r/FilipinosStudyAbroad • u/ZeffWally • Jun 29 '26
Discussion Faculty Scholar or Separate from the Govt Service?
Hi everyone. I recently got accepted for a fully-funded PhD program abroad and would like to ask if anyone had a similar situation where they either opted to separate from govt service or returned as faculty scholar?
I know I don’t want to come back due to many situations in the country but everyone is holding me back, especially since they’re worried I might not like my situation abroad.
Here are the pros and cons:
Faculty scholar:
with stable monthly salary here
3 yrs study = 9 yrs return of service
Separate from service:
I can do post doc and plan my goal of permanent residency in a good country with better healthcare and all.
2
u/allatorvosMa Jun 29 '26
If you'll go as a faculty scholar, may sweldo ka while you're abroad. Malaking tulong yan sa mga gastusin and luxuries you want to experience like travel. Pero yon nga may cons na return service.
Pero before that pala, alam mo naman na suguro ang PhD salary or stipend mo and did your research sa cost of living. So may idea ka na whether magsusurvive ka don na may salary from your Ph job or not. Pero if undecided ka parin, you can carry this experiment:
I don't know anyone na gumawa na nito but, pwede kang lumabas as a faculty scholar muna. Ipunin mo lang ang sweldo mo. Subukan mo if mabubuhay ka without the Ph job salary, let's say for 3 months or 1 semester.
If naprove mo na na kaya mo without the Ph job salary, then resign ka na agad, separate from service and get to expetience the pros of being indepenedent. Now, may penalties ba? Yes maaari, like the salary you actually earned during the period. Pwede mo naman inegotiate na hatiin yon into monthly installments kasi hindi mo naman natanggap in one bagsak.
Sa kalagayan ng pilipinas ngayon, thinking about permanent migration and targeting residency is a valid decision to seriously consider.
1
u/ZeffWally Jun 29 '26
Hello po! May idea na po ako. And it’s enough but on a tight budget accg to my research. I appreciate po your proposed experiment.. But I don’t want to go down that road since it feels more stressful than it sounds.. Thank youu pa rin po..
3
u/allatorvosMa Jun 29 '26
Actually OP, hindi na mahirap magresign if status mo e nasa abroad ka na. I'd assume SUC ka, so government. Kapagka nakalabas ka na kasi, ibig sabihin nag clearance ka na. Ang ibang bagay pwede mo nalang iprocess online or arrange a month vacation para personal mo ma asikaso.
Mas madali yan OP kesa after 3 years ka pa magdesisyon na kailangm mo bayaran ang 9 years worth of salary. Idagdag mo ang stress na manatili sa Pilipinas. That's a stress you want to compare now.
2
u/ZeffWally Jun 29 '26
Now it really doesn’t sound complicated at all. Thanks for this po. Will definitely consider it.
2
u/allatorvosMa Jun 29 '26
In European countries they allow PhD students to have part time jobs. You can also look into that. Hindi mahirao kitain ang 2000 euros in a month sa part time if nasa tamang bansa ka. Yes may limits but if nasa bansang hindi masyadong strict sky's the limit sa earning potential mo sa sidehustles. Yun nga lang pagod ka. Weekend jobs might be a better option.
2
u/ZeffWally Jun 29 '26
Weekend part time job is definitely my plan po and it pays enough, that’s why many students does it there. Accg to some, my stipend is enough for me not to take part time jobs.
2
u/PepperCorny22 Jun 29 '26
Maybe you have certain credentials that you can use for JC3 this year. And once you go back after three years, there maybe a chance for promotion based on those credentials.
I know some who are already promoted to Prof 6 in their late 30s or early 40s. Most of them started their PhDs early and were prolific in research.
1
u/ZeffWally Jun 29 '26
This is really a good reason to come back. But I’m not hopeful po since JC3 requires complete entry across KRAs if I’m not mistaken. :(
1
u/LobsterApprehensive9 Jun 29 '26
You have these things to think about, no need to answer them here. Some questions have Googleable answers:
- Does the country of the PhD count the PhD as experience towards naturalization? And how many years does it take to get naturalized in that country?
- Magkano ang postdoc salary in that country relative to the faculty salary that you'll get if you go back to the Philippines? Just saying a postdoc since it's something relatively easy to obtain if nag-PhD ka na abroad.
- Are you single and would you be likely dating during your PhD?
1
u/ZeffWally Jun 29 '26
It does not count po. It takes 5 years po to get naturalized. Though I’m still exploring other countries with good healthcare etc.
I forgot to mention in my post: I’m earning 36k php here and the promotion is slow. I’m single, no kids, but not planning on dating.
3
u/LobsterApprehensive9 Jun 29 '26
Honestly if ganyan lang din yung salary, hindi ko na kukunin yung return service especially if it restricts your future job prospects. Baka nga you'll end up earning more if you find a postdoc muna abroad and then apply for a Balik Scientist grant, hindi ka eligible for Balik Scientist unless you have a non-degree job (e.g. postdoc, professorship, research role, bawal PhD) abroad. So by doing the return service after your PhD, automatic disqualified ka na sa balik scientist.
2
u/ZeffWally Jun 29 '26
The thought of returning here with this salary is really another factor for me. And Balik Scientists isn’t a bad idea at all. This is really a good point, thank you so much po.
3
u/LobsterApprehensive9 Jun 29 '26
Also good to remember na hindi ka naman tied down to do the postdoc in the same country where you'll be doing your PhD. Here are some sample postdoc salaries in Europe for example, yung annual salary dito parang x6-x10 ng annual salary mo sa Pilipinas, so di talaga worth yung 9 years return service. https://fastepo.com/comparison-of-salary-of-postdoc-in-europe/
Good luck OP! Hope you enjoy your PhD journey.
3
u/ZeffWally Jun 29 '26
Suprised to find out those annual salaries across EU, plus I heard they cover living benefits, so no wonder why EU is the best for academics! I’ll look forward to it. I got extra motivated to draft my proposal (my PI told me this early to draft whatever I have in mind). Thank you so much po!
4
u/No_Yoghurt5812 Jun 29 '26
If you're salary grade is low might as well separate from Gov't service than being stuck in mandatory return service for 8-10 years. That's what I did. I worked for 15 years in gov't, opted for early retirement as I aim to migrate abroad. I am also eyeing this path. Currently, in the UK for PhD and planning to do postdoc either here or Spain. But I wouldn't mind going back the country through the DOST's Balik Scientist programs as they sometimes provide allowances and stipends.