Filipino Graduate School Decision: MA, MS, MBA, PhD

Filipino Graduate School Decision: MA, MS, MBA, PhD

Graduate and professional degrees in the Philippines include the Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MS), MBA, JD, MD and PhD. Each takes significant time and money. Tuition varies a lot between state universities and private schools, and between local and overseas programs, so get each school's full fee schedule before you decide. Here's when each degree makes sense.

Master's degrees overview

MA (Master of Arts)

• Humanities, social sciences, education
• Usually two years full-time, longer part-time
• Path: research, teaching, advanced practice in your field

MS (Master of Science)

• Sciences, engineering, technical fields
• Usually two years full-time, often with a thesis
• Path: research, technical leadership, academia

MBA

• Business administration
• One to two years full-time, longer part-time
• Usually the most expensive master's at top private schools
• Path: senior management, career switch, entrepreneurship

MEd / MAEd

• Education
• Often taken part-time by working teachers
• Path: school leadership, education administration, college teaching

When master's is worth it

Field requires it for advancement

• College/university teaching usually requires MA/MS minimum
• Senior research roles
• Some specialized clinical and nursing roles
• Some senior management positions
• Government technical positions (HR analyst, policy analyst)

Career switch with foundation

• Engineer → MBA for management
• Teacher → MAEd for school leadership
• Practitioner → MS for research
• Government worker → MA Public Administration for policy roles

Specialty depth

When you need much deeper knowledge of a specialty than your bachelor's gave you.

When master's is NOT worth it

Field rewards experience over credentials

• Software development
• Sales
• Most marketing roles
• Many BPO roles
• Operations management

In experience-driven fields, 2 years of work often beats 2 years of master's.

Cost exceeds projected benefit

Add up tuition plus the income you give up while studying, then compare it with the realistic pay increase in your field. If the degree only adds a little to your salary, the payback can take many years.

"I don't know what to do" defaults

Master's as a "buy time" option is expensive. Better: take 1 year, work, explore, then decide if master's serves a real goal.

Pure prestige seeking

Brand-name MBAs especially can be prestige plays without career justification.

Philippine programs

MBA

• Asian Institute of Management (AIM)
• UP
• Ateneo
• DLSU
• Other universities, many with part-time evening or weekend programs

MA / MS

• The UP system, including UPLB for agriculture and the environmental sciences
• DLSU, Ateneo and UST in many fields
• State universities in the regions, often at lower cost

MAEd

• UP, PNU (Philippine Normal University), DLSU and many state universities

Studying abroad

Overseas programs cost far more than local ones unless you win a full scholarship, so compare total costs (tuition plus living expenses) on each school's website.

USA

• Top MBA and STEM master's programs
• Strong networking and career services

UK

• Many one-year master's programs (shorter than in the US)

Singapore

• NUS, NTU and INSEAD's Asia campus
• Useful networks for careers in Asia

Australia

• Wide choice of programs
• Quality varies; check rankings and accreditation
• Post-study visa and migration rules change often; check the Department of Home Affairs

Funding options

Scholarships

#### CHED graduate scholarships

• Including faculty development programs for current and future college faculty
• Usually cover tuition and a stipend
• Usually come with a service obligation

#### DOST graduate scholarships

• For STEM master's and PhD programs
• Check the current programs and terms on the DOST-SEI website
• Service obligation

#### Foreign scholarships

• Fulbright (USA)
• Chevening (UK)
• Australia Awards
• Erasmus Mundus (EU)
• DAAD (Germany)

What each one covers differs, so read the current terms on its official site.

Highly competitive but transformative.

Employer sponsorship

• Some employers fund advanced degrees
• Often with a service bond after you finish
• Common for managers + technical professionals

Self-funded

• Personal savings
• Family support
• Loans (be cautious)

Working while studying

• Part-time programs (slower, but you keep earning)
• Maintains income
• Slower but sustainable

PhD considerations

When PhD makes sense

• Want academic career (university professor)
• Research-driven government/industry role
• Genuine intellectual passion

When PhD doesn't make sense

• Most industry careers
• Higher salary alone (PhD often doesn't pay vs master's)
• "Prestige" only

PhD reality

• Several years full-time
• Stipend during study (in funded programs)
• Highly demanding; look after your health
• Limited academic job market post-graduation

Where to do a PhD

• UP and other research universities in the Philippines
• Abroad, where funded PhD positions are more common

Decision framework

Question 1: What's the specific goal?

Vague: "Better career" Specific: "Become hospital administrator within 5 years"

Specific goals reveal whether master's is the path.

Question 2: What credential does that goal require?

Talk to people in target role:

• "What credentials did you need?"
• "Did your master's make a difference in hiring?"
• "Would you do it again?"

Question 3: What's the alternative?

Compare master's to:

• Certifications (often faster, cheaper)
• Experience (often valuable)
• Internal promotion path
• Career switch via different mechanism

Question 4: Can you afford it?

Total cost = tuition + opportunity cost + interest if loaned.

If financial stretch, consider:

• Part-time study while working
• A cheaper program
• Delay until savings accumulated
• Scholarship application

Question 5: Is the timing right?

Consider:

• Family situation
• Health
• Career stage
• Mental readiness for academic rigor

Realistic outcomes

A master's can give you

• Access to roles that require it (for example, college teaching)
• A stronger case for senior roles
• A wider network
• A pay increase in some fields, but not in all

How much it raises your pay depends on the field, the employer and the program. Ask people in your target role what the degree actually did for them.

PhD typically yields

• Academic career access
• Modest salary impact in industry
• Significant time commitment

Where Super Tutor fits

Super Tutor is a reviewer app for Philippine college entrance, civil service and licensure exams; it doesn't cover graduate school admission tests. If you're preparing for one of those exams, see every exam Super Tutor covers.

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