UniFAST or the Unified Student Financial Assistance System in the Philippines is a program implemented by the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) to provide financial assistance to deserving students who are unable to afford their tertiary education.
The goal of UniFAST is to address the increasing number of out-of-school youth and poverty-stricken individuals in the country, particularly those who wish to pursue higher education but do not have the financial means to do so. Through this program, they can now have access to quality tertiary education and improve their chances of having a better future.
UniFAST collates all scholarships, grants, student loans, and other Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs), into a single portal. This allows students a faster and more efficient way to look for and apply for a suitable program that will help them continue their education. This program is one of the most important resources for students and parents who are struggling financially.
Purpose and Function
UniFAST’s job is to unify and put all the grants under the Student Financial Assistance Programs (StuFAPs) in order. This is done under the supervision of the following UniFAST Board members:
- Chair
- Chair of CHED
- Co-Chair
- Director General of the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)
- the Secretary of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
- Member
- Secretary of Education (DepEd)
- Representative from the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
- National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA)
- National Youth Commission (NYC)
Partner Agencies in the Philippines
UniFAST doesn’t work alone. They work with various government agencies to ensure they provide fast and reliable services. Here’s the list of departments that help the Commission on Higher Education (CHED)and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA):
- Department of Science and Technology (DOST)
- Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE)
- Department of Social Work and Development (DSWD)
- Department of National Defense (DND)
- Department of Agriculture (DA)
- Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG)
- Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)
- Office of the President Adviser on the Peace Process (OPAPP)
- Houses of Congress
- Office of the President Adv Land Bank of the Philippines (LBP)
- Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP)
- Government Service Insurance System (GSIS)
- Social Security System (SSS)
Course Priorities
UniFAST and the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) prioritize students who are enrolled or will enroll in these courses:
- Agriculture and Related Fields
- Architecture
- Arts and Humanities
- Business Administration and related courses
- Communication
- Engineering
- Health Sciences
- Information Technology
- Maritime
- Science and Math
- Social and Behavioral Science
- Teacher Education
Logo of UniFAST
Programs and Services
UniFAST provides scholarship grants to deserving students and beneficiaries of our Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs). This grant helps the students finish their education and also helps the parents in providing their children education.
Free Higher Education
From SY 2018-2019, Filipino students enrolled in State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) and Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) can now study without worrying about their tuition fees, miscellaneous, and other school fees. However, students must meet the following qualifications before they enjoy this program.
- Pass/meet the admission and retention policies of the institution (no age or financial requirements)
- No previous undergraduate degree
- Not overstaying at the college level (e.g., maximum residency rule plus one-year grace period as provided by law)
Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)
This program grants its beneficiaries grants amounting to the whole academic year. The students will be given an allowance for their books, school supplies, transportation, and personal expenses such as dorm rentals, computers, and other expenses they need for their studies.
Beneficiaries
- Continuing Expanded Student’s Grants-in-Aid Program for Poverty Alleviation (ESGP-PA) scholars in the SUCs effective AY 2018-2019
- Students who are part of households included in the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to the estimated per capita household income
- Students not part of the Listahanan 2.0, ranked according to estimated per capita household income based on submitted documentation of proof of income to be determined by the UniFAST Board
Free Tech-Voc Education and Training (FTVET)
The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA) provides free Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to Filipino students enrolled in National Certificate I or II in any TESDA-registered Technical Vocational Institution (TVI). TESDA plans to implement free diplomas or longer-term programs, NCR III, IV, and V. To help people be responsible and productive, TESDA created relevant training activities and accessible facilities. The TESDA Technology Institution has 125 schools, regional, provincial, and specialized training centers such as:
- TESDA Women’s Center (TWC)
- Language Skills Institute (LSI)
- Korea-Philippines IT Training Centers
Student Loan Program – Short-Term
The Student Loan Program (SLP) provides short-term loans with a maximum of Php 60,000 to pay for students’ undergraduate education, expenses for licensure exam reviews, and graduate degrees such as medicine and law. There will be no interest if paid within the loan term and it must be paid within 12 months.
Eligible Students
- Undergraduate or graduate students must be enrolled in programs registered in the CHED Registry
- Must be enrolled in CHED-recognized State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), State-run and private Technical Vocational Institutions (TVIs), and private Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
- Students haven’t availed of any loan programs during their undergraduate studies.
- Students in graduate studies (medicine and law)
- Â Students who will have licensure exam reviews
Priority Students
UniFAST allows all students to apply for a loan. However, they give priority to those students who are:
- Not qualified for Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES)
- Not part of the Listahan 2.0
- Studies from Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) or Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET)
- First time applying for the loan program
Requirements
Here’s the list of documentary requirements you need to apply for the student loan.
- Application Form
- Certificate of Registration/Enrollment
- Income Tax Return (ITR) of the applicant or parents (proof of family income)
- Income Tax Return (ITR) of the co-maker (proof of family income)
- School ID of the applicant
- Government-issued ID of the co-maker
- 1 copy of 1×1 picture of the applicant and the co-maker
Application Process – SLP
If you are interested in applying for the student loan program, here’s the step-by-step process on how to apply. Step 1: Gather all documents and make sure they are complete. Step 2: Submit the documents to your school. The Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) will screen your application and endorse it to the UniFAST Regional Coordinators. Step 3: The UniFAST Regional Coordinators will evaluate it. After evaluation, they will forward it to the UniFAST Central Office. Step 4: The UniFAST Central Office will post the list of approved student beneficiaries and will send the Notice of Approval or Disapproval to the student through HEI. Step 5: If your application has been approved, you need to sign the loan documents and submit them back to the HEI. The HEI will then forward it to the UniFAST Regional Coordinators. Step 6: The UniFAST Central Office will submit the list of approved beneficiaries to the Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP). Step 7: Students or applicants must open an account with DBP where they can receive their loans.
TABANG OFW
The TABANG OFW program was specially created for Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) beneficiaries. This program provides a financial grant worth Php 30,000 for eligible OFW dependents who are enrolled or going to college. This program was designed for those OFWs who lost their job, were repatriated, or died because of Covid-19.
Qualifications
- Child of a married OFW and must be below 30 years old.
- Sibling, niece, or nephew of unmarried OFW and must be below 30 years old
- Filipino citizen
- Met the admission and retention requirements of CHED-recognized State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs).
- Never been expelled
- Do not have any scholarship or grant from other government agencies.
Video: Tertiary Education Subsidy
The UniFAST Official is the official YouTube channel of UniFAST. This is where they post important events and InfoVideo. Below is a clip explainer talking about the Tertiary Education Subsidy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55_8uTpY5bA
Video: Free Higher Education under Republic Act 10931
Watch the video below so you where you can learn more about the Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) and Free Higher Education (FHE) as per Philippie Republic Act 10931: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTRHaRZzQJs
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UniFAST for?
UniFAST is for students who want to continue their education to the Tertiary level. It provides financial grants and other services that will help students in their studies.
What is Tertiary Education?
Tertiary Education includes a bachelor’s degree, associate degree, Technical-Vocational Education and Training (TVET), master’s degree, and doctoral degree (Ph.D.).
Who can apply for the UniFAST program?
UniFAST accepts students who are incoming college students, currently enrolled in college, master’s, and doctorate programs.
How do I contact UniFAST for inquiries or concerns?
You may contact UniFAST through their email at unifastsecretariat@ched.gov.ph or visit their website, social media pages, and YouTube channel.
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unifastofficial
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unifastofficial
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/unifastgovph
How does UniFAST and DepEd work together?
UniFAST and DepEd work together to ensure that the transition from senior high school to college is seamless for students. They also collaborate on programs and services that will benefit students in their educational pursuits. Additionally, they coordinate with each other in terms of enrollment, promotion, and retention policies for students under UniFAST’s programs. This partnership between the two agencies aims to provide a holistic approach to education in the Philippines. Overall, it allows for a smoother and more efficient process for students to access financial assistance and other benefits. With UniFAST’s programs and DepEd’s K-12 curriculum, students can have better opportunities for their future careers.
What is the difference between TES and FHE?
TES or Tertiary Education Subsidy is a financial grant given to students enrolled in CHED-recognized State Universities and Colleges (SUCs), Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs), and Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). Meanwhile, FHE or Free Higher Education refers to the provision of free tuition fees for college students in all public universities and colleges under Republic Act 10931. TES is a program under UniFAST, while FHE is a separate law that aims to provide accessible and affordable higher education for all Filipinos. Both TES and FHE contribute to the goal of providing quality tertiary education for Filipino students. Students may apply for both programs if they meet the qualifications set by the respective agencies.
Summary
The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) designed a system that will unify and centralize all scholarship programs of the Philippine government. They created a program called the Unified Financial Assistance System for Tertiary Education Act or UniFAST. This program’s job is to create and process scholarship grants, students’ loan, and other education-related assistance for the students. When the pandemic hit, a lot of OFWs were affected and lost their job. They needed to go back to the Philippines empty-handed and because of that, their family were also affected. A lot of people also died or were too sick to continue working. This is one of the reasons why the Philippine government needed to work extra hard to provide quality and affordable education for Filipinos. Education is the key to every success. The UniFAST offers a lot of programs and services so make sure to take advantage of this opportunity to have a better life in the future.
Contact Information
UniFAST Philippines
Address: Ground Floor, Bldg E., UP Ayala Land Technohub, Commonwealth Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines
Email: unifastsecretariat@ched.gov.ph
Website: https://unifast.gov.ph/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unifastofficial
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@unifastofficial
Twitter: https://twitter.com/unifastgovph