As you can see, it is better to apply for a student loan in the Philippines than to get it somewhere else. It is difficult to get approved for a loan by a bank. Your best option is to look for an online company like Digido to get a quick loan.
What is so bad about student loans?
As with any loan, the student loan must be repaid on time. Failure to do so will result in a debt that will prevent you from future loans. When graduates who are looking for their first job after graduation are already in debt, the economy is adversely affected. Despite their qualifications, graduates often have to accept low-paid and low-skilled jobs just to start paying their loan bills right away. As a result, graduates with debts often miss out on the benefits of their degree.
You can avoid this if you keep the loan on time and repay it on time.
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So, what documents should you submit? Below are the requirements of a student loan, regardless if you are applying for a loan at a bank or an online company like Digido.
- Valid ID â the ID you have to present must be a government-issued ID. While you can also present your student ID, this is not enough to prove who you are. The government ID is required to prove that you are a Filipino citizen. Some examples of IDs are passport, driverâs license, tax ID, or SSS ID.
- Proof of income â you need to submit copies of your pay slip. If you do not have pay slips, you can request your employer to issue you a certificate of employment, commonly referred to as COE. In some cases, the loaning company may ask you to notarize your COE.
- Proof of address â proof of address is a billing statement. If you have a credit card, you can use your billing statement as proof of address. If not, you can use your utility bills.
Prepare these documents before applying for a loan. Some companies may also ask for your 2Ă2 photo.
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How can I get a student loan in the Philippines?
If you need an education loan, the most common place you can go to is a bank. However, a bank is not your only option. Let us take a look at the others.
Government programs
The Philippine government offers allowances and financial loans, especially if you are a scholar or if you are studying in state universities. State universities do not charge any interest. There are special government programs that open up access to free education for those who need it. (1) In addition, GSIS members who have worked in government for at least 15 years can take advantage of college loans for their family members. (2) However, loans must still be paid.Â
Banks
Banks are your second option. The issue with banks is that you are not likely to get approved. You need to have a decent employment to get approved or you should have something to offer as collateral.
Online lending companies
Perhaps the best option to try and send your student loan application. Online companies work really fast to get you approved. Like banks, they will ask you for documents to prove your identity and proof of income. However, online loan companies are not likely to ask for a collateral.Â
There are other financial institutions where you can try to apply for a student loan. However, you need to take note that most of these companies will ask you for high interest rates. The longer the term, the higher interest you will pay. At best, you need to give a chance to online companies like Digido. One great benefit is that you do not have to go to any physical location. All you need to do to secure a studentâs finance is to create a personal account and submit your documents. Â
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Student Loan Programs in the Philippines
You must be wondering, where can I borrow money as a student? These are just some institutions that offer education loans in the Philippines. A brief description follows every institution listed below, such as interest rates, loan terms, and loan amounts.
Bukas Student Loan
Bukas Finance Corp. was established to help students in need of financial assistance through affordable student loans and tuition plans. The Bukas Tuition Installment Plan allows students to pay off their tuition fees on a monthly installment basis with a 12-month duration. The plan has a 1.5% interest rate per month and a one-time origination fee of 3% added to the principal amount.
Interested students can go to the official Bukas website at bukas.ph and get a computation on the installment plan based on the principal amount.
SSS Student Loan
Children of active SSS members can convince their parents to apply for an educational loan from the agency! In order for a SSS member to qualify for the SSS Educational Assistance Loan Program (EALP), the member must be:
- below 60 years old
- must have a basic monthly income of Php 25,000 and below
- Must have at least 36 months of posted monthly contributions, 6 of which were posted within the last 12 months prior to the application
- Must be up-to-date with the payment of salary or housing loan and other loan amortization
The SSS EALP covers a member-borrower and their spouse, their child/ren, and their sibling/s. The amount of loan will depend on the beneficiaryâs current year and term at the time of application. The interest rate is 6% per annum based on the diminishing principal balance.
GSIS Student Loan
GSIS members rejoice! The agency has an educational loan program that will surely help you finance your or your beneficiaryâs tertiary education without all the hassle!
According to the GSIS website, the GFAL-Education Loan is the agencyâs new âstudy now, pay later programâ which can be availed by any active member with the following qualifications:
- At least 15 years of service
- Has posted the latest 3 monthly premium contributions for personal share and government share
- Is not on leave of absence without pay
- Has no pending administrative or criminal case
- Has no due GSIS loans
- Agency status is not âsuspendedâ
- Meets the net take home pay (NTHP) requirement under the General Appropriations Act
The maximum loanable amount is Php 100,000 per academic year or Php 500,000 for a 5-year degree. The interest rate is 8% per annum with a loan term of 10 years, with a maximum grace period of 5 years. The loan repayment period will begin in the sixth year of the loan.
Landbank Student Loan
Not to be underestimated, Landbank is also offering study-now-pay-later loan programs for students. Interested borrowers can apply for the I-Study program which will cover tuition costs as well as expenses related to education, such as gadgets. It is a timely loan program especially for those whose livelihoods were affected by the pandemic.
Studentsâ parents, guardians and benefactors can apply for loans equivalent to 1 school year or 2 semesters, or Php 150,000 per student but not exceeding Php 300,000.
The interest rate is 5% per annum for the entire duration of the loan with a loan default penalty of 24%. Loan tenor can be short term or long-term.
BPI Student Loan
BPI credit card holders whose children are enrolled in BPI partner schools can apply for the Special Installment Plan (SIP) Loan for School being offered by the bank. With SIP Loan for School, cardholders can pay for school expenses in fixed monthly installments with an add-on rate of as low as 0.75% for 24 months. Borrowers can also use 100% of their credit limit.
Loan terms range from 3 to 24 months with interest rates ranging from 16.22% to 21.11% per annum. Applications can be processed in as fast as five banking days.
To apply for a SIP Loan for School, you can visit a BPI branch near you or use your BPI credit card when paying for school fees.
BDO Student Loan
BDO may not be offering loans specifically catered for school expenses, but you can apply for BDO Personal loans which you can use for educational purposes.
BDO Personal Loans offer low interest rates with easy payment terms that you can use for whatever purpose, such as emergencies, repairs, hospitalizations, and tuition fees. Loan amounts range from Php 10,000 to as high as Php 1 million subject to bank approval. It has flexible payment options from 6 to 36 months and repayments can be made by crediting your BDO Current or Savings Account or disbursed through BDO Managerâs Check.
The BDO Kabayan Personal Loan is specifically for OFWs, with a minimum loan amount of Php 10,000 and fixed monthly payments ranging from 3 months (for unsecured loans) to 36 months.
CHED/UniFAST Student Loan
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has a student loan program called the Tertiary Education Subsidy under the Unified Student Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education (UniFAST).
Under UniFAST, you can apply for either short-term Student Loan Program (SLP) or long-term SLP. Short-term SLP is available to all undergraduate and graduate students who are enrolled in quality-assured programs available in SUCs, LUCs, State-run TVIs, private HEIs, and private TVIs.
InvestED Student Loan
Last but not the least, InvestED offers student loans with per annum interest rates ranging from 27% to 35% with no collateral! The loanable amount will depend on the studentâs paying capacity. Now you can focus on and finish your studies without worrying about the possibility of not being able to afford school fees!
InvestED grants loans amounting from Php 10,000 to Php 100,000 depending on a studentâs standing, such as financial need, year in school and other factors. An InvestED student loan can be disbursed in as fast as 5 days after an applicantâs phone interview. Disbursement channels include most e-payment channels, remittance centers and bank transfers.
InvestED charges a service fee of 22% of the loan amount or Php 3,000, whichever is higher.
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International Student Loan in the Philippines
If youâre looking to study abroad, particularly in the US and Canada, you might be interested in taking out a student loan especially if you think you might need additional funding. Lots of Filipino students go to these countries every year to study on a scholarship or with somebodyâs financial backing, but sometimes these wonât be enough to cover all costs.
Loan providers such as International Student Loan offer student loans to Filipino students in the US and Canada. You can use the student loan comparison tool on their website which can help you find a lender depending on your school. Simply choose your school and citizenship, check the list of available lenders, review the loan terms being offered, and choose the lender that will best suit your needs.
In order for Filipino students to qualify for a student loan from International Student Loan, they must be attending an eligible school in the US and Canada. Co-signers are required for most applicants.
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Likewise, rates or offers published in the websites are promotional marketing offers only and do not constitute any binding contract between the Corporation and the website users.While the writers and publishers of the articles in the website wrote the articles using credible information available to them at the time of publication, any changes or updates to the information presented in this article may not be reflected here.
Hence, users are enjoined to exercise appropriate diligence in using the data and information published in the website, and they are urged to study and compare it with other credible sources. Users understand that the writers, publisher, website owner and the Corporation are not liable for any damage or injury they sustained for their wrongful or erroneous use of the data or information written in the article and published in the website.
FAQ
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Is there student loan in the Philippines?
Students who need financial aid in the Philippines can apply for student loans from banks. Student loans must be repaid in monthly installments, with interest accruing.
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Is student loan good or bad?
Student loans are an investment in a student's future, allowing for a significant increase in a student's earning potential. Federal student loans also have relatively low fixed interest rates and offer flexible repayment options. For many students, this is real help available.
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Is it hard to get an educational loan in Philippines?
You will only be able to get a student or educational loan if you meet all of the bank's requirements.
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Can you pay student loans in the Philippines after graduation?
Yes, but that will depend on the loan terms and conditions set by your student loan provider. In some cases, they can accept loan restructuring if you canât pay your loan after graduation.
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Do loan apps accept student ID?
Some loan apps may accept student IDs, but itâs much better if you can present government-issued IDs.
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How to get a student loan in the Philippines?
You can check out the student loans being offered by institutions we have listed above and see whatâs the best for your financial situation. Go to their respective websites or apps and follow instructions on how to apply for a student loan there.
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Is an education loan in the Philippines expensive?
As with every other loan, education loan in the Philippines will depend on interest rates and loan terms set by the institution that offers the loan.Some may be considered âcheapâ due to low interest rates and flexible repayment terms, while others can be âexpensiveâ if they have high interest rates on top of other fees and stricter terms.
Authors
Joshua Morales is the head of Customer Care Dept. and Online Sales Dept. of Digido Finance Corp. creating articles, blogs, and other learning mediums that helps Filipinos struggling on their financial literacy. Joshua also loves Cycling, Photography, Cinematography, Online gaming, Fine Arts, and dreams of becoming a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine.
Mark Anthony is, the Finance and Accounting Manager. of Digido Finance Corp., monitoring and controlling the flow of cash that comes in and out of the company to meet the companyâs business needs, preparing the financial reports and analysis of income and expenses, and monitoring tax compliance.
Digido Reviews
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