DOST-SEI Scholarship Exam: How to Qualify for the 2026 Cohort

What is the DOST-SEI Scholarship Exam?

The DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarship Exam qualifies Grade 12 applicants for full scholarship support across DOST-identified priority science, engineering, and health programmes. Around 55,000 applicants take it each year, with roughly 5,000 scholarship slots awarded. That's about a 9% acceptance rate — competitive, but absolutely doable with focused review.

2026 Schedule

Applications usually open in July and close in September. The exam runs in October 2026; scholarship awards go out in early 2027.

Eligibility

• Incoming Grade 12 students (or Grade 12 graduates within the current school year)
• General weighted average of 85% or higher in Grade 10–11
• Filipino citizenship
• Not graduating with Valedictorian or Salutatorian honours (those have separate scholarship programmes)
• Plans to enrol in a DOST priority course — Science, Engineering, Health, Food Tech, Science Teaching

What's Tested

The exam is Science-heavy compared to typical CETs:

• Science (~30%): biology, chemistry, physics, earth science at senior-high level.
• Mathematics (~25%): algebra, geometry, trigonometry, basic calculus intro.
• Abstract Reasoning (~25%): spatial reasoning, patterns, logical sequences.
• English (~20%): reading comprehension, grammar, vocabulary.

6-Week Focused Plan

Weeks 1–2: Science review — biology, chemistry, physics at senior-high depth. DOST-SEI tests more physics and chemistry than typical CETs, so spend the time here. Weeks 3–4: Math rotation — algebra, geometry, trig. Weekly mocks. Weeks 5–6: Abstract Reasoning and English drills; timed full-length mocks every weekend.

The Scholarship Benefits

If you qualify: full tuition, ₱40,000–90,000 per semester stipend (programme-dependent), book allowance, thesis allowance, transportation allowance, and graduate-school priority placement. For PH families without review-centre budgets, DOST-SEI is often the single best ROI exam to prepare for. The numbers really do work out that well.

Super Tutor's DOST-SEI Track

Our DOST-SEI track tunes the review for the Science-heavy format that sets this exam apart from UPCAT and the other CETs. Focused Yearly at ₱1,999/year makes the full review cheaper than a single textbook.

See Also

• DOST-SEI Preparation Guide
• College Entrance Review
• Best for Senior High Students