Philippines (PH)

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian archipelago of 7,641 islands, the third-largest English-speaking country in the world, and one of the most welcoming destinations for expats.

Capital: Manila

Region: Asia

Language: Filipino

Currency: PHP (₱)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 30)

Emergency: 911

Education & Schools

Schools, universities, and language courses in Philippines.

👶 Childcare & Kindergarten

Public Day Care Centre Free (government-funded)

Age: 2–5 years

Subsidy available

Operated by DSWD and LGUs. Free full-day care and early childhood development program for qualifying families. Very limited slots — enrolment through barangay office.

Apply at your barangay office or Barangay Day Care Centre. Priority for low-income families. Documents: birth certificate, immunisation records.

Private Day Care / Nursery ₱3,000–₱15,000/month (depending on school prestige and location)

Age: 1–4 years

Contact schools directly. Most require: birth certificate, immunisation records, developmental assessment. Interviews for child and sometimes parents.

⏱️ Premium schools in BGC and Makati fill up quickly — register the year before intended enrolment.

International Pre-School ₱15,000–₱45,000/month

Age: 2–6 years

School application, parent interview, developmental screening. All-English instruction. Follows UK/US/IB curriculum.

⏱️ Apply 6–12 months in advance for premier international pre-schools (British School Manila, International School Manila, Reedley International School).

🏫 Schools

Primary School (Grade 1–6) Free

Elementary School

Ages: 6–12 years · Language: Filipino (Tagalog) and English (Mother Tongue-Based Multilingual Education system introduced by K-12 curriculum)

Public: enrol at nearest DepEd (Department of Education) public school. Bring birth certificate, immunisation records. Free for all. Private: application and entrance assessment required. International: see international school options.

Philippines K-12 curriculum (implemented 2012–2019) added Kindergarten, Grade 11, and Grade 12 (Senior High School). Public elementary schools are free and compulsory. Schoolyear runs August–July. Quality varies enormously — urban public schools are often overcrowded (40–50 students per class).

Secondary School (Grade 7–12) Free

Junior High School (Grade 7–10) + Senior High School (Grade 11–12)

Ages: 12–18 years · Language: English and Filipino. Senior High School: English for STEM, ABM, and Humanities tracks; Filipino integrated.

Public: DepEd Junior High (Grade 7–10) in same or designated school. Senior High (Grade 11–12): students choose from 4 tracks: STEM, ABM (Business), Humanities/SS, or Technical-Vocational. Private schools have entrance exams.

International schools follow international curricula (IB, IGCSE/A-Levels, US Common Core) — highly recommended for expat children. Annual fees: ₱300,000–₱900,000+ for top international schools. ISM (International School Manila), BSM (British School Manila), and Brent International School are premier choices.

International Schools

International School Manila (ISM) — US curriculum, Grade K–12, annual tuition ~$25,000–$35,000 USD. British School Manila (BSM) — UK curriculum, IGCSE and A-Levels, tuition ₱500,000–₱900,000/year. Brent International School (Pasig/Baguio/Subic) — IB curriculum, US-affiliated. European Academy of the Philippines — multilingual, IB-accredited. Chinese International School Manila (CISM). Most international schools require: passport, previous school records, health records, entrance assessment.

University

Tuition fee

State Universities and Colleges (SUCs): Free tuition (Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, RA 10931). Private universities: ₱50,000–₱400,000/year. Top private universities: Ateneo de Manila, De La Salle, University of Santo Tomas (UST), Miriam College.

Semester fee

State universities: miscellaneous fees only (₱2,000–₱10,000/semester). Private universities: full tuition + miscellaneous = ₱25,000–₱200,000/semester.

Student visa

Foreign students must obtain a Student Visa (9(f) visa) from the Bureau of Immigration. Apply at BI with: admission letter, scholastic records, financial documents. Valid for 1 school year, renewable. No work allowed on student visa.

Health insurance

PhilHealth voluntary membership available for students: ₱300/month. University clinic services included in student fees at most private universities.

Application process

SUC applications through UNIFAST portal. UPCAT (UP College Admission Test) for University of the Philippines system. Private universities have their own entrance exams (ACET, DLSUCET, USTET). Apply September–December for the following school year (August–July).

🗣️ Language Courses

Filipino (Tagalog) Language Course

Provider: UP Language Center, Ateneo Language Learning Center, private language schools · Duration: 4–12 weeks (60–100 hours) · Levels: Beginner to Intermediate

₱3,000–₱15,000 per course

English is an official language — Filipino language learning is optional for expats but greatly enhances social integration. Many Filipinos switch to English when they hear accented Filipino.

English for Professional Communication

Provider: Various private language schools (EF Philippines, British Council Manila) · Duration: 4–12 weeks · Levels: B1–C2 (IELTS prep, business English, accent training)

₱5,000–₱25,000 per course

Ironic but in demand — many Filipino professionals take advanced English courses for international certifications (IELTS, TOEFL, Cambridge).

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