CHED rolls out financial aid for 19,000 healthcare students

The Commission on Higher Education (Commission on Higher Education) launched on Monday a financial assistance program for healthcare students completing mandatory clinical and field-based training, according to the agency.

The program, called the Allied Health Experiential Assistance for Deserving Students (AHEAD) Grant, is expected to benefit around 19,000 students nationwide. It was launched by CHED Chairperson Shirley Agrupis and Senator Bam Aquino.

“Kapag nag-RLE ang mga estudyante natin sa mga ospital, sila pa ang nagbabayad. RLE is anywhere from P20,000 to P80,000 per year, mas malaki pa sa tuition fee nila,” Aquino said.

(When students undergo Related Learning Experience [RLE] training in hospitals, they shoulder the costs themselves. RLE expenses range from P20,000 to P80,000 a year, often costing more than tuition.)

“May total budget itong AHEAD Grant na P500 million, kaya roughly 19,000 nursing and allied health students nationwide ang makikinabang. That is more than 10% of nursing students in the Philippines,” he added.

(The AHEAD Grant has a total budget of P500 million, which is expected to benefit around 19,000 nursing and allied health students nationwide—more than 10% of nursing students in the country.)

The following healthcare and allied medical programs are prioritized under the grant:

• BS Nursing
• BS Medical Laboratory Science / Medical Technology
• BS Midwifery
• BS Physical Therapy
• BS Occupational Therapy
• BS Public Health
• BS Pharmacy
• BS Radiologic Technology
• BS Respiratory Therapy
• BS Nutrition and Dietetics
• BS Speech Language Pathology
• Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD)
• Doctor of Optometry (OD)
• Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

According to CHED, the priority programs covered under the AHEAD Grant are “strategically tied to the Human Resources for Health Philippine Masterplan 2020–2040.”

“Ipinaglaban po natin ito kasama si Senator Bam Aquino during the budget deliberations because we recognized that many of our students—especially in nursing and allied health programs—ay napipilitang huminto o nahihirapang makapagpatuloy dahil sa mahal na gastusin para sa clinical training at internships,” Agrupis said.

(We pushed for this with Senator Bam Aquino during budget deliberations because we recognized that many students, particularly those in nursing and allied health programs, are forced to stop or struggle to continue due to the high cost of clinical training and internships.)

Under Aquino’s chairmanship and in line with constitutional requirements, education received the largest allocation in the 2026 national budget at more than P1.34 trillion.

CHED said the AHEAD Grant covers costs typically excluded from tuition scholarships, including expenses for clinical duties, internships, practicums, and community-based training.

The grant also subsidizes out-of-pocket costs such as transportation, accommodation, uniforms, medical requirements, insurance, and other training-related expenses.

Interested students and higher education institutions are advised to coordinate with their respective CHED regional offices for guidelines on eligibility, application timelines, and documentary requirements.—MCG, GMA News