SHS STEM Strand Guide: Programs and College Pathway

SHS STEM Strand Guide: Programs and College Pathway

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) is the senior high school strand built around math and the sciences. It lines up with engineering, the natural sciences, health programs and computing, and it opens the DOST-SEI scholarship to you regardless of class rank.

A note on the new SHS curriculum. DepEd is phasing out the strands. Under DepEd Memorandum No. 012, s. 2026, students entering Grade 11 from school year 2026–2027 follow the Strengthened SHS Curriculum, which has two tracks (Academic and Technical-Professional, or TechPro) with elective clusters instead of ABM, STEM, HUMSS and GAS. Most Grade 12 students in 2026–2027 finish under the old strands (891 pilot schools switched a year earlier). This guide is for STEM students and graduates. If you're entering Grade 11 now, the closest match is the Academic track's STEM electives.

What STEM covers

STEM's specialized subjects include:

• Pre-Calculus and Basic Calculus
• General Biology 1 and 2
• General Chemistry 1 and 2
• General Physics 1 and 2
• A research or capstone project

You also take the core subjects every strand takes: English, Filipino, math (including Statistics and Probability), science, social science and PE. You get less business and humanities content than ABM or HUMSS students.

College programs that fit STEM

Engineering

• BS Civil Engineering
• BS Mechanical Engineering
• BS Electrical Engineering
• BS Electronics Engineering
• BS Chemical Engineering
• BS Industrial Engineering
• BS Computer Engineering
• BS Geodetic Engineering
• BS Aeronautical Engineering

Health sciences

• BS Nursing
• BS Pharmacy
• BS Medical Technology
• Pre-med programs such as BS Biology and BS Psychology

Computing

• BS Computer Science
• BS Information Technology
• BS Information Systems

Natural sciences and math

• BS Biology
• BS Chemistry
• BS Physics
• BS Mathematics
• BS Statistics
• BS Geology
• BS Marine Biology
• BS Environmental Science

Architecture

• BS Architecture

STEM isn't a lock-in. Under CHED Memorandum Order No. 105, s. 2017, SHS graduates from any strand can be admitted to any college program, so you can still choose business, the humanities or education.

The DOST-SEI scholarship

This is the big one for STEM students. Every STEM-strand student who meets the other requirements can apply; non-STEM students need to be in the top 5% of their class. There are two tracks: RA 7687, which has DOST-SEI's socioeconomic cut-offs, and Merit, which has no income test.

Benefits for 2026 scholars included tuition and fees of up to ₱40,000 a year, an ₱8,000 monthly living allowance, a ₱10,000 yearly learning materials and connectivity allowance, and other allowances and insurance. The scholarship funds priority science and technology courses.

It's competitive: in the 2026 cycle, 8,500 of 97,617 examinees qualified (8.71%). The exam is pen-and-paper, in three timed parts: Creative Reasoning plus Language and Literature (45 minutes), Science (65 minutes) and Mathematics (70 minutes). Each item has four options and there's no penalty for wrong answers.

Applications for the 2027 scholarships closed on September 17, 2026, and the qualifying exam is on November 14–15, 2026. See the DOST-SEI scholarship guide.

College entrance tests: strengths and gaps

STEM students often have a head start on:

• UPCAT Mathematics and Science
• DOST-SEI Science and Mathematics
• USTET Mathematics and Science
• ACET math

Plan extra review for:

• Language and reading. The UPCAT tests Language Proficiency and Reading Comprehension in both English and Filipino, and the ACET has an essay.
• Abstract and mental-ability items, which show up on the ACET (abstract reasoning), the USTET (Mental Ability) and the DOST-SEI exam (Creative Reasoning).

When STEM is the right choice

• You're confident in math and science
• You want engineering, medicine, computing or the sciences
• The DOST-SEI scholarship fits your plans
• You're happy to commit early to a science-heavy path

When STEM might not fit

• You struggle with math and science and don't enjoy them
• Your interest is business, the humanities or the arts
• You want to keep every option open (GAS is broader)

Planning your entrance tests

Taking several tests keeps your options open:

Keep your math and science fresh

Don't let Pre-Calculus slip between Grade 11 and your tests. Short, regular practice keeps it sharp.

Don't neglect English and Filipino

Reading a few editorials a week, in English and Filipino, helps with the verbal and reading sections.

The usual path

1. STEM in Grades 11 and 12
2. Entrance tests and the DOST-SEI exam, mostly from August to March of Grade 12 (UPCAT applications open earlier, in Grade 11)
3. Results, which in recent cycles mostly came out between March and May of Grade 12
4. Choose a university and program
5. A four- or five-year degree
6. Optional: a master's, medical school or a licensure exam

Where Super Tutor fits

Super Tutor has reviewers for the main college entrance tests: UPCAT (with full mock exams), ACET, DLSU's DCAT, USTET, PUPCET, the FEU and CEU entrance exams, MSU-SASE, and the DOST-SEI scholarship exam. See every exam Super Tutor covers or start free — 5-day trial, no card needed.

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