Loyola Schools Graduate Scholarship for PWD

We are pleased to inform the community of the new Tuition Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities starting the Second Semester SY 2022-2023. 

In this inaugural offering, the scholarship will provide qualified PWD graduate students with 20% tuition assistance. There will be four slots per school or a maximum of 20 slots available each school year. The applications will be evaluated based on need and approval will be valid for one semester. The student may apply again, if needed, for the succeeding semesters.

Ateneo de Manila University’s Thrust on Inclusion and Diversity

As a Filipino, Catholic, and Jesuit university, the Ateneo de Manila seeks to provide education that is diverse, inclusive, and equitable. In line with the university’s Non-Discriminatory Policy, the Loyola Schools has implemented several policies and practices to ensure a safe environment and respect for the right to human dignity. Additionally ADMU's Lux in Domino 2030 with its aim at achieving greater impact seeks to diversify the student population. 

Inclusivity in Practice

In the last 7 years, the LS has provided support to students with disabilities, be it in physical spaces (ex: wheelchair ramps, stairlifts, PWD comfort rooms, etc.) or virtual environments (ex: Canvas’ Text to Speech, etc.) in order to provide a more inclusive learning environment. The International Residence Halls also followed accessibility and universal design principles, with 5 rooms specifically retrofitted for PWDs. 

As early as 2015, Ateneo implemented "accessible cyberlearning" as part of the initiative of the Institute on Disability and Public Policy (IDPP) at American University to provide online learning access to persons with disabilities. 

Since then, the LS has built on this pioneering experience with the IDPP particularly at the graduate level, by establishing a scholarship for PWDs to provide full scholarship and living allowance to PWD students accepted into the MA Political Science, major in Global Politics program. Now called AUN-DPPnet Fellowship, the scholarship has expanded to include all other graduate-level degree programs in the University. To date, a total of 6 PWD scholars have graduated with the university’s various master’s degrees.  

Breaking down Barriers

As reflected in ADMU’s commitment to the SDG 4 Quality Education and the UN SDGs, the LS continues to further reduce attitudinal and institutional barriers to transform Ateneo into a more inclusive and diverse university. It is in this context that the OADGP provides seed support for the Loyola Schools graduate students with disabilities through the Tuition Scholarship for Persons with Disabilities for SY 2022-2023. This scholarship will be offered in subsequent school years subject to the availability of funds.

Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), as defined in the IRR of Republic Act 10754, include those who have long-term physical, mental, intellectual, or sensory impairments which in interaction with various barriers may hinder their full and effective participation in society on an equal basis with others. 

A. Eligibility:

1. New/Ongoing graduate student with permanent disability in any of the conditions outlined in RA 10754

2. Filipino Citizen

3. Not enjoying other forms of scholarship

4. Will be enrolling in LS Graduate Coursework for credit

5. Within the residency term limit

6. In financial need

B. Requirements:

1. Scanned copy of Recent ITR; Certificate of Exemption from the filing of Income Tax Return from the BIR; or Certificate of Unemployment from the Municipal/Barangay Hall

2. Scanned copy of valid PWD ID* (Front & Back) issued by the: 

   • Persons with Disability Affairs Office (PDAO); 

   • the City/Municipal Social Welfare and Development Office (C/MSWDO); or 

   • National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)

* The original copy of the ID must be presented to the OADGP for verification within the semester when the scholarship is in effect.