Tertiary Education in the Philippines
Higher education institutions in the Philippines are either colleges colleges or or universities universities,, and are generally classified as public public or or private private.. Colleges are tertiary institutions that typically offer one or a few specialized courses, for example, in the sciences or in liberal arts, or in specific professional courses, such as ursing, Computing, or !aritime "tudies. To be classified as universities, state universities an d colleges #"$Cs%, CHE&' supervised higher education institutions #CHE(s%, private higher education institutions #PHE(s%, and community colleges #CCs%, must operate at least eight different degree programs. They must offer at least six undergraduate courses including a four'year course in liberal arts, a four'year course in )asic "cience !athematics, a four'year course in the "ocial "ciences, a minimum of three other active and recognized professional courses leading to government licensures, and at least two graduate'level courses leading to doctoral degrees. * further seven areas of re+uirements as universities are mandated by the Commission on Higher Education. ocal government universities and colleges #$Cs% have less stringent re+uirements than private universities. They are re+uired to operate at least five undergraduate programs #as opposed to eight for private universities%, and two graduate'level programs.
Public tertiary education
are all non'sectarian and offer a wide'range of courses, which are taught in English. They are government funded, with the largest, the $niversity of the Philippines, receiving the largest chun- of the annual budget.
Private universities
can be sectarian or non'sectarian, as well as for'profit or not'for'profit. !ost private institutions are Catholic, non'profit entities. !ost universities offer year degree programmes with / semesters per year. The school year is from 0une to !arch. The admission of an international student into a full'
time degree course depends on secondary school grades and achievement in the 1ilipino College Entrance Exam. &epending on the nationality of the student a certificate of English level may also be re+uired. Entrance to public universities is very competitive, particularly for the larger universities such as The $niversity of the Philippines in !anila.
2ocational Colleges 2ocational #technical% colleges serve to improve a student3s practical and technical s-ills. They are regulated and acredited by the Technical Education and "-ills &evelopment *uthority #TE"&*%. These colleges can be public, usuall y run by local 4overnment, or private. The ma5ority are privately operated. Programmes offered vary in duration from a few wee-s to two'year diplomas. Courses can be technical ' automotive technology or computer technology6 service based ' care'giving, nurses aide, hotel manager or trade ' plumbing, welding, electrician, etc. 7hen students graduate from their course they can ta-e the relevant exam, administered by TE"&* to obtain their diploma or certificate. 2ocational colleges don3t usually re+uire an entrance exam, only a record of high school studies and the enrollment fee.
!any 1ilipinos don3t have the capacity to study in tertiary school. This has a great effect to each 1ilipinos because many cannot apply a 5ob because they don3t have a degree in college. 4ood thing our government has created vocational colleges which trains and teaches people who cannot afford expensive colleges. Especially when you are studying in a catholic school you are being thought Christian morals and other Christian ethics to widen your -nowledge and deepen your faith as a catholic student. in my own experience here in $"T, ( never thought that they would give religion classes for free. (n my own perspective, ( can really understand and appreciate that ust really wants it3s student to become morally intelligent being a Christian.
