Any University of Philippines Student? (Other foreign students in Philippines also welcome to answer)?
I am quite interested for enrolling University of Philippines (UP). I found the tuition fee for foreign student is quite cheap (compare to private university in my hometown). However, from the attachment file I received from UP, I found out that the living costs given by the UP are way to high, Its about PHP 300,000 per year! Its like about US$ 500 per month, which is way to much for me. So I would like to know, how can I cut the living cost while studying in Metro Manila? (for reference, I will paste the original living cost details given by UP):- One Year (Two Semesters) Lodging ***(10 months) International Center (800-1500/mo.)P 20,000 + Electric Appliances (500/mo.) Board (P12000/mo. For 10 months) 120,000 School Related Materials & Equipment 100,000 Rental (P10000/mo for 10 months) Personal allowances (P5000/mo. 50,000 For 10 months) Laundry (P1500/mo. For 10 months) 15,000 Total P305,000 (This does not include travel, clothing, and other incidental expenses). PS: What is "Board" (the P12000 per month), why does it cost so much? And must I rent hostel units in the school compound? And must I pay the laundry? Can't I wash my cloths by myself? Sincere answer is deeply appreciated. (No trolling please. ) Thank you.
Philippines - 5 Answers
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1 :
I think this is just recommended or referral, but i guess you could live in other places in manila but it's hard to find one that is safe and real deal. i think board means lodging. maybe you could go to the UP's official website and check, this might not be the real deal. because as i have heard UP is not as expensive as other schools but they have excellent students!
2 :
wait :)
3 :
The "Board" there is the estimate of your expenses for food. As for the Rental, I have no idea. But, if you are to stay in the International Center (which is a dorm for foreign students) then you don't have to rent another. I stayed at Kalayaan Residence Hall (a UP dorm for freshmen) and what we were only allowed to wash were our undergarments. I think it depends on you if you are to avail the laundry service there. (I availed the service of a laundry woman provided by the dorm, but it was 700php/mo, cheaper.) There are other laundry services which you can avail inside the campus, the cost depends on the weight of your laundry, i think it's around 25Php/kg. Here are the dorm rates: https://dormapplication.upd.edu.ph/downloads/Dorm_rates_2011.pdf In the international center (IC) , the rate depends on how many you are in a room. The electric appliances cost depends on what appliances you use in your room and they have respective rates (idk if it's the same for IC but in our dorm, it's 120Php/mo for printer, 120Php for a 12" electric fan, etc...) ------------------ There's an available wifi connection in dormitories. You just have to set a few things in your browser, then log in your UP webmail account (you'll have one once you enroll). You can use that if you want to spend less money, it's not that fast and is only for research, but if you want to cut costs then you can use it instead of buying yourself an internet plug-in. Compared to other boarding houses/dorms, UP dormitories are cheaper. You get 24/7 security and you would get to enjoy fun events of the dorm (we had a sports fest and all, I think there's a cultural festival or something in IC, I'm not sure but I'm certain there's an even there 'coz my roommate sang a Filipino song there) There are certain orgs in the campus which sell second hand books. You just have to find which org sells what. There is however a place where there are lots of second hand books, but I don't recommend you to go alone there 'coz you might end up in a dilemma considering that you are a foreign student (your money might get stolen or something), it's a place called Recto. If you'll go there, I suggest you have someone who's familiar with the place to accompany you. Oh and don't wear a UP ID, they usually don't lower the price for UP students.
4 :
seems like they gave you their dorming fee. heres the tip. find a relative and friend that can board you. offer a pay of $150.00 a month. thats about 6,000 pesos. infact find a Dorm nearby for P 5,000 or lower. You need some one to help you scout and not just do online searches so that you wont get scamed. Also some apartments can rent out a place for Php 8,000-11,000 thats around $200 the UP Dorm for International students is PHP 800.00 Male ( 2 ina room) thats $20.00 a Month if you choose to live at the dorms be sure to adhere to the rules https://dormapplication.upd.edu.ph/downloads/Dorm_Terms_and_Conditions.pdf also dorming in the philippines is tricky you can get a room up to 5 ppl in a room. not recommended if youre a foregner not used to the culture. families may offer a boarding rate cheaper and let you use their washing machine. there are no laundrymats in the philippines that do self wash. There are Laundry stations where you drop off the clothes and you can come pick it up later, all washed and folded for around P150.00-300 the school related materials.....um if you go to Natonal Bookstore you can buy your books and school supplies there for under $30. Unless your books are the big medical books that must be bought in the campus store then a book is about $12.00- $20.00 im sure $30-40.00 a week is more than enough for you for food. Clothing for men are cheaper than women. But you can go on a $40.00 shopping spree ( thats around php 1,700.00 ) to buy clothing and toiletries Now Bills get a cellphone and apply for a prepaid plan. You can reload up to $5.00 ( PHP 200.00) worth of call credits. I sugges get a iPhone from Globe so you can use Skype for international calls Electricity can go up to PHP 300.00/month for dorms or lower Internet- if you have a laptop buy a braodband usb for $20.00 from Globe or Smart carriers then do either a prepaid or post paid plan. Either way its cheaper and they charge buy the minutes
5 :
I'm not surprised. They've placed buffers, and have not placed it the lowest possible rates so foreign students could make lots of adjustments. I studied in UP and here's what I've allocated myself monthly: Php12,000 monthly (Php400 daily allowance for food, transpo) Php4,000 boarding house rent (inclusive of wifi, cable, utilities) Php1,000 laundry Php3,000 monthly allowance (clothes, school supplies, malls) ======= only Php20,000 a month! For a fact, I was spending more than most people. I had my own room that didn't have curfew. I had generous lunch always and even afforded to go out with friends to watch movies, drink in bars, and kill time in coffeeshops. Considering too I've batchmates who got their bedspaces for only Php1,500 a month! Lunch in UP would average at P60 even, so you could I guess I was snacking up a lot to consume all of my Php400. My transpo to and fro home was just Php40--my boarding house was in UP Village.
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