- DOST-SEI has released the updated list of priority courses eligible for the DOST Scholarship Exam.
- New courses added to the list include BS Artificial Intelligence, BS Cybersecurity, and BS Data Science.
- Some programs are only covered if taken at specific universities – check the university-specific list before applying.
Here’s a mistake that takes students months of preparation: taking the DOST Scholarship Exam without first checking if their chosen course is even on the list.
The Department of Science and Technology – Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI) only covers scholars enrolled in approved priority programs. It doesn’t matter how well you score on the exam, if your course isn’t on the list, you won’t qualify for the scholarship.
So before anything else, check below.
Table of Contents
- What’s new this year?
- Complete list of DOST priority courses
- Important: Some courses only qualify at specific universities
- My course isn’t on the list. What now?
- Conclusion
What’s new this year?
Three courses have been added to the DOST priority list for the current exam cycle:
- BS Artificial Intelligence – new
- BS Cybersecurity – new
- BS Data Science – new
These additions reflect the government’s push to build a stronger local workforce in emerging technology fields. If you’re planning to take any of these three, you’re now eligible to apply for the DOST scholarship.
Complete list of DOST priority courses
A – B
- Bachelor in Elementary Mathematics and Science Education
- Bachelor in Mathematics Education
- Bachelor in Science Education (Biology, Chemistry, or Physics)
- Bachelor in Technology and Livelihood Education (Major in ICT)
- Bachelor of Elementary Education (Mathematics / Science and Health)
- Bachelor of Library and Information Science
- Bachelor of Sports Science
- BS Aeronautical / Aerospace Engineering
- BS Agribusiness / Agribusiness Economics / Agribusiness Management
- BS Agricultural and Applied Economics
- BS Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
- BS Agricultural Chemistry / Economics / Education / Engineering / Technology
- BS Agriculture / Agroforestry
- BS Animal Husbandry / Animal Science
- BS Applied Mathematics
- BS Applied Physics / Applied Statistics
- BS Architecture
- BS Artificial Intelligence (New)
- BS Astronomy
- BS Biochemistry / Biology / Biology for Teachers
- BS Biomedical Engineering / Biotechnology
C – E
- BS Ceramics Engineering / Chemical Engineering / Chemistry
- BS Chemistry for Teachers
- BS Civil Engineering
- BS Clothing Technology / Community Nutrition
- BS Computer Engineering / Computer Science
- BS Cybersecurity (New)
- BS Data Science (New)
- BS Development Communication (Major in Science Communication)
- BS Electrical / Electronics / Environmental Engineering
- BS Energy Systems Management
- BS Environmental Science
F – I
- BS Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design
- BS Fisheries / Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
- BS Food Science and Technology / Food Technology
- BS Forestry
- BS Geodetic / Geothermal Engineering
- BS Geography / Geology
- BS Health Sciences
- BS Industrial Design / Industrial Engineering
- BS Industrial Pharmacy
- BS Information and Communications Technology / Information Systems
- BS Information Technology / Information Technology Systems
- BS Instrumentation and Control Engineering
L – N
- BS Life Sciences
- BS Manufacturing Engineering
- BS Marine Biology / Marine Science
- BS Materials / Mechanical / Metallurgical / Mining Engineering
- BS Mathematics / Mathematics for Teachers
- BS Mathematics and Science Teaching
- BS Mechatronics Engineering
- BS Medical Laboratory Science / Medical Technology
- BS Meteorology / Microbiology
- BS Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
- BS Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
- BS Nutrition / Nutrition and Dietetics
P – S
- BS Petroleum Engineering / Pharmaceutical Sciences
- BS Pharmacy (4-year program)
- BS Pharmacy major in Clinical Pharmacy (5-year program)
- BS Physics / Physics for Teachers
- BS Psychology (BS program only)
- BS Public Health
- BS Railway Engineering and Management
- BS Speech Pathology
- BS Statistics / Transportation Engineering
- BSE Biological Sciences / Biology / Chemistry / Science
- BSE General Sciences / Mathematics / Physical Sciences / Physics
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Important: Some courses only qualify at specific universities
This is the part most students overlook. A handful of programs on the DOST priority list are only covered by the scholarship if you take them at a particular school. Enrolling in the same course at a different university will not qualify.
Here’s the full list of university-specific programs:
| Course | Required University |
|---|---|
| BS Agricultural Biotechnology | UP System only |
| BS Applied Mathematics major in Mathematical Finance | Ateneo de Manila University (4-year program) |
| BS Applied Physics with Applied Computer System | Ateneo de Manila University (4-year program) |
| BS Applied Physics with Materials Science and Engineering | Ateneo de Manila University (4-year program) |
| BS Chemistry with Applied Computer Systems | Ateneo de Manila University (4-year program) |
| BS Chemistry with Materials Science and Engineering | Ateneo de Manila University (4-year program) |
| BS Management Information Systems | Ateneo de Manila University (4-year program) |
| BS Industrial Management Engineering – Information Technology | De La Salle University – Manila only |
| BS Manufacturing Engineering-Management-Biomedical Engineering | De La Salle University – Manila only |
| BS Human Biology | De La Salle University – Manila (3-year program) |
| BS Pharmacy major in Clinical Pharmacy (5-year program) | De La Salle University – Manila (3-year program) |
| BS Pharmacy (4-year program) | University of San Carlos only |
| BSE Biology-Chemistry | University of San Carlos (4-year program) |
| BSE Physics-Chemistry | University of San Carlos (4-year program) |
| BSE Physics-Mathematics | University of San Carlos (4-year program) |
| BS Basic Medical Sciences | UP Manila only |
| BS Prosthetics and Orthotics | UERMMMC only |
| BS Packaging Engineering | Central Philippine University only |
| BS Data Science and Analytics | University of Santo Tomas only |
If your chosen course appears on this table, make sure you’re also enrolled or planning to enroll at the required university. Otherwise, that course won’t count toward your scholarship eligibility.
My course isn’t on the list. What now?
Don’t count yourself out just yet. A few things worth doing:
- Check the DOST-SEI website and The list above is based on the latest published information from DOST-SEI, but updates can happen. Always verify directly at science-scholarships.ph.
- Consider a related course that is on the list, If you’re stuck between two courses and one of them qualifies for DOST while the other doesn’t, it’s worth thinking about that in your decision especially if financial support would make a real difference for you.
- Look into other DOST scholarship opportunities, DOST has multiple programs the Junior Level Science Scholarship (JLSS), the RA 7687 scholarship for students from low-income families, and regional scholarships each with slightly different course coverage and eligibility rules.
Conclusion
The course list is step one before the exam review, before the application form, before anything else. A lot of deserving students have gone through the entire process only to find out their course doesn’t qualify.
Check your course. Check your school. Then apply with confidence.
Source: DOST-Science Education Institute (DOST-SEI)
