r/FilipinosStudyAbroad

I’m kind of worried for my friend. She paid an agency to help her find a school in Spain to enroll in. They told her there’s no tuition fee, butas of today, they still haven’t told her which school she’s supposedly been accepted to or even what city it’s in for the September 2026 intake.

She hasn’t told me the name of the agency, but this feels really suspicious. Is it a red flag that an agency still hasn’t disclosed the name or location of the school less than two months before classes are supposed to start? Has anyone experienced something similar, or does this sound like it could be a scam?

Hi everyone. I recently got accepted for a fully-funded PhD program abroad and would like to ask if anyone had a similar situation where they either opted to separate from govt service or returned as faculty scholar?

I know I don’t want to come back due to many situations in the country but everyone is holding me back, especially since they’re worried I might not like my situation abroad.

Here are the pros and cons:
Faculty scholar:
with stable monthly salary here
3 yrs study = 9 yrs return of service

Separate from service:
I can do post doc and plan my goal of permanent residency in a good country with better healthcare and all.

Hello everyone! Planning to take Master’s in Taiwan and I’m currently employed at a local company but I work remotely. Feasible ba na nasa Taiwan ako studying while also working remotely for a company in the Philippines?

Good day!

I’ve been planning for studying Master’s in Europe but my anxiety is killing me kaya mas lalo akong magpoprocastinate because I don’t know where to focus.

For my background, I am thinking of applying to Erasmus Mundus Joint Scholarship and there’s a specific program that I really want that aligns to my current almost 3 years work experience. I can’t afford to pay for a tuition fee that’s why I’m aiming for a full scholarship.

I already have the school related documents from my university kase that’s the easiest thing to do like the MOI, TOR, grading system, and GWA. I have group mates for my bachelor’s thesis so I guess hindi sya pwede as my leverage. In addition, my GWA for is also 1.84.

Please help me by answering these questions:

1. Should I take IELTS even though the program that I want for EMJM also accepts MOI in English and I already got it? Or should I skip IELTS and just pass the MOI?
2. Pro: I can use my IELTS result for more opportunities
3. Should I focus on practicing for IELTS or the motivation and recommendation letters starting today? I don’t know what to do. I feel like I am running out of time since mag-oopen na ulit for application.
4. Should I also apply for other scholarship?
5. I am currently researching but naooverwhelm ako dahil sinasaby sabay ko ang pagpapractice for IELTS as well as researching about other scholarship. Please give some recommendation.
6. It is an advantage to have a thesis proposal that should be included in motivation letter, right?
7. Aside from Master’s, I am also considering the language assistant program in Spain na mas nakakagulo sa isip ko. Should I really take IELTS or the Spanish course na lang? My goal is to study then work in Europe is that really possible?

I need your insights, please educate me. Thank you so much!

Hi everyone,

​Planning to pursue my Master’s degree in Europe. I’m trying to mentally prepare myself for the transition, and I want a realistic picture of the academic culture shock—specifically regarding the shift from the Philippine higher education system to the European graduate system.

​From my research, the differences seem massive, and I’d love to get insights from anyone who made this specific jump (or international students in Europe generally) on these points:

​The Thesis Culture (ECTS weight & independence): In the PH, even at the graduate level, there is often a lot of structured hand-holding, group work, or progressive milestones dictated by an advisor. I’ve heard that in Europe, your master’s thesis is entirely on you—highly independent, solitary, and a massive chunk of your final grade. How hard is it to adapt to this level of autonomy without burning out?

​Rote Memorization vs. Critical Application: PH education heavily rewards memorization, structured exams, and compliance (attendance, quizzes). I’m told European master's programs expect you to challenge theories, participate in intense seminar debates, and write complex research papers instead of just passing exams. How steep is that learning curve?

​Professor-Student Dynamics: Are professors truly as "hands-off" as people say? If you are struggling with a concept or your research direction, what is the realistic expectation for support?

​Passing Rates and Retakes: I've read that in some countries (like Germany or the Netherlands), failing a module or a master's exam is incredibly common, and grading is strictly regulated. Is the pressure as intense as it sounds?

​For context, I am looking closely at programs in Italy, Germany and Spain.

​If you made the move from the PH to Europe for grad school, what was your biggest "I'm not in Kansas anymore" moment academically? What do you wish you had studied or practiced before day one?

Thanks in advance!

I'm currently doing my Master's in Engineering in Italy, and there was definitely an academic culture shock.

One thing that genuinely surprised me was how common cheating seemed to be. I did my studies in the MManila area in the Philippines, where academic integrity was taken much more seriously in my experience. I wasn't expecting to see it as openly as I did here, especially considering this is a master's program. Of course, cheating exists in the Philippines too! I'm not saying it doesn't. But I was genuinely surprised by how common it seemed here, especially at the master's level. I honestly expected graduate students to place more emphasis on academic integrity, so that was one of the biggest culture shocks for me. And of course, this is only my personal experience at my university and may not reflect every institution in Italy or Europe.

I also want to give credit to my university and professors back in the Philippines. Speaking from the engineering side, I felt we had a very good balance of theory and practice. We had plenty of laboratory work, hands-on activities, and practical applications that made it much easier to understand the concepts. Here, at least in my program, there's much more emphasis on theory, and laboratory sessions are relatively limited.

I also noticed that many students simply reuse the exact same final project from previous years. Since the project is the final exam, that really surprised me. Maybe that's just how things are done here, or maybe we're simply more competitive back home...I honestly don't know. It's just something I observed.

Another adjustment was the language. Even when courses are taught in English, not all professors are equally comfortable teaching in it. In engineering, being technical and precise is important, so I really appreciate professors who explain concepts directly instead of using unnecessary words.

To be honest, I've had to do a lot of self-study because I personally found several professors difficult to learn from. When I say that, it's not just my opinion, even many of my Italian classmates say the same about some of our professors hahaha. Imagine sitting through a two-hour engineering lecture where the professor mostly talks without writing on the board, solving examples, or interacting with students. That teaching style was very different from what I was used to in the Philippines haha.

That said, I do appreciate the theoretical depth here. Some courses go into much greater detail than what I experienced during my bachelor's degree. The downside is that you need to be much more independent in filling the gaps yourself.

One thing I really like, though, is the flexibility with exams. If you're not satisfied with your grade, you usually have multiple opportunities to retake the exam and improve your score. That takes away some of the pressure of having only one chance. I also found the overall academic culture to be much more relaxed compared to what I experienced in PH. There is still pressure to perform, but people generally don't seem to stress over grades as much.

Of course, this reflects my experience in one engineering master's program in Italy. Other universities, professors, and countries may be very different.

P.S. I still love the Philippines, and if anything, living here has made me appreciate it even more. Even though I'm planning to stay here for good, my experience abroad has only deepened my appreciation for the education and experiences I had back home.

I’m an incoming SHS student in the Philippines. I’m thinking of either US or UK and I’m interested in taking either Business, Accountancy, or Law. Should I apply for college abroad or do I do it after college? Is it worth it? I know I’ll get more experience and it’ll look better on my resume if I go abroad, but won’t I miss out on all the connections I could have here in the Philippines?

Hi im currently a student in the PH rn, preparing for college. I researched about everything that i needed to have to be able to get accepted to my dream uni.

1. Are AP classes/tests required? (Im not from an international school so i dont have that from where i study)
2. Is it okay to not have any kind of like huge extracurriculars? Like international stuff? (I didnt really have that much opportunities to join contests and etc.)
3. Even if i dont have some of what they need, will i be able to get in? Even with financial aid?

Pls answer my questions huhu so ill know what ill do and find or create a way somehow to achieve my dream, its all i ever wanted.

thank you to the people who will answer!!🙏🏻

Hi! I'm planning to pursue a degree in International Relations and was wondering which universities in the Philippines have the best IR programs.

Hi, I am an incoming EMJM scholar. I just received the email this week.

Our Program is also quite new. How can I connect with fellow Pinoys going this 2026?
I will be going to Germany for the 1st Term this October but I haven’t processed my visa yet and I have yet to submit my resignation letter.

I already sent a request to join the FB group, just waiting for their confirmation.

hi!! im an incoming grade 11 student and i could really use some advice.

for the longest time, my goal has been to become a cpa lawyer and eventually work in the us or canada (which sounds ambitious i know). because of that, ive been seriously considering applying abroad for college, but lately ive been questioning whether its even realistic.

i dont think my profile is bad, but i also dont think its exceptional enough compared to what i see online. for context, i studied at a public science high school for jhs and will be transferring to one of the big 3 universities (admu, dlsu, or ust) for shs

academically, ive done fairly well and have consistently ranked near the top of my batch. ive also joined a few national and international competitions in math, science, and english, where i mostly received silver, bronze, and merit awards (but never gold). as for leadership, ive held several leadership positions over the years and participated in journalism and research activities.

i know these arent extraordinary compared to a lot of applicants i see on tiktok, and i still have grades 11 and 12 to improve my application. i guess im just wondering if its still realistic to pursue studying abroad, or if i should focus on applying for colleges here in the philippines instead.

if youve been in a similar situation, especially as an international student who thought their application wasnt “good enough,” id really appreciate some advice. was it worth applying anyway? if you were in my position, what would you focus on during grades 11 and 12? also, when should you take the sat and ielts or toefl?

Grade 12 students looking for a fully funded scholarship in the following continents/countries: America, Europe, South Korea/Japan, and Australia. Is it extremely difficult to acquire scholarships to Ivy League universities? Or to fully funded scholarships at all?

GWA is 96, has a high position as an officer in the student council, involvement in the community programs, and a low family annual income. Interested in medical degrees, namely Pharmacy, Medical Technology, and Psychology.

Hello, everyone! I just wanted to ask if anyone here has had the chance to get a full scholarship for a second PhD. I am about to finish my current PhD, and I am really interested in studying another field.

Hi everyone! We would appreciate your insights and real-life experiences regarding migrating to Australia.

My boyfriend and I are planning to migrate to Australia, and our long-term goal is to obtain Permanent Residency (PR).

My boyfriend is a 29-year-old Civil Engineer with 7 years of experience in the construction industry and is currently working as an Engineering Area Manager. Since his profession is included in Australia's skilled occupation list, we are considering making him the main visa applicant, and I would come with him as his partner. I, on the other hand, work as an HR Professional.

We've consulted several agencies some specializing in the Student Pathway and others in the Visa 190 pathway. Naturally, each agency recommends the pathway that aligns with their expertise and services, which has left us feeling a bit confused about which option is truly the better choice.

Since we're planning for the long term and our ultimate goal is PR, we'd love to hear from those who have gone through either pathway.

For those who have experienced the Student Pathway or Visa 190, what are the pros and cons? Which option would you recommend for a couple like us aiming for permanent residency?

Thank you so much in advance for your comments, insights, and advice! 😊🇦🇺

Hii! Sino po ang Erasmus Grantee here? I am currently a 3rd year college student, and I am planning to pursue my masters degree sa Europe or New Zealand. Nakita ko po kasi yung sa Erasmus and interested talaga ako. May I ask if:

1. Kailangan ba ng show money?

2. May possibility ba na 100% tuition lang yung i-bibigay sayo, tas yung cost of living ikaw na sasalo?

3. Would u recommend Erasmus for fresh grads?

4. Is it really hard to look for part time jobs while studying sa Europe?

TYIA. Hoping na may makasagot po, kahit 1 question lang. Thanks! 🥹

Greetings! My plan of pursuing law school in the Philippines fell through. My parents are encouraging me to look into masters programs in Australia. Migrating has always been something we've been considering through the years. My mother is a nurse and she has connections in Australia (particularly Canberra) that are willing to help out and they told me to look into the University of Canberra and the programs they offer. I want to have an idea of what the Communications field in Australia has to offer and what I can expect. I graduated from one of the top universities here in the Philippines, but I don't have work experience apart from my practicum internship because I spent the last year working towards my law school applications (I was active in student organizations/publications throughout my time in undergrad).

I'm probably glossing over a lot of information about my situation right now. I'll be open to DMs for people willing to hear me out and talk to me about this possible route. The sting of my law school rejection is still fresh since it just came hours ago haha. Please be nice!

My F4 visa was declined due to aged out reasons. My parents and siblings are in the US already. I am still unmarried but already in my early 30s. Was wondering if there is potential if I study there in the US, and then convert my visa into something else and apply for Permanent Residency maybe? Is there someone who can give advice here or knows about this? I feel helpless. Thank you.

Hi Everyone!

Im in a situation where I feel so confuse and lost about transitioning from full time factory worker to international student in Taiwan.

I am currently working in a semiconductor company in Taichung and got accepted in 2 universities under their scholarship program. But right now I am stress because Fall semester is coming and still can’t decide if I will take this opportunities. I wonder if it is worth it to risk from earning from my full time job to a part time job as a student. I am well-aware about the restriction of 20hrs work per week limit.

I have family to support back in my home country and scared not to provide for them incase I transitioned as a student.

Any tips and advice? Very much appreciated! Thanks~

Hi everyone,

I'm a Filipino applying for a French long-stay student visa (VLS-TS étudiant) for a language program at Sorbonne Nouvelle in Paris.

My studies and living expenses will be sponsored by my aunt and uncle who live in Germany. They will be providing a sponsorship letter along with bank statements, payslips, employment documents, etc.

I'm getting mixed information regarding the Affidavit of Support and Guarantee (AOSG).

My sister previously studied in Germany and had both a Verpflichtungserklärung and an AOSG, so my family assumes I may need one as well. However, I cannot find any French visa requirement that explicitly asks for an AOSG.

For anyone who has recently applied for a French long-stay student visa from the Philippines with an overseas sponsor:

1. Did TLS or the French Embassy require an AOSG?
2. Did you submit one voluntarily?
3. Did Philippine Immigration ask for it at NAIA before departure?
4. If your sponsor was a relative abroad (not a parent), what documents did you provide?

Would appreciate hearing from people with actual recent experience. Thanks!