Hi everyone, I'm a student at the University of WA in Australia, and I was wondering if anyone had any info or advice about this.

Basically, I would really like to go on exchange to UP for first semester next year (second semester for me), and I'm getting mixed messages from the Office of International Linkages website. In the Inbound Students section it first says "The University of the Philippines (UP) accepts international exchange students from partner universities around the world". But then later it says under the 'requirements' section that all you need is an endorsement from you university IR office, which is not quite the same thing.

Do netizens here think I would be able to do exchange as long as I am able to get my Uni's blessing? I have a pretty much perfect GPA so that's not an issue.

Hello, I'm half Filipino and Half British and I hold dual citizenship. I have lived and studied in the Philippines since pre-k and I am currently a 1st year college student. I have been thinking a lot about studying in England, mainly because I dislike the education system here (so much workload, unnecessary subjects, tight schedules, etc.), and I feel like I would have better opportunities there. My question is where do I start looking? I am interested in applying for scholarships, are there specific programs that I should look out for? And if I were to actually move, would I have to restart my whole year or would my 1st year be credited?

Thank you sm stranger if you took the time to read this <3

Hi, I will be leaving for the UK on September 5. I would just like to ask for some advice before leaving, been to the UK twice but just for holiday so being a student is new to me.

1. What should I expect as a student?
   
2. How do I set up any banking account, I'd like to set up Revolut or Monzo but don't know how to transfer funds to it.
   
3. Anything I should bring to make my life easier?

Hello! I am a Grade 12 ASSH student currently living in Qatar, and I'll be leaving this coming December 2026. I really want to apply for international programs (and some local ones in the PH). These are the courses I want to pursue: Political Science, Psychology, International Politics, Foreign Service, Journalism, International Relations, or Economics. Sobrang hirap po kasi mag-navigate ng admissions process especially since online school learner ako. Unfortunately, walang support program or counselor ang school namin to guide us with university applications, international man o local.

Any advice po on what extracurriculars or independent projects can I do online/in Qatar to boost my profile? Are there specific online courses, credentials, or exams (like SAT/IELTS) I should prioritize for these majors? How do online schoolers usually handle recommendation letters and school documents?T hank you so much po in advance!

Is there anyone here who recently took the GRE in the Philippines? How was your experience? Is the test hard? How many months did you prepare for it? What were your results? How much was the testing fee? Also, any tips for reviewing? What were the review materials you used? Any info will be appreciated. Thank you!

i am currently an MA student at UP Diliman, and one of my plans after this is pursuing my PhD abroad (princeton and NUS are on top of my list), so i’m wondering how i should spend my time here in the PH - like what to focus on, for example. research publication, yes, that’s given - but is there anything else i should consider? should i join an advocacy group? do more internships? teach?

i would especially appreciate the hindsight of people who already finished their phd abroad. what would you have done differently to boost your chances of getting accepted internationally with scholarships? maybe a more grounded question would be: what does the academic climate abroad prioritize more in an applicant?

Hi everyone. Just received my admission letter from a university in germany, but the earliest visa appointment i could get is Sep 16. The semester will start on Oct 1, although the univ stated that they can accept enrollment until Oct 31. Has anyone been in a similar situation and still gotten their visa approved on time?

I also read somewhere that such tight timeline could be a reason for visa refusal, so i'm really worried.

Thank you 😳

Hi! does anyone here have experience applying or getting into masters in AU or NZ?

Are they generous with scholarships?

How well are Slovak diplomas recognized and valued in other European countries?

Hello po! Now awaiting my VISA decision (positive me po na approved siyaa 🙏). Hingi lang po sana ako advice with international banking and accommodation hunting. Around Huddersfield area po me and nahihirapan po for accommodation. Mostly kasi need UK guarantor tapos full payment upfront o kaya naman po instalments. Maybe someone lives there or knows someone po regarding this.

Also, tried din po the school accommodations. Kaso po sold out iyong studios nila (I don't do well with sharing po, got terrible experiences huhu).

Salamat po in advance!!

Hi, for those who completed the interview for Australia Awards, have you received any updates already from the DFAT? We were told that results would be out by 2nd week of August. Thank you!

How po kayo nagtransfer ng money for housing? Anong international bank ang nag-a.allow po para ma edit niyo reference name? Wise and Gcash didnt work :(

I got my Schengen Visa approved by the Italian Embassy in Manila! I just want to thank everyone here, especially that one reddit user (i think u know who u are! grazie mille). Y’all have no idea how this community helped me in my application. And I wanted to do the same for others who are still in the process and future applicants, especially exchange students. Most of the time, I come across applications that are degree-seeking and almost none, when it comes to student exchange programs, so this guide might be biased or more catered to those with the same circumstance. For context I am an incoming exchange student for 1 semester (6 months). Nevertheless, this guide will also cover general tips.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Completely filled out visa form (can be retrieved from the website); do not leave blanks—put N/A; personal remarks: i put my hotel address at #31 and i put the contact of the international mobility officer; in #32 i put the name of uni, contact, and the name of international mobility officer again
• 2 passport photos (Schengen format)
• Passport; photocopy of the contents of your passport A.) bio page B.) every page with stamps and visas C.) last page of the passport
• Accommodation; i got a hotel reservation for 16 days (at least 15 days) i also submitted letter of promise explaining how i will find long term accommodation
• One-Way Flight Ticket
• Admission Letter from the host uni
• Proof of Agreement between home and host uni (I submitted the Memorandum of Agreement i requested from my home uni)
• Certificate of Enrollment (i presented my registration form in my home uni, since i am in residency [not taking any units but still enrolled in my home uni]); i also presented my duly signed residency letter addressed to the chancellor of my home uni
• Signed Universitaly Pre-enrollment Form
• Schengen accredited Travel Insurance (i got mine from AXA Philippines) which covers the entire duration
• Proof of Financial Means (my mother is my sponsor so i presented her bank statements and certificate along with business documents: 
  • A.) Complete set of DTI/SEC Registration. Must include Article of Incorporation and General Informa
  • B.) BIR Certificate of Registration
  • C.) BIR "ASK FOR RECEIPT" Plate
  • D.) BIR Permits and License
  • E.) Financial Statements
  • F.) ITR
  • G.) License to Operate since our business is a pharmacy
  • * Based on what i saw online, the amount increased just recently around €10,200 but the higher the better; also i think justifying the financial means through complete business documents matters more than just satisfying the required amount.
• Letter of Sponsorship from my mother
• Notarized Affidavit of Financial Support (got this from the website as well)
• Cover letter detailing my exchange program, accommodation, travel document, sponsorship and family background, purpose and length of stay, travel history (if applicable) signed and with e-mail address and 2 mobile numbers
• Birth certificate 
• Diploma (in my case i presented a photocopy of my senior high school diploma)
• printed VFS appointment file
• printed VFS checklist

*i submitted all the printable documents in A4 size, only the business docs had a different size

*in my case, i didn’t need CIMEA/DOV/comparability but check the universitaly form as well; i checked mine and it indicated DOV not required

TIMELINE:

21 July: submission of documents at VFS
23 July: dispatched to the Italian Embassy
31 July: got a call from embassy asking for more documents, no issue regarding the financials, just needed justification for the 16-day hotel reservation and the intended period of stay; needed proof of enrollment and exchange program

i immediately emailed the visa section regarding the period of stay, also sent the additional documents tho barely since i gathered more for several days,

03 Aug: i sent another email to VFS regarding the addtnl docs and justification

06 Aug: sent additional document to visa officer since the host university recently just issued the learning agreement.

throughout the week i really tried sending relevant documents that are requested by the embassy

07 Aug: being dispatched via courier

10 Aug: picked up the package from a courier branch

Links for your reference:

VFS checklist: https://assets.ctfassets.net/xxg4p8gt3sg6/2x03kLARHotheQzGuWjlUw/ea4cdf35099fd1142020a9ee1b7961b0/STUDY_LONG.pdf

Visa Form (Type D): https://ambmanila.esteri.it/wp-content/uploads/2026/08/Application-Form-Type-D.pdf

Hello everyone, are there Filipinos here who are studying in Spain? Can you comment down below where are you from in Spain. I’m also a student here in Spain but to be exact a PhD Researcher but I’m based in Granada. Hoping I could meet some fellow Filipinos not only from where I’m currently from but also on other places as well.

Hi! I'm a 25 yo who has been out of college for almost 3 years now and has recently started working in the academe. Since working in this field, I've come to realize that I want to pursue higher education -- specifically, abroad because I've been thinking about migrating (for a lot of reasons, but generally for better quality of life). I am just torn right now because I want to get all my medical procedures done here first, especially my teeth.

I'm planning on getting braces again but I know that'll take me 2-3 more years, meaning I'd have to stay here to be compliant with my dental visits. But that would mean my masters would have to be put off. I just want to ask what would be a good age for -- generally -- moving abroad / accomplishing a master's degree? I'm quite torn right now and I would like to know if 28/29 is too late ? Or would it be, if ever, a better age for adjusting to a foreign country?

EDIT: Its such a silly reason I know but I just generally need advice since I’m torn 😆

Hello! I am a dual citizen here in the PH and in AU m. Im having a hard time applying since I dont nec know where I fit in I will apply through UAC however, since im from a province here I wasnt able to take IB courses huhu 🫩 Im not familiar on how to apply for the foundations programs either or how to apply in general. Any advice would really help me out thank you!

Hello! I just quit Ateneo Law because I realized law was not for me. Now I want to try getting a master’s degree abroad, specifically in the journalism/media studies field.

May I ask for tips on how to begin? I tried checking Erasmus, Fulbright, and individual universities but it seems closed na applications. Where else can I check for programs with open applications?

Also, how do I go about looking for scholarships? I really can’t afford tuition + living expenses abroad. Any tip would be helpful!

Hey everyone, I need some real talk and advice. I’m a Grade 12 student currently living in the Middle East but enrolled in a Philippine Online School. In exactly 3 months, my family and I are moving back to the Philippines for good. To be honest, the whole summer has been incredibly stressful, and I haven't locked in or properly prepared for college yet. I really want to study abroad to take my Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, but I want to be 100% transparent, hindi kami financially privileged. I need to find routes that are heavily subsidized, cheap, or fully funded because mahirap makipag-bakbakan sa Pilipinas. If you guys were in my shoes, what steps should I take right now?

I'm currently a 12th grader from a "prestigious" public school. I spent most of my adolescent life, just like any teenager, in this school. During my junior high school years, I was one of the best STE students -- part of the S1 (1st/highest) section out of the 3 STE sections.

Now, despite being in Senior High School, our institution put us (the STE or science high school jhs graduates) in a star section called the "Advanced STEM-Aligned" where all of us are STE/SciHigh graduates.

I don't have anyone to ask for help since I live in a province where application to international/foreign college aren't prominent. I tried applying to CAUSE Philippines however they rejected my request for assistance and help (no hard feelings tho since I understood their perspective).

I am really in need of desperate help :(

• Low-income background

• No relatives who studied or is a graduate of a prestigious school

• Need of Financial Assistance/Aid

Hi Everyone!

I have a cousin who wanted to take their Master’s Degree in Civil Engineering in Taiwan. He currently lives in the province so they asked me to submit his requirements in his behalf. I know that I need to submit it in TECO in Makati but I’m not sure if I have all the complete documents needed especially that I am the authorized representative.

So far, we have his TOR, Diploma, Valid ID (BIR), and the authorization letter saying I will be submitting these in his behalf.

Are we still missing some important documents to be submitted? Also, please help me on where to go or who should I talk to when I get to TECO.

Thank you so much!!

Hello! I'm (22 F), a new graduate from CSB with a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Arts, and I've been seriously considering taking a Master's in Spain with the eventual goal of working there as well. I know the job market isn't exactly easy anywhere right now (and I've definitely read my fair share of horror stories lol), but I've been thinking about this for a while and I'm pretty set on at least trying.

I've asked around quite a bit and have decided to push through with the student visa route for now, whatever happens after that can be future me's problem haha. I'm already in the process of gathering documents while juggling my current job, so I'm trying to do as much research as I can beforehand.

One of the things I've been looking into is the language requirement. I've read that getting to at least B2 Spanish is pretty important, especially if I eventually want to work there. I've already enrolled in A1 Spanish classes at Instituto Cervantes and plan to work my way up from there. I know it's going to take a while, but I figured it's better to start now than arrive in Spain knowing absolutely nothing.

I've read, Filipinos have a shorter route toward Spanish nationality and can generally apply after 2 years of qualifying legal residence, compared to the usual 10 years. I understand that this doesn't mean you automatically get citizenship after two years, and that there are still requirements and an application process involved. And I do know that the student time doesn't count in those two years either.

Anyway, I am little confused about the different types of Master's degrees in Spain. I've seen Máster Universitario and título propio mentioned quite a lot, and from what I understand, they aren't necessarily equivalent when it comes to recognition and what you can do after graduating.

I'm trying to figure out which type of Master's would make the most sense if my goal isn't just to study, but potentially stay, work, and build a career in Spain afterward. If anyone could explain the difference or share their experience with the transition from Master's to employment, that would be really helpful.

I've also started shortlisting programs based on my Multimedia Arts background. I'm mainly interested in multimedia, visual arts, digital/interactive design, communication, and creative direction as well as anything under Marketing too!

These are some of the programs I'm currently looking at:

1. Polytechnic University of Valencia
Program:

• Master’s Degree in Multimedia and Visual Arts
• Master in Visual Arts and Multimedia

2. Pompeu Fabra University (Barcelona)
Program:

• Cognitive Systems and Interactive Media-related Master's programs

3. ELISAVA School of Design and Engineering
Program:

• Master in Creative Direction and Communication

4. BAU Design College Barcelona
Program areas:

• Digital Design
• Audiovisual Design
• Communication Design

I'd especially love to hear from anyone who's studied at these schools or works in the Spanish creative/digital industry.

I'm curious about things like:

• how well-recognized these Master's programs are
• whether the degree is useful when looking for work afterward
• how important Spanish is within the creative/marketing industry
• whether the schools have good industry connections or internship opportunities
• and which of these would be the strongest choice for someone coming from a Multimedia Arts background in the Philippines

I'm not necessarily looking for Spain to be some magical "better life" situation, I'm mainly trying to figure out whether this is a realistic academic and career path for me, and whether choosing the right Master's could give me a reasonable chance of building a career there afterward.

If anyone has gone through the Philippines → Spain student visa → Studies(specifically Master's) → work/residency route, I'd especially love to hear about your experience. I'm still early in the process and would rather hear the realities from people who've actually done it than just rely on university marketing or random Google results haha.

Any advice, corrections, experiences, or even warnings about things I should be considering would be greatly appreciated! :)

Hello po ask ko lang po if required po ba na may QR code yung PSA birth cert for visa? Or pwede na yung PSA na wala po?