Top Universities in Philippines: Rankings, Popular Courses

The Philippines is a one-stop destination for all those overseas students who wish to pursue quality higher education abroad with affordable tuition fees, in a multicultural environment. The country has a plethora of higher academic institutes with courses taught in English, making it easy for foreign nations to comprehend. The article will assist students in learning about the top universities in the Philippines, popular programmes, the cost of studying in the Philippines, and much more.

One of the most popular higher education destinations, with an influx of overseas students in recent years, the Philippines is an archipelagic nation consisting of over 7,000 islands. The 13^th most populated country worldwide, over 108 million people are residing there. The country has been garnering the attention of international students not only because of its naturally aesthetically pleasing atmosphere, including white sand beaches, forests, blue lagoons and idyllic provincial getaways, but also for its inclusiveness which makes it comfortable for them. Indian students planning to pursue an undergraduate or graduate course in the Philippines are in for a treat as you’ll live among some of the friendliest people, in a serene environment.

The reason behind its climbing popularity is its booming education sector. It has been observed that the accelerated growth of overseas students is credited to the presence of highly-ranked universities and colleges in the Philippines. Degrees offered at these institutes are recognized at a global level, positively pushing employers to absorb their graduates. Also, many alumni of these colleges have made it big in different fields such as medicine, engineering, business, etc., due to the widespread opportunities available.

But in order to ensure that your money, time and efforts are being rightly utilised you need to conduct proper research, exploring the various universities and colleges the country has to offer.

Is Philippines good for Indian Students?

Students from India who are looking forward to pursuing higher studies abroad can consider the Philippines due to its excellent education quality and affordability. The cost of studying and living in the Philippines is comparatively lower than in various Western nations. Due to this factor, its Indian expatriate community is quite good, making one feel at home.

Top Reasons for Studying in Philippines

Several factors make the Philippines are suitable study-abroad destination for overseas students. Some of the major reasons are listed below:

• Low Tuition Fees: Both the cost of studying and the cost of living in the Philippines are among the top factors attracting the international student population to the country. This is due to the fact that most of the higher education institutes usually charge lower fees in comparison to various countries in the West which are renowned for higher education. Due to this education becomes more accessible.
• Teaching in English: Being one of the official languages of the Philippines, English is used to teach many academic courses in Philippine universities and colleges. Because of this non-native speakers find it easy to understand and register the lessons. This makes their academic journey a lot easier.
• Multicultural Environment: Acknowledged for its rich heritage and culture, students from all across the world, irrespective of caste, creed, religion, race, and nationality, are pursuing different courses in the Philippines. This helps you become a part of a socially inclusive environment.
• Healthcare Courses: The country has earned a reputation for its medical and healthcare-related programmes, due to which students from different parts of the world come in large numbers to pursue medical education.

Read: How to select a course for studying abroad

Top Universities in Philippines

Extensively influenced by the American system, as per the Philippines's higher education majority of the programmes are completed in four years. Also, students can earn these degrees by pursuing a preset programme as well as by acquiring standalone programme credits in a particular study area. 

In the Philippines, students pursuing an undergraduate programme are able to finish it in four years, whereas those studying medicine finish their courses in seven years approximately. Here's a list of the top MBBS colleges in the Philippines. Talking about the postgraduate courses, most of them last one or two years, with science and engineering courses ending in three years. If we throw light on Ph.D. or doctoral degree courses, these usually take a longer study period than in various Western nations. The approximate duration can be 5-7 years, depending upon the mode of study.

Institute	QS World University Rankings 2025	Popular Courses
University of the Philippines, Quezon City	=336	Computer Science Management Economics Mathematics Social Sciences Language & Literature Business Administration Electrical Engineering European Studies Food Technology Interior Design
Ateneo de Manila University, Quezon City	=516	Business Administration Corporate Entrepreneurship Philosophy Fine Arts Modern Languages Law Leadership Studies Environmental Science Development Studies
De La Salle University, Manila	#641-650	Accountancy Computer Science Information Technology Political Science Psychology Philosophy Communication Arts Business Management Advertising Management Marketing Management
University of Santo Tomas	#851-900	Business Economics Commerce Accountancy Financial Management Clinical Pharmacy Medical Biology Medical Technology Nursing Asian Studies Clinical Psychology Development Studies Economics Legal Management Journalism
University of San Carlos, Cebu City	#1201-1400	Anthropology English Language Studies Political Science Civil Engineering Hospitality Management Information Systems Chemistry Interior Design Tourism Management Marine Biology Human Resource Management

Read: Best Countries for Work While Studying Abroad

Popular Universities in Philippines by Subject

Have a look at the top subject areas offered at Philippine institutes and the top universities or colleges for them.

Subject Area	Popular Universities/Institutes
Global MBA	Asian Institute of Management, Manila
Law & Legal Studies	University of Philippines
Economics & Econometrics	De La Salle University University of Philippines
Arts & Humanities	University of Philippines Ateneo de Manila University De La Salle University
Engineering & Technology	University of Philippines
Life Sciences & Medicine	University of Philippines
Social Sciences & Management	University of Philippines De La Salle University Ateneo de Manila University

Read: Get into Top Universities Abroad with Shiksha Topper Counselling Service

Cost of Living in Philippines

As mentioned at the beginning, students pursuing higher education in the Philippines will have to shell out a relatively lesser amount as the country is considered budget-friendly for overseas lots. Students who have turned disheartened due to the expensive cost of living in many of the top study-abroad destinations can choose the Philippines because of its affordability. Manila, Philippine's capital can be a good replacement for Boston or New York as the same offers education at a reasonable rate. As Manila has a good number of overseas students, we are specifically listing the average living costs of the city:

Types of Expenses	Monthly Expenses in PHP
Accommodation	9,000-16,000
Transportation	1,000
Food and Grocery	8,000
Utility Bill	6000
Miscellaneous Expenses	20,000

On average, a person may have to spend around 28,200 PHP (INR 41,240) in a month living in Manila. This does not include the rent. The rent of your accommodation, if living off-campus, will have to be paid separately in the Philippines. If you select a city apart from Manila, the cost of living will go down. Choosing residences, commonly known as corridors or dorms, may help you with paying less.

Related Reads:

Can students apply for studying abroad on their own?	Top Myths about Studying Abroad that Indians Believe
Hidden Costs of Studying Abroad	Best Countries for Studying Abroad

For more details related to studying abroad and foreign admissions, reach out to Shiksha Study Abroad Counsellors for free.