LOS BAÑOS, Laguna — The Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) here is offering full scholarships for Master's and PhD programs in agriculture for the academic year 2026-2027.
The scholarships are open to nationals of 11 Southeast Asian countries, including Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam.
With regional priorities, the scholarship program aligns with SEARCA's 12th Five-Year Development Plan, focusing on critical areas such as increasing farmers' income, improving food security and nutrition, enhancing climate resilience of agricultural systems, and empowering agricultural stakeholders.
SEARCA said applicants are encouraged to align their proposed thesis or dissertation topics with these priority areas.
The call for scholarship applications opened on Aug. 1, 2025, and will close on Sept. 30, 2025. Interested candidates can visit the official SEARCA scholarships page at https://www.searca.org/scholarships for more information and to apply.
Earlier, a virtual information session was held to guide prospective graduate students on the application process, eligibility criteria, and the full scholarship package.
During the session, SEARCA provided a detailed walkthrough of the full scholarship package, eligibility criteria, and the application process.
A demonstration of the scholarship information system or Ischo, SEARCA's online application portal, was also conducted to help applicants avoid common submission errors, such as missing requirements or unanswered fields.
Maria Cristeta Cuaresma, senior program head of SEARCA's Education and Collective Learning Department or ECLD, emphasized the importance of a competitive advantage in the evaluation process.
"We encourage applicants to showcase their strengths and interests in their applications," she said.
Cuaresma added that the scholarship program aims to "empower future leaders in agriculture by providing them with the necessary knowledge, skills, and expertise to address key challenges in the region."
The program has been instrumental in supporting the development of agricultural professionals and researchers in Southeast Asia.
By offering full scholarships to aspiring agricultural leaders, Cuaresma said SEARCA is "committed to supporting the development of the region's agricultural sector and promoting sustainable agricultural practices."