is here to support you by making education more affordable. Take the time to learn about the program, check if you qualify, and apply.
This is your chance to get the help you need to achieve your goals.
References:
- UniFAST Board. (2026, June 3). Memorandum Circular No. 01, Series of 2026: 2026 Revised Guidelines on the Implementation of the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES).https://unifast.gov.ph/assets/pdf/guidelines/revised-tes-pr-v2.pdf UniFAST. (n.d.). Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES). Retrieved July 13, 2026, from https://unifast.gov.ph/tes.html
- Philippine Go. (n.d.). What is CHED? Retrieved from [https://philippinego.com/gov/what-is-ched/#history](https://philippinego.com/gov/what-is-ched/#history)
- Philippine Go. (n.d.). [Title of the Article]. Retrieved from [https://philippinego.com/4942/](https://philippinego.com/4942/)
- Facebook. (n.d.). How to Apply CHED – Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) | Philippine Scholarships. Retrieved from [https://philippinescholarships.com/ched-tertiary-education-subsidy-tes/#google_vignette]
- Facebook. (n.d.). CHED-UniFAST Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) 2023-2024 – CHED Scholarship. Retrieved from [https://chedscholarship.com/ched-unifast-tertiary-education-subsidy-tes/#benefits] Enhanced-tes-2024.pdf
- UniFAST. (2024). TES 2024 infographics [PDF file]. Retrieved from https://unifast.gov.ph/assets/pdf/infgrfx/TES2024.pdf
- Commission on Higher Education. (2024, November 26). TES application schedule for AY 2024-2025 [Status update]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=908414284741292&set=pcb.908416941407693
- UniFAST. (n.d.). Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES). Retrieved November 27, 2024, from https://unifast.gov.ph/tes.html
- Facebook. (2022). Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=798381769209823&set=a.310832724631399
- PHINMA Upang Facebook Page. Facebook.com. https://www.facebook.com/up.csdl/posts/pfbid026XVxT2DUDywYT2cxEoPXcGvoU2CmH7ghvB5P1GMqG1JUKK98ic7hHJBviDxkDKjAl
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