The Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program, or BPMSP, is a merit-based scholarship for academically strong Filipino students.
It supports students who will enter college or technical-vocational diploma programs in priority fields.
The program was jointly set up by the Commission on Higher Education, Department of Education, and Technical Education and Skills Development Authority.
The program covers two tracks: the Higher Education Track under CHED and the TVET Diploma Track under TESDA.
The government earlier said the program would target 20,000 scholarship slots nationwide for the first semester of Academic Year 2026-2027.
Who can apply for the scholarship?
For the Higher Education Track, applicants must be Filipino citizens and incoming first-year college students.
- They must belong to the Top 5 of their graduating senior high school class or have a Grade 12 General Weighted Average of at least 95 percent, or its equivalent.
- They must also have no earned college units or tertiary degree yet.
- Their parents or legal guardians must have a combined annual gross income of not more than PHP 2 million.
- Applicants must also enroll in a CHED-identified priority program offered by an eligible higher education institution.
For the TVET Diploma Track, applicants must meet the TVET rules set by TESDA.
The TVET track is for TESDA-identified priority diploma programs offered by TESDA-registered technical-vocational institutions.
What documents should applicants prepare?
The documentary requirements for the Higher Education Track are as follows:
- Applicants must submit an accomplished application form through the official BPMSP online application portal.
- They also need a copy of their PSA birth certificate and a Certified True Copy of their Learner’s Progress Report Card or School Form 9, also known as Form 138.
- If applying as a Top 5 student, they must submit a Certified True Copy of a certificate from their senior high school confirming their rank.
- This certificate must be signed by the school head, registrar, or authorized school representative.
- Applicants must also submit one proof of income.
- This may be a BIR Certificate of Tax Exemption or Non-Filer, DSWD or City/Municipal Social Welfare certification for 4Ps beneficiaries, latest income tax return or BIR Form 2316, or proof of income for children of OFWs and seafarers.
- CHED may also ask for more proof if the applicant belongs to a special group, such as persons with disabilities, solo parents, or Indigenous Peoples.
How to apply online
Applicants must apply through the official BPMSP portal at bpms.ched.gov.ph. following these basic steps:
- Go to the official BPMSP portal.
- Fill out the required personal and academic details.
- Upload all supporting documents.
- Review the information carefully.
- Submit the application before the deadline or before slots are filled.
Applicants should also check the official list of eligible schools and priority programs through the BPMSP priority list page.
The BPMSP portal describes this page as the list of HEIs offering priority programs.
Why applicants should check the school and course first
Not all courses and schools are covered.
For the Higher Education Track, the applicant must be officially enrolled in an identified priority program.
CHED Caraga says eligible programs may include those recognized as Centers of Excellence or Centers of Development, programs with Level III or IV accreditation, or programs approved by the Commission En Banc.
This means students should not only check if they qualify by grades and income.
They should also confirm that their chosen school and course are included before submitting their application.
What benefits may scholars receive?
The Presidential Communications Office reported that scholars in state universities and colleges in Metro Manila may receive a PHP 25,000 per-semester stipend and a PHP 4,000 book and connectivity allowance.
For private universities in NCR, the support may include:
- tuition subsidy,
- stipend, and
- book and connectivity allowance.
The reported total annual support for private university students was PHP 208,000 in NCR and PHP 98,000 outside NCR.
Final amounts may still depend on the student’s track, location, school type, and official program guidelines.
What applicants should do now
Students should first check if the BPMSP application portal is still open for their region and academic year.
They should prepare their PSA birth certificate, school records, ranking certificate if applicable, and income documents before applying.
They should also use only official CHED, TESDA, and BPMSP channels.
CHED has warned applicants to avoid fake scholarship posts and verify information through official CHED pages and websites.