Money for studying in the Philippines is paid in different ways: tuition and housing before you leave, local fees after you arrive, and daily spending. Using schools’ official pages and guidance from the Philippine central bank (BSP), we set out how to handle each. Checked on 30 October 2026.
In short
Tuition and housing are paid by transfer before you leave, and some schools collect local fees in pesos in cash after you arrive. You can bring in or take out up to 50,000 pesos, and foreign currency up to the equivalent of USD 10,000, without a declaration. Check how much cash you need on day one from your school’s fee table.
Split payments by when you pay
It is easier to prepare if you split money for studying in the Philippines into three, by when and to whom you pay.
- Tuition and housing: paid by transfer before departure, to the school or an agency
- Local fees (SSP, visa extensions, utilities and so on): some schools collect them after you arrive, in pesos in cash
- Daily spending (weekends, shopping and so on): a mix of cash and card
Paying tuition and housing
CEGA asks for the registration fee within a week of applying and the course fee four weeks before arrival, by transfer to the school’s account, and says it does not accept credit cards or checks.
If a school prices in a currency other than yours, the amount you pay depends on the exchange rate on the day you pay. Check which currency the school bills in and how the rate is set.
Local fees in pesos in cash
CEGA, HELP, B&D and Well, which publish how they collect local fees, all say they take pesos in cash after you arrive. CEGA collects fees listed in pesos on the first day.
On day one you typically need cash for the SSP and the first weeks of utilities, books and the deposit. See the amounts by number of weeks in our article on local fees by length of stay.
Rules on carrying cash in and out
According to the Philippine central bank (BSP), you can freely bring in or take out up to 50,000 pesos in cash. Above 50,000 pesos, you need prior written authorization from the BSP and must declare the whole amount.
Foreign currency (such as US dollars) can be brought in or taken out freely up to the equivalent of USD 10,000. Above that, you must declare the whole amount. The same applies to each child traveling with a parent.
Changing money
Change only what you need at first, and keep your exchange receipts until you leave. Follow your own government’s travel advice on carrying cash safely.
What to check before you leave
When preparing money, check these four points.
- Where, by when and how to pay tuition (transfer or card)
- The local fee table and how much you pay on day one
- Where you will get pesos in cash for day one
- Whether the cash you carry stays within 50,000 pesos and USD 10,000
Next step: check how much you need on day one
Add up what you pay on day one from your school’s local fee table. If you have a quote, check it with the Study Abroad Quote Check. For the whole process, see our guide to studying English in the Philippines.
