In July of 1994, the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), the governing body of all public and private higher education institution in the country, issued CHED Memorandum Order No. 2 entitled “Guidelines on the Entry and Stay of Foreign Students in the Philippines, etc.” This is in accordance with the policy of the government to promote the Philippines as a center for education in the Asia-Pacific region. It basically encourages foreign students to pursue their education in the country.

Who are foreign students?

According to said memo, foreign students are aliens belonging or owing allegiance to a country other than the Philippines who wants to study in any schools or colleges recognized and duly authorized by the Philippine Government which includes: researchers, trainees, grantees, scholars, and other similar categories and in addition those who will conduct “research work” in any government or privately owned agency or who will study in any “special training institution” or “center” in the country.

General procedures is accepting foreign students

Here are some of the basic procedures in accepting foreign students as imposed by the Commission on Higher Education for strict compliance:

• School receives the application of a prospective foreign student.
• The foreigner’s school of choice then evaluates his/her Transcript of Records (TOR), Personal History Statement (PHS) and other documents that may be required by the school, after which, the admitting school issues a Notice of Acceptance (NOA) to the student
• Then, the duly recognized school forwards that NOA together with the PHS and authenticated TOR to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) and CHED.
• If the applicant is classified as “restricted nationals,” he/she shall be required to submit two (2) more original copies of their PHS with picture and thumbmark. This is, of course, imposed for security purposes.
• DFA-Manila evaluates and approves application and notifies the Foreign Service Post concerned to issue a “student visa.”
• Upon approval of the issuance of student visa, DFA-Manila informs the CHED and the school concerned on the action taken
• Upon arrival of the student, the school concerned shall assist him/her in securing an Alien Certificate of Registration (ACR) and a Certificate of Residence for Temporary Students (CRTS) from the Bureau of Immigration-Manila.

Things to do

• First, decide which school you like and what course you want to take. Here’s the complete list of schools in the Philippines. Manila is located at the National Capital Region (NCR).
• Pay visits to your prospective schools and get all the information that you need as far as their institutional requirements are concerned. If you are in the states, have somebody check these schools for you.
• Check with the local Bureau if they are permitted and recognized to accept you.
• If they are indeed an accreditted school, go back and apply for admission.
• Have your transcript of records, personal profile and other documents evaluated.
• Upon admission, inquire about the next action they will take. Of course you know now that they will forward your documents to the DFA but just let them know that you are “aware of the process.”
• Wait until your student visa has been approved. No matter where you are at the time of application, you are required to secure your visa from the Philippine Foreign Service Post in your country of origin or legal residence.
  
  Student visa requirements:
  - Copy of NOA and/or Certificate of Eligibility for Admission
  - Documentary proof of support to cover expenses incidental to your studies
  - Authenticated scholastic records
  - Authenticated police clearance from your country of origin
  - Medical examination results conducted by the authorized physician
  - Other documents that may be required by the Consular Office
  
• After securing your student visa, file for an Alien Certificate of Recognition and a Certificate of of Residence for temporary Students from BI-Manila.
• When everything’s finished, you are now ready to meet your Pinoy professors!!!

Tips and notes

• Of course, the most important thing is to ensure that the CHED and the Bureau or Immigration (BI) has accredited your school of choice. If you are unsure, you can politely request to have a photocopy of their Certificate of Recognition. The Bureau regular updates its list of accredited school so you can also check that.
• Should you want to pursue a certain course where other restrictions may exist such as in medicine or nursing, your school of choice may be asked to issue a Certificate of Eligibility for Admission (CEA) together with NOA. Check with the school if the courses you want to pursue fall under this provision.
• Filipinos give high consideration to attitude and behavior and with that you have to make sure that you are a person of good moral character.
• As much as possible, have all your original documents ready in all times.
• Your school of choice shall be obliged to submit reports pertaining to you, which may include: attendance report, grades, derogatory records, etc. In other words, you have to make a good account of yourself all throughout your stay.
• For student visa holders, shifting of course may only be allowed once, provided it is within the first 2 semesters of a foreign student’s course.
• Transfer from one school to another shall only be permitted for justifiable reason. So choose the “best” school for you.
• If you intend to transfer, make sure that it is first approved by the BI
• If you want to take crash courses in language or in cooking, make sure that your school of choice can accomodate you. But it is recommended that you take these short courses in accredited "centers" rather than in a full-pledged college institution.
• Make friends with your classmates regardless of their race. It’s fun!

That’s about it friends! I hope I was able to help you with our topic for today. If you want further and more detailed information regarding this, visit the official website of the CHED and look for CMO 53, s. 1997, CO 15, s. 1995 and CO 2, s. 1994.

See you later!

Pie

Credits:

The Commission on Higher Education

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