The MSRS (Medical Scholarship and Return Service) Program, offered by the CHED (Commission on Higher Education) and SUC/PHEI (State Universities and Colleges/Private Higher Education Institutions), provides opportunities for aspiring medical students to pursue their dreams of becoming doctors. In this blog post, we will discuss the application and selection process for the MSRS Program, as well as the financial assistance provided to scholars.
Application Process
Interested applicants for the MSRS Program must comply with the qualification requirements stated in the guidelines. The application should be submitted through the SUC/PHEI. Applicants will undergo a screening and selection process conducted by the SUC/PHEI for admission to the medical program/course. The evaluation sheet provided in Annex A will be used for the screening process.
Selection Process
The SUC/PHEI will endorse the list of scholarship applicants to CHEDRO for evaluation and validation. CHEDRO will prioritize deserving applicants based on specific criteria:
- Those residing in a municipality without government physicians
- Those residing in areas identified as GIDA (Geographically Isolated and Disadvantaged Areas) or the top 20 poorest provinces and/or municipalities
- Those belonging to ethnic groups or indigenous populations/communities
- Those who are dependents of community health volunteers
- Those residing in low-income municipalities with high poverty incidence
- Those whose combined annual gross family income is less than Php450,000.00
After validation by CHEDRO, the list of approved/accepted scholars will be endorsed to the concerned SUC/PHEI. The applicants will be notified of their application status, and all accepted scholars will be enrolled accordingly.
Financial Assistance
The MSRS Program provides comprehensive financial assistance to scholars, including:
- Free tuition and other school fees
- Allowance for prescribed books, supplies, and equipment
- Clothing or uniform allowance
- Transportation allowance
- Internship fees, including financial assistance during a mandatory internship
- Medical board review fees
- Licensure fees
- Annual medical insurance
- PHIC (Philippine Health Insurance Corporation) enrollment and accident insurance
- Other education-related miscellaneous subsistence or living allowance
The actual tuition fee subsidy and other school fees will be paid directly to the SUC by the concerned CHEDRO for scholars in SUCs. For scholars enrolled in PHEIs, the subsidy will be limited to Php105,000.00 per academic year or 75% of the actual tuition and other school fees listed in the guidelines, whichever is lower.
In addition to the tuition fee subsidy, scholars will receive various allowances per semester and academic year:
| Allowances | Per Semester | Per Academic Year |
|---|---|---|
| Book Allowance | Php13,000 | Php26,000 |
| Clothing/Uniform Allowance | Php3,500 | Php7,000 |
| Miscellaneous Allowance (including Connectivity Allowance) | Php6,000 | Php12,000 |
| Living Subsidy | Php30,000 (Php5,000 x 6 mos.) | Php60,000 |
| Lodging Allowance | Php30,000 (Php5,000 x 6 mos.) | Php60,000 |
| Transportation Allowance | Php6,000 (Php1,000 x 6 mos.) | Php12,000 |
During the internship program/5th year of medicine, scholars will receive additional allowances per semester and academic year:
| Allowances | Per Semester | Per Academic Year |
|---|---|---|
| Living Subsidy | Php30,000 (Php5,000 x 6 mos.) | Php60,000 |
| Lodging Allowance | Php30,000 (Php5,000 x 6 mos.) | Php60,000 |
| Transportation Allowance | Php6,000 (Php1,000 x 6 mos.) | Php12,000 |
| One-time Board/Licensure Examination Review and Application Fees | Php16,000 | Php148,000 |
Enrollment in the National Health Insurance Program (PHIC) and Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) Accident Insurance will also be provided.
Through the MSRS Program, aspiring medical students can pursue their dreams without financial constraints. The comprehensive financial assistance and selection process ensures that deserving individuals have the opportunity to become doctors and serve their communities.
Source: https://ched.gov.ph/
