Before you spend a single evening assembling documents for a CHED scholarship, check one thing: is your course on the priority list? If it is not, no amount of academic excellence or financial need will qualify you. This is the single most common reason CHED scholarship applications are rejected outright.
CHED does not fund every degree program. It funds the ones the government has identified as critical to national development, chosen on industry demand, emerging technologies, public service needs, and long-term development goals.
The Two Kinds of Priority Programs
| Type | What it means |
|---|---|
| National Priority Programs | Eligible for CHED scholarships anywhere in the country |
| Regional Priority Programs | Recognised only within a specific CHED region, based on that region’s development needs |
This distinction matters. A course missing from the national list may still qualify in your region — which is why writing off your application after scanning only the national list is a mistake.
National Priority Programs
1. Science and Mathematics
- Applied Physics / Physics
- Applied Mathematics / Mathematics
- Applied Statistics / Statistics
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Botany
- Chemistry
- Environmental Science
- Geology
- Human Biology
- Marine Biology
- Marine Science
- Meteorology
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
2. Information Technology Education
- Computer Science
- Cyber Security
- Entertainment and Multimedia Computing / Game Development and Animation
- Information System
- Information Technology
- Library and Information Science
3. Engineering and Technology
- Agriculture and Biosystems Engineering
- Ceramic Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics Engineering / Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Food Engineering
- Geodetic Engineering
- Industrial Engineering
- Manufacturing / Production Engineering
- Materials Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Mining Engineering
- Petroleum Engineering
- Robotics Engineering
- Sanitary Engineering
- Structural Engineering
- Aircraft Maintenance Technology
- Aviation Related Programs
- Engineering Technology
- Industrial Technology
- Mechatronics Engineering Technology
4. Architecture
- Architecture
- Fine Arts
- Interior Design
- Landscape Architecture
- Environmental Planning
5. Business and Management
- Accountancy
- Business Analytics (straight program or major)
- Hospitality Management / Hotel and Restaurant Management
- Tourism Management / Tourism
Note what is missing here. General Business Administration is not on the national list. Only Accountancy, Business Analytics, Hospitality Management, and Tourism Management appear under Business and Management. If you are taking a general BSBA program, check whether your region lists it as a regional priority — several do.
6. Health Profession Education
- Doctor of Dental Medicine
- Doctor of Optometry
- Medical Technology / Medical Laboratory Science
- Midwifery
- Nursing
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Occupational Therapy
- Pharmacy
- Physical Therapy
- Radiologic Technology
- Respiratory Therapy
- Speech Language Pathology
7. Social Sciences
- Community Development
- Human Services (Guidance and Counselling)
- Indigenous Peoples Studies / Education
- Peace Studies / Education
- Psychology
- Social Work
8. Teacher Education
- Secondary Education major in Science and Mathematics
- Culture and Arts
- Early Childhood Education
- Special Needs Education
- Sports and Exercise Science
9. Multi and Interdisciplinary Cluster
- Agribusiness
- Agro-Forestry
- Data Science and Analytics
- Disaster Risk Management / Climate Change
- Renewable / Sustainable Energy
Regional Priority Programs
Each CHED Regional Office maintains its own additional list reflecting local workforce needs. Examples that have appeared regionally include:
| Region | Examples of regional priority courses |
|---|---|
| Region I | Bachelor of Physical Education, Technical-Vocational Teacher Education |
| Region III | Agriculture, Business Administration, Veterinary Medicine |
| Region IV | Marine Engineering, Industrial Technology |
| Region VII | Communication, Naval Engineering, Public Administration |
| NCR | Multimedia Arts, Criminology, Business Administration (Supply Chain / Logistics Management) |
These are illustrative rather than exhaustive, and regional lists are revised. For the binding list in your area, contact your CHED Regional Office directly.
Which Scholarships Require a Priority Course?
Enrolment in an approved priority course at a recognised Higher Education Institution is a condition for most CHED-funded grants, including:
- CHED Merit Scholarship Program (CMSP)
- Bagong Pilipinas Merit Scholarship Program
- CHED Tulong Dunong and other StuFAPs sub-programs
Meeting the course requirement does not by itself qualify you — you must still satisfy the academic, financial, and documentary requirements of the specific scholarship.
If Your Course Is Not on the List
You still have options:
- Check whether it appears under a different title. Schools name programs differently. Environmental Engineering, for example, may sit under Engineering and Technology. A program called "BS Information Systems" at one school and "BS Information System" at another is the same listed course.
- Check your regional list. Business Administration and Criminology are excluded nationally but appear as regional priorities in several regions.
- Apply for a non-CHED scholarship instead. The Tertiary Education Subsidy (TES) is need-based and not restricted to priority courses in the same way, and many private and LGU scholarships have no course restriction at all.
- Look at provincial programs. Most provincial scholarships fund any degree program, though a few name their own priority fields.
- Call your CHED Regional Office. This is the only definitive answer, and it costs one phone call rather than a rejected application.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Business Administration a CHED priority course?
Not on the national list. Only Accountancy, Business Analytics, Hospitality Management, and Tourism Management appear under Business and Management nationally. Business Administration has appeared on some regional priority lists, including Region III and NCR under Supply Chain and Logistics Management, so check with your regional office.
Is Criminology a CHED priority course?
Not nationally, though it has appeared as an NCR regional priority. Confirm with your CHED Regional Office.
Is Education a priority course?
Partially. Teacher Education is listed, but narrowly — Secondary Education major in Science and Mathematics, Culture and Arts, Early Childhood Education, Special Needs Education, and Sports and Exercise Science. A general Elementary Education program is not on the national list.
Is Psychology on the list?
Yes, under Social Sciences.
Is Nursing a priority course?
Yes, under Health Profession Education, along with Midwifery, Pharmacy, Medical Technology, and several allied health programs.
How often does CHED update the list?
Periodically, through official CHED Memorandum Orders. Always verify against the latest CMO or with your regional office rather than relying on a list copied from a previous year.
Does my school need to be accredited?
Yes. The priority course must be offered by a recognised Higher Education Institution. A qualifying course at an unrecognised school does not make you eligible.
Can I switch to a priority course to qualify?
Switching is possible but has consequences — some scholarships automatically forfeit benefits for shifting courses. Decide before you accept a grant, not after.
Sources: CHED Memorandum Orders on priority programs as published by recognised Higher Education Institutions and CHED Regional Office announcements. Verified September 2026. The priority list is revised periodically — confirm the current binding list with your CHED Regional Office before applying.