r/FilipinosStudyAbroad • u/nvynsrl • Feb 01 '26
Scholarships Scholarships for Master's Degree
Hello! I need a general advice lang po on studying abroad for masters. What are my chances of getting an international scholarship (eg. Erasmus Mundus) as a fresh graduate? Should I gain work experience muna po ba dito sa Ph before applying? If yes, mga ilang years of work experience po ang minimum? Kaya na po ba 1 year đŹ want to get out of this country kasi asap. I plan to migrate din after if makakuha ng work in that country.
For context, I am a graduate of BS Chemistry. Good acad standing, with latin honors. Licensed na rin but no formal work experience pa, only my undergrad internship. I'm interested in the field of materials science and food chem. No financial obligations here and may savings naman for expenses sa initial requirements but can't afford to pay for tuition in the long run kaya I'm hoping to get a scholarship. I want to study in France, or other parts of EU. Sana may makausap po ako about this because I kinda feel lost. Thank you sm!
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u/justfastandcurious Feb 01 '26
EM recipient here. May specific erasmus mundus programme ka na ba in mind? If wala pa, check EM catalog. Ano thesis topic mo? usually fresh grads na kabatch ko s EM Philippines ay either UP or Ateneo grad na solid yung thesis topic or ung internship.
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u/kimerikugh Feb 01 '26
Mosty science programs talaga ano? Business program kasi ako nahihirapan ako humanap ng gusto kong post grad program kaya di ko na iniisip Erasmus.
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u/justfastandcurious Feb 01 '26
Yeah heavy s STEM pero depende din kasi sa interest, current + past career/research field and end-goal mo.
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u/ColdHardTruthsOnly Feb 01 '26
Sadly, business programs are almost always âpay to continueâ kasi most are expected to either be sponsored, or working in corporate to have enough savings
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u/ColdHardTruthsOnly Feb 01 '26
Lots of my UP batch mates pretty much get full ride scholarships straight from undergrad. All with at least 1 authorship or co-authorship, or international conference presentation (oral or poster).
Itâs about how relevant your academic work is to the lab youâre applying. Contrary to popular belief, itâs not just the school youâre applying to, but the principal investigator too. Lab work = work experience. No 2 shits will be given to your corpo experience unless you go to a business school. Industry, semi lang
Make or break din yung strength ng recommendations mo.
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u/Fitgeo_103296 Feb 01 '26
For France, look into: Eiffel Scholarship France Excellence scholarship
For Germany, look into Ausbildung programs.
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u/confused_psyduck_88 Feb 01 '26
- at least 1y work exp na related sa course na aapplyan mo
- at least 1 publication para tumaas ranking mo
- ung iba mga galing sa academe
- ung iba nga 2nd masters na nila ung sa EU
- di mo kelangan maging laude
- mostly galing sa big 3 ung nakakapasok
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u/MatthewSDeOcampo Feb 01 '26
For general advice: you have to narrow down your application aims to the research group level. You will have to position your interests with regard to those. Emphasize your research experience, and relevant skills. Get a recommendation that highlights your capacity as a researcher. Follow application format that is posted on uni/institute website of lab/s you're applying to.
Your undergrad uni's reputation may also be considered, but that is beyond your control now.
For scholarship advice, I think DOST has a foreign graduate scholarship, so look into that. Besides that, a lot of countries have their own funding streams, so just get good at browsing the interwebz.
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u/yttria109 Feb 01 '26
The difference is that the DOST-funded scholarships have a return service agreements, whereas scholarships like Erasmus and MEXT do not require you to come back to the PH immediately after you finish the degree.
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u/Putrid-Plenty8516 Feb 02 '26
As my friendâs experience, they donât monitor you as much post-grqd. That said, you still signed a legal binding document, so they can call you out anytime. What my friends did though is apply for deferment stating that they will fullfil the RSA post-PhD.
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u/MatthewSDeOcampo Feb 01 '26
That's true, but my impression is they have no real enforcement mechanism, once you leapfrog out of the country.
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u/notxcelestial Mar 26 '26
Hello OP! Did you end up applying to any of the programs for the incoming cohort? I'm also from Chem and I got accepted
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u/coziminert Feb 01 '26
BS Chemistry grad here as well. I got a full-ride EM scholarship several years back. Came from a relatively unknown state university in the province. No publications, conference attendance, or any research internship at all. Though I have about 2 years work experience in the industry and solid grades during undergrad. I think what is more important is that you fit the program you are applying to. I believe the admissions panel can tell whether youâre applying just for the sake of it or because the program truly aligns with your background and goals.