The Philippines is located in Southeast Asia. The country is an archipelago of more than 7,100 islands in the Pacific Ocean. More than 800 islands are inhabited. The country is bordered by the Philippine Sea in the east, the South China Sea in the west and the Celebes Sea in the south. The geography of the country is mainly mountains covered with tropical forests and many active volcanoes exist. English is widely spoken and with a population of nearly 100 million, the Philippines is the third largest English-speaking nation in the world. Filipino and English are the official languages, although Spanish and Arabic are spoken in the country. Also. The currency is the Philippine Peso, abbreviated PHF and sometimes spelled Piso. The country has been inhabited for almost 70,000 years. The Philippines is rich in mineral resources, including copper, nickel, chromium and zinc. The Philippines became the first Asian country to compete and win a medal in the Summer Olympics in 1924.
Climate
The Philippines has a tropical climate with three seasons. June to September is generally rainy, October to February is great, and March to May is hot and dry. Temperatures are generally warm, ranging from approximately 21 degrees C to 32 degrees C. January is usually the coldest month and May is usually the hottest month. Temperatures at higher elevations tend to be somewhat cooler, averaging around 18 degrees Celsius with temperatures around 1,500 meters. Annual rainfall is more than 5000 mm in some areas and less than 1000 mm in others.
Culture
The people of the Philippines are known for their hospitality and happiness and the culture is a mixture of East and West due to significant Spanish and American influences. In fact, many people, streets and cities have Spanish names. Many holidays throughout the country maintain cultural traditions, such as folk dancing. The cuisine in the Philippines is a mixture of Polynesian, Spanish, Chinese and American foods and many dishes include coconut, mango and seafood. Recreation and cultural activities revolve around the water, including swimming, surfing, diving and snorkeling. Tourist attractions include marine parks, rice terraces, mountains and underground rivers. Popular spectator sports include basketball and boxing. Mountaineering, cycling and karate are also very popular recreational activities.
Living wage
The cost of living in the Philippines is quite low and students will only need around US$350 to US$500 per month. Students are generally not allowed to work on a student visa.
Obtaining a visa
All international students require a student visa to study in the Philippines. Once a student is admitted to a Philippine institution, the student can apply for the visa at the Philippine embassy or consulate in their home country. Once all necessary documents have been received, the student must make an appointment to appear for an interview at the embassy or consulate. Visas are valid for one year, but can be renewed after each semester. Students in an official exchange program may receive student exchange visas, which are valid for the entire period of the student's program. Documents required to obtain a visa include the student's passport, visa, medical certificate of health (DFA Form 1), full-size chest x-ray and laboratory reports and a police clearance certificate.
The Philippine education system is considered one of the best in Asia. Primarily because it is based on American standards and training programs. A pleasant surprise for foreign students is the cost of studying and living in this country.
In Europe, Philippine universities are not very popular, but by the standards of Asian countries they are one of the best. Education in them is conducted according to English-language programs and in accordance with the American education system. But the cost compares favorably to the smaller side.
Another advantage of studying in the Philippines is the student’s full inclusion in an English-speaking environment, as well as truly heavenly natural conditions on the islands - year-round summer, warm sea, snow-white beaches will allow you to perfectly combine study with relaxation in a tropical climate, even in the capital of the Philippines - Manila. In addition, the offices of many large companies are based in this developed metropolis, where you can undergo an internship after training.
The academic year in Philippine universities is non-standard - it begins in June and ends in March. For admission to all educational institutions, a single state test has been developed - the National Secondary Achievement Test (NSAT), similar to the same national test for applicants. The total number of universities in this country is 150 institutions. Moreover, 5 of them are included in the global ranking of higher education institutions. These are universities such as:
- University of Santo Tomas;
- Adamson University;
- De La Salle University-Manila;
- Ateneo de Manila University;
- University of the Philippines.
The most famous of them is Adamson University. It was created back in 1932, and currently consists of 10 colleges of various directions: College of Arts, College of Architecture, College of Business Administration, College of Education, College of Engineering, College of Humanities, College of Natural Sciences, College of Nursing, College of Pharmacy , and the Colleges of Law and Hospitality Business. Almost all of these faculties provide training at not only bachelor's degrees, but also master's and doctoral degrees. And the cost of studying at this university is very low - from 700 to 1000 US dollars per semester, plus another 100-200 dollars for living expenses. In addition, Adamson University awards 50 scholarships annually to high-achieving students, and after and during their studies, Adamson University places students on internships and internships with many of the Philippines' leading companies.
Another famous university in this country is the State University of the Philippines, located in the capital. Its age is quite respectable - the institution has been operating for 105 years and provides education in a diverse range of programs and specialties. However, it is not the oldest university in the country - in this it was overtaken by the University of St. Thomas, located near Manila, dating back to the distant 1611.
Also, universities such as the Central Philippine University of Iloilo, Far Eastern University, Women's University of the Philippines, and Sillimanan University in Dumaguete have good recommendations and well-deserved authority in the country.
In addition to the standard bachelor's and master's degrees, almost all higher education institutions in the Philippines provide the opportunity to continue their education in graduate school, as well as obtain an international degree in economics - MBA. The cost of postgraduate educational programs in this country is higher than regular ones - it reaches an average of $2,400 per semester, however, if compared with similar programs in Europe and the USA, it becomes obvious that this is two to four times cheaper than similar education in other countries.
Another profitable and convenient type of education in the Philippines is language schools. This is a very tempting offer for those who want to learn English. On the one hand, in 4 weeks the student receives complete immersion in the culture and environment of the language, on the other hand, for a very modest fee - about $ 1,000 per course - he receives a bonus of a four-week vacation on Philippine beaches and resorts.
Studying in the Philippines is an opportunity to get a quality education at a very low price and at the same time enjoy all the delights of living in a tropical country. A particularly popular destination is trips to language schools: a large number of linguistic centers are located here, and the population of the Philippines speaks pure “American” English.
Philippine education system
The development of the education system in the Philippines is directly related to the history of the country: the colonial periods - Spanish, American, Japanese interventions - made their own adjustments to the educational process. However, the United States was the most important: it was from them that the Philippines inherited its educational model and language. English, and in its American version, is to this day the official language of the country along with Filipino. At the same time, during the period of American colonization, a system of public schools was created in the country and a large number of colleges and universities were opened. This made the Philippines the most educated country in the Asian region.
At the moment, the educational system of the Philippines is in the process of modernization, which mainly concerns the middle level. Since 2011, the K-12 program began operating in the country. Its goal is to allocate a high school (grades 11-12), which will bring the educational model closer to global standards.
Higher education in the Philippines is represented by colleges (more than 2000), as well as universities (over 150). University programs are similar to those in the United States and offer a wide range of programs. 5 Philippine universities are included in the QS World University Rankings
- Adamson University
- Ateneo de Manila University,
- De La Salle University-Manila,
- University of the Philippines,
- University of Santo Tomas.
Studying in the Philippines meets international standards and allows you to obtain a bachelor's degree (duration of study is about 4 years) or a master's degree (2 years of study). A special feature is that the school year here begins in June and ends in March. Some universities have a third - summer semester. To enter Philippine universities, you must take the National Secondary Achievement Test (NSAT), similar to the American SAT. Training is conducted in English, many teachers are citizens of the USA, Canada and European countries - the Philippines is experiencing a shortage of its own personnel.
Teaching English in the Philippines
In addition to higher education, the Philippines attracts students who want to improve their English. The country has a large number of language schools that are ready to offer courses for both beginners and specialists or preparation for passing international language exams. The cost of studying in the Philippines is significantly lower than in American, Canadian or European centers. And even from neighboring Asian countries - Hong Kong, Malaysia, China - the Philippines is pleasantly distinguished by its prices for living in the country. Also important is the fact that almost the entire population of the Philippines speaks fluent English - so students of linguistic schools will have an excellent opportunity to practice their acquired knowledge outside the classroom.
Add to this year-round warm weather, snow-white beaches, exotic fruits and a well-developed infrastructure - a legacy of the same colonial American period - and you will understand why thousands of foreign students, including many Russians, choose to study in the Philippines.
The Philippines is an island nation in Southeast Asia that acquired a centralized education system just over 100 years ago, in 1901. Much attention is paid to education in this developing country and therefore the motto of Philippine public schools is Education for All! (Education for all!). Any child at any age can go to school and get an education here.
The Philippine Constitution makes pre-primary education compulsory, but this does not work locally. Parents themselves decide whether to send their child to school or homeschool. Education here is voluntary and free of charge.
All students in Philippine schools are called students. Even 4-5 year olds who are just getting acquainted with education. Regardless of the age at which the child first came to school, he is assigned to the initial introductory class. In general, general education in the Philippines is divided into Elementary School (6 years) and High School (until recently 4 years, and since 2011 also 6 years). Within one educational institution there can be classes from both schools (as in Russia), or only an elementary school or only a general education school.
School in the Philippines. Junior classes.
School in the Philippines. Senior classes.
Teaching in the Philippines is one of the most respected and well-paid professions. The average salary of a teacher is 25,000 pesos. For example, a construction foreman earns 15,000 pesos, and a saleswoman in a store earns 5,000 pesos.
The curriculum in public schools is calculated for exactly 200 days. The holidays last two months - April and May. This is the so-called Summer time, when the rainy season begins in the main part of the Philippines. There is no pronounced rainy season on Samal Island, but even here in April-May all children have a break from school.
Lessons at school last from 40 minutes to an hour depending on the class. Between lessons there are 15-minute breaks when children can frolic outside, and one long one-hour break at lunchtime.
At a break
The official languages of the Philippine Islands are Filipino (Tagalog) and English (used in business documents and media). However, on the island of Samal the Bissaya people (Byssaya, Cebuano) predominate and therefore teaching at school is in this (Bissaya) language. English and Tagalog are used and studied in high schools.
Due to limited budgets, village schools often use regular A-4 sheets of paper printed on a printer and folded into a book as textbooks. And in the classrooms there is always a large slate board, which is a universal tool for teaching children.
The Philippines is a secular country with a constitutional separation of religion and state. However, the majority of the country's population profess one religion or another. The school allocates 30 minutes per week for religious education in only two classes.
Despite the apparent accessibility of public school, for residents of Philippine villages, the cost of educating children constitutes an impressive part of the family budget. First of all, money is spent on transportation to school. Village educational institutions do not have their own school buses, so children are transported in paid motorcycle taxis and passing cars. However, you can often see lines of children walking to or from school along the roads. When parents don’t have enough money for travel, children cover the kilometers themselves.
Uniforms are compulsory in Philippine public schools. Buying material and sewing a uniform for one child costs parents 400-500 pesos ($8-10), which is equal to two to three days' work for an adult Filipino. In a village school you can often find students who do not wear uniforms. Despite the directives of the Department of Education, local authorities understand that some parents simply have nowhere to get money for uniforms for their children.
The Department of Education is a special supervisory body of the Philippines that monitors the implementation of the curriculum in schools, distributes funds, and hires teachers and staff. At the same time, schools have sufficient independence, and many important issues are resolved with the help of a Council consisting of parents and teachers.
In July 2015, little Belarusian Liya went to one of the schools on Samal Island. The girl quickly fit into the circle of her peers and is happy to study. After all, school in the Philippines is an education not only in science, but also in life, love and work!
Located in South Asia and bordering the Pacific Ocean, the Republic of the Philippines is called the “Land of Smiles”. It is a wide country consisting of more than 7,000 islands. Manila is the capital of the Philippines. A total of 144 dialects are spoken in the country, including Tagalog, Visaya, Ilocano, Hiligaynon and Bilocano.
As a former Spanish colony, it is also considered the third major English-speaking country in the world, including American English. Filipinos also speak Spanish and Arabic.
Good to know:
Despite its poverty, the Philippines is a very dynamic country with strong economic growth and a population of over 100 million people.
Higher education system
Every year, the Philippines welcomes thousands of international students to pursue their studies in English in the Asian country. Note that this country has the best higher education system in Asia with over 100,000 teachers in over 2,200 universities and other higher education institutions.
In addition, registration and tuition fees are lower than in many countries. So you would need between $1200 and $2500 at a private higher education institution when in America you would pay $1000 at a public university. However, you are advised to check costs with your chosen university.
Admission conditions
You are eligible to study in the Philippines if you are a student, at least 18 years of age, and have sufficient funds to support your standard of living during your stay in the country. If you wish to move temporarily to the Philippines to attend a university, academy, college or school, you must obtain permission from the immigration authority.
Therefore, you first need to contact the university or higher education institution where you would like to study. You can proceed after your application has been approved by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (IDB) and the Department of Foreign Affairs at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in your country. You can then apply for a visa.
Visa
You must obtain a visa to be allowed to study in the Philippines. The request must be submitted to the Philippine Embassy or Consulate (in your country) upon receipt of the acceptance letter issued by the university or higher education institution in which you are registered.
The following documents must be prepared:
Duly completed and signed application form along with a duplicate copy.
completed and signed application (duplicate)
your passport (which must be valid for at least six months after your scheduled departure date)
two passport size color photographs
original birth certificate along with a copy (for verification and confirmation by the Philippine Embassy)
an affidavit stating that your parent or legal guardian will support you financially (original and copy must be certified and endorsed by the Philippine Embassy)
your criminal record (original and copy must be verified and certified by the Philippine Embassy)
your medical examination results, including chest x-ray (original and copy for review and confirmation by the Philippine Embassy)
Personal History Statement sent by the Philippine University or Institution of Higher Education in which you are registered
two copies of your contact list in the Philippines
Latest certificates you received if you were admitted through graduate work in the Philippines (for verification and confirmation by the Philippine Embassy)
fee of Php 2,250.00.
Medical insurance
Be sure to check whether your university insurance will cover expenses while studying in the Philippines. Otherwise, you will have to get new insurance.