Passing the DOST Scholarship Qualifying Examination doesn’t automatically get a student into the scholarship. The degree program they plan to enroll in has to be on DOST-SEI’s priority list too and that list is longer, and more specific, than most applicants expect.
DOST-SEI updates this list periodically, and it’s the version used for the DOST Scholarship Exam. Some entries apply everywhere; others are tied to a single university, a specific program length, or a particular specialization.
Missing that detail is one of the more common ways an otherwise-qualified applicant ends up enrolled in a program the scholarship doesn’t actually cover.
Quick Jump Menu
What are the DOST Priority Courses?
Priority courses are the degree programs DOST-SEI has identified as contributing directly to the country’s science, technology, industrial, and economic development. An applicant can pass the qualifying exam and still lose the scholarship’s benefits if they enroll in a program outside this list, so the list is worth checking before committing to a school or a course, not after.
Full List of DOST Priority Courses
A – B
- Aeronautical Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Agribusiness
- Agribusiness Economics
- Agribusiness Management
- Agribusiness Management and Entrepreneurship
- Agricultural and Applied Economics
- Agricultural Biotechnology¹
- Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering
- Agricultural Chemistry
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Education
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agricultural Technology
- Agriculture
- Agroforestry
- Animal Husbandry
- Animal Science
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Mathematics major in Mathematical Finance²
- Applied Physics
- Applied Physics with Applied Computer System²
- Applied Physics with Materials Science and Engineering²
- Applied Statistics
- Architecture
- Artificial Intelligence
- Astronomy
- Basic Medical Sciences⁶
- Biochemistry
- Biology
- Biology for Teachers
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Biological Sciences
- Biology-Chemistry⁴
C – D
- Ceramics Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Chemistry for Teachers
- Chemistry with Applied Computer Systems²
- Chemistry with Materials Science and Engineering²
- Civil Engineering
- Clothing Technology
- Community Nutrition
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Cybersecurity
- Data Science
- Data Science and Analytics⁹
- Development Communication major in Science Communication
E – G
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics and Communications Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Energy Systems Management
- Environmental and Sanitary Engineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Environmental Science
- Fine Arts Major in Industrial Design
- Fisheries
- Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
- Food Science and Technology
- Food Technology
- Forestry
- Geodetic Engineering
- Geography
- Geology
- Geothermal Engineering
- General Sciences
H – L
- Health Sciences
- Human Biology⁵
- Industrial Design
- Industrial Engineering
- Industrial Management Engineering-Information Technology³
- Industrial Pharmacy
- Information and Communications Technology
- Information System
- Information Technology
- Information Technology Systems
- Instrumentation and Control Engineering
- Life Sciences
- Library and Information Science
M – P
- Management Information Systems²
- Manufacturing Engineering
- Manufacturing Engineering-Management-Biomedical Engineering³
- Manufacturing Engineering-Management-Mechatronics and Robotics
- Marine Biology
- Marine Science
- Materials Engineering
- Mathematics
- Mathematics and Science Teaching
- Mathematics Education
- Mathematics for Teachers
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronics Engineering
- Medical Laboratory Science
- Medical Technology
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Meteorology
- Microbiology
- Mining Engineering
- Molecular Biology and Biotechnology
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering
- Nutrition
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Packaging Engineering⁸
- Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Pharmacy (4-year program)
- Pharmacy major in Clinical Pharmacy (5-year program)
- Physical Sciences
- Physics
- Physics for Teachers
- Prosthetics and Orthotics⁷
- Psychology
- Public Health
R – V
- Railway Engineering and Management
- Science
- Science Education with specialization in Biology, Chemistry and Physics
- Speech Pathology
- Sports Science
- Statistics
- Technology and Livelihood Education with Specialization in Information and Communications Technology
- Transportation Engineering
- Veterinary Medicine
Institution Specific Notes
A few of these programs aren’t offered everywhere, or come with a different program length depending on the school. It’s worth checking these against the notes below before finalizing a course choice.
Note Restriction
- ¹ Agricultural Biotechnology – UP System only
- ² 4 years, Ateneo de Manila University only
- ³ De La Salle University – Manila only
- ⁴ 4 years, University of San Carlos only
- ⁵ 3 years, De La Salle University – Manila only
- ⁶ 4 years, University of the Philippines Manila only
- ⁷ University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center only
- ⁸ Central Philippine University
- ⁹ University of Santo Tomas
Because some of these programs are school-specific, the safest approach is to confirm both the course and the university against DOST-SEI’s latest list before enrolling a program can be a DOST priority course at one school and not recognized at another under the same name.
Read: DOST S&T Undergraduate Scholarship is open
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the priority courses of DOST?
DOST’s priority courses covers engineering, computer science and IT, health sciences, agriculture, mathematics, natural sciences, and science education, more than 100 degree programs in total, listed in full above.
What course is eligible for the DOST scholarship?
Any program on DOST-SEI’s official priority list is eligible, provided it’s taken at a school where that program is recognized under the scholarship. Some programs, like Data Science and Analytics or Packaging Engineering, are tied to one specific university.
What courses will be offered by DOST in 2026?
The list above reflects DOST-SEI’s current priority courses used for the scholarship exam. DOST-SEI updates the list periodically, so applicants should verify against the latest official version before enrolling.
Is DOST for STEM only?
No. STEM students may apply to any priority course, and non-STEM students may also apply if they rank in the top 5% of their graduating class.
Does DOST cover full tuition?
For private higher education institutions, DOST covers tuition and other school fees up to ₱40,000 per academic year, along with a monthly living allowance and other benefits.
Does the DOST priority list include nursing?
Nursing does not appear on the current DOST priority list. Related fields such as Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Science, Health Sciences, and Public Health are included instead.