CHED SIKAP Scholarship 2026: Application Guide for SIKAP and SIKAP-N

The CHED SIKAP Scholarship helps qualified teaching and non-teaching personnel pursue graduate studies in the Philippines.

This program supports eligible applicants who want to take a Master’s or Doctorate degree through financial assistance for tuition, stipend, and research-related support.

Gain information on the qualifications, priority areas, benefits, requirements, deadline, and application process through this guide.

Qualifications

To qualify for the CHED SIKAP Scholarship, applicants must meet the eligibility requirements set by the Commission on Higher Education.

The Scholarships for Staff and Instructors’ Knowledge Advancement Program, also known as SIKAP, is a CHED scholarship program for qualified personnel who want to pursue advanced graduate studies.

The program is open to qualified teaching and non-teaching personnel of Higher Education Institutions, government agencies, and private institutions with a Memorandum of Understanding or Memorandum of Agreement with CHED.

For this application cycle, CHED accepts applicants under two categories:

• SIKAP for regular or plantilla personnel
• SIKAP-N for non-regular or non-plantilla personnel

SIKAP Categories

The CHED SIKAP Scholarship has two main categories depending on the applicant’s employment status.

SIKAP for Regular or Plantilla Personnel

SIKAP is for qualified teaching and non-teaching personnel holding regular or plantilla positions.

Applicants may qualify under this category if they meet the following:

1. Must be a Filipino citizen
2. Must be a full-time teaching or non-teaching personnel
3. Must be employed in a CHED-recognized Higher Education Institution, government agency, or private institution with a CHED MOU or MOA
4. Must be admitted and will enroll in a graduate degree program within the application term
5. Must be physically and mentally fit to complete the scholarship program
6. Must not be more than 50 years old within the next six months from the date of application
7. Must be cleared of pending obligations from previous grants or scholarships
8. Must have an endorsement from the Sending HEI, agency, or institution
9. Must be willing to execute a Return Service Agreement
10. Must be in good academic standing if already enrolled in graduate studies
11. Must have approved full-time study leave for full-time study
12. Must have a permit to study for part-time study

SIKAP-N for Non-Regular or Non-Plantilla Personnel

SIKAP-N is for qualified non-regular or non-plantilla teaching and non-teaching personnel.

Applicants may qualify under this category if they meet the following:

1. Must be a Filipino citizen
2. Must be employed full-time as teaching or non-teaching personnel
3. Must have rendered at least five years of continuous service in the Sending HEI
4. Must be employed in a CHED-recognized HEI, BARMM HEI recognized by MBHTE, or LUC with CHED Institutional Recognition
5. Must be admitted and will enroll in an eligible graduate degree program
6. Must be physically and mentally fit to complete the scholarship program
7. Must be willing to execute a Return Service Agreement with the Sending HEI
8. Must not be more than 50 years old within the next six months from the date of application
9. Must be cleared of pending obligations from previous grants or scholarships
10. Must have an endorsement from the Sending HEI
11. Must be in good academic standing if already enrolled in graduate studies
12. Must have approved full-time study leave for full-time study
13. Must have a permit to study for part-time study

Ineligible Applicants

Applicants may not qualify for the CHED SIKAP Scholarship if any of the following applies:

1. Has an existing government-funded scholarship or grant
2. Has pending obligations from previous grants or scholarships
3. Failed to disclose relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or affinity employed at the CHED Regional Office where the application is processed
4. Has relatives within the fourth degree who are already existing scholars of SIKAP, SIKAP-N, or HUSAY
5. Has direct authority to recommend applicants for the scholarship program
6. Has been found guilty of administrative or criminal charges
7. Has pending administrative or criminal cases
8. Is not currently employed in an eligible HEI, agency, or institution
9. Already completed the same degree level being applied for, unless required for vertical alignment
10. Is enrolled in more than one graduate program
11. Is already on extension of study or beyond the prescribed study period
12. Has poor academic performance based on the Delivering HEI’s retention policy
13. Was terminated from a CHED or government scholarship due to non-completion, breach of contract, or similar reasons
14. Does not meet the eligibility requirements or submitted incomplete documents

Additional rules may apply depending on whether the applicant is applying under SIKAP or SIKAP-N.

Priority Areas

The CHED SIKAP Scholarship supports graduate studies in priority areas aligned with national development goals.

These priority areas may be remembered through the acronym CHED TANYAG.

Priority areas include:

• Creative Industries
• Health and Welfare
• Engineering and Advanced Manufacturing
• Digital Technology and Artificial Intelligence
• Tourism
• Agriculture, Fisheries, Forestry, Veterinary Services, and Food Systems
• Natural Sciences
• Energy
• Actuarial Sciences and Financial Services
• Guidance and Counseling

Applicants should make sure that their chosen graduate program is included in the eligible programs under CHED-identified Delivering Higher Education Institutions.

Benefits

Qualified CHED SIKAP scholars may receive financial support for their approved graduate degree program.

The benefits may include:

• Tuition and other school fees
• Monthly stipend
• Thesis or dissertation allowance
• Research support
• Other approved scholarship-related allowances

These benefits help scholars focus on completing their Master’s or Doctorate degree while contributing to the development of higher education in the country.

Requirements

Applicants must prepare and submit the documentary requirements through the proper process.

Typical requirements may include:

• Application Form
• Certificate of Employment with Compensation
• Approved Study Leave for full-time study
• Permit to Study for part-time study
• Certificate of Clearance from previous grants or scholarships
• NBI Clearance
• Medical Certificate showing physical and mental fitness
• Proof of Admission to the Delivering Higher Education Institution
• Transcript of Records for undergraduate and graduate degrees
• Return Service Agreement
• Draft Re-entry Action Plan or REAP
• Copy of publication in the past five years, if any
• Certificate of Award, if applicable

Applicants must make sure that all scanned documents are clear, complete, and readable.

Blurry, pixelated, incomplete, or incorrect documents may affect the application.

Application Schedule

The application period for Batch 1 is:

May 31 to June 22, 2026

Interested applicants are encouraged to complete their application and submit all required documents before the deadline.

Late submissions may not be accepted.

Application Process

To successfully apply for the CHED SIKAP Scholarship, follow these steps:

Step 1: Wait for the Call for Applications

CHED releases the call for applications through official channels.

The application is processed through Sending HEI, agency, or institution nomination. There is no direct individual application to CHED.

Applicants may also log in to the SIKAP Management System and check the Call for Applicants section for available scholarship programs and deadlines.

Step 2: Check Your Eligibility

Review the eligibility requirements carefully before preparing your documents.

Choose the correct category:

• SIKAP for regular or plantilla personnel
• SIKAP-N for non-regular or non-plantilla personnel

Make sure that your employment status, graduate program, age, academic standing, and institutional endorsement meet the requirements.

Step 3: Log in to the SIKAP Portal

• Once a Call for Applicants is open, log in to the SIKAP Management System.
• Go to the Call for Applicants section and choose the scholarship program you are applying for.
• Complete the Requirements Form in the portal.

Step 4: Complete the Requirements Form

• Fill out the required details in the portal.
• The form may ask for information about your personal profile, employment, Sending HEI, Delivering HEI, and graduate program.
• Make sure all details are accurate because the portal may use your answers to prepare or auto-fill some documents.

Step 5: Download and Prepare the Documents

• After submitting the Requirements Form, the portal will show the documentary requirements for your program.
• Download the needed templates, complete the required parts, sign the documents, and prepare them for upload or submission.
• Review all auto-filled information before final submission.

Step 6: Submit Documents to Your Sending Institution

• Submit your complete documentary requirements to your Sending HEI, agency, or institution.
• Your Sending Institution will screen and validate your documents, check your eligibility, rank applicants if needed, and endorse the official list of nominees to the CHED Regional Office.
• Coordinate with your institution’s designated focal person to avoid missing the deadline.

Step 7: CHEDRO Evaluation

• The CHED Regional Office will evaluate the nominated applicants.
• The evaluation may include screening, ranking, document validation, and review based on available slots and eligibility requirements.

Step 8: Wait for Notification

• CHEDRO will issue formal notifications of application results to the nominees, Sending Institution, Delivering HEI, and CHED Central Office.
• Successful applicants must confirm their acceptance in writing within 15 working days after receiving the Notice of Award.

Step 9: Enroll in the Approved Graduate Program

• After accepting the award, the scholar must enroll in the approved graduate degree program.
• Scholars must also follow the scholarship rules, academic requirements, and return service agreement.

Do’s and Don’ts

Before applying, take note of these reminders.

About CHED and CHED SIKAP

The Commission on Higher Education, also known as CHED, is the government agency that oversees higher education institutions and programs in the Philippines.

CHED helps improve the quality of higher education by supporting colleges, universities, faculty members, staff, and students through policies, programs, and scholarships.

The Scholarships for Staff and Instructors’ Knowledge Advancement Program, or SIKAP, is one of CHED’s scholarship programs for qualified personnel who want to pursue graduate studies.

Through SIKAP and SIKAP-N, CHED aims to strengthen the country’s higher education workforce and support advanced studies in priority fields.

Final Thoughts

The CHED SIKAP Scholarship 2026 is a helpful opportunity for qualified teaching and non-teaching personnel who want to pursue a Master’s or Doctorate degree.

If you are eligible, coordinate with your Sending Institution, prepare your documents early, and submit your application before the deadline.

Make sure to check the official CHED SIKAP Portal and CHED announcements for the latest updates, requirements, and instructions.

You can also explore more international scholarships and other scholarship programs by organizations here.

Reference

1. Sikap. (2026). SIKAP – Commission on Higher Education. [online] Available at: https://sikap.ched.gov.ph/ [Accessed 9 June 2026].
2. Sikap. (2026). How to Apply for SIKAP Scholarship. [online] Available at: https://sikap.ched.gov.ph/sikap-apply-now [Accessed 9 June 2026].
3. Sikap. (2026). Sikap. [online] Available at: https://sikap.ched.gov.ph/heis-programs [Accessed 9 June 2026].

Disclaimer

Scholarship.com.ph is not affiliated with the Commission on Higher Education, CHED SIKAP, or any Higher Education Institution mentioned in the scholarship process.

This article is for informational purposes only. Scholarship details, qualifications, requirements, benefits, application schedule, and application process may change without prior notice.

Applicants are strongly advised to verify all information through the official CHED SIKAP Portal, CHED Regional Office, and their Sending HEI, agency, or institution before applying.