DOST UGS vs JLSS: Which One Is for You?
DOST-SEI offers two ways into its undergraduate scholarships: the UGS for students finishing senior high, and the JLSS for students already in college. Here's how they compare, so you know which one to aim for.
Side by side
| Detail | UGS | JLSS |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | S&T Undergraduate Scholarship | Junior Level Science Scholarship |
| Who it's for | Grade 12 students, and graduates not yet in college | Regular second-year college students |
| Academic requirement | STEM strand, or top 5% of your non-STEM class | GWA of at least 83%, with no failing grades |
| Course | You'll enroll in a priority S&T course | You're already in a priority S&T course |
| When you apply | August to September (2027 cycle: Aug 17 to Sep 17, 2026) | Around April to May (2026 cycle: closed May 15, 2026) |
| Qualifying exam | November 14–15, 2026, as reported for the 2027 cycle | June 28, 2026 for the 2026 cycle |
| Scholarship starts | First year of college | Third year of college |
| Programs | RA 7687 and Merit | RA 7687, Merit, and RA 10612 |
| Return service | One year of service for each year as a scholar | One year of service for each year as a scholar |
Dates and rules change each cycle. Always confirm on the official DOST-SEI website.
Which one should you take?
- In Grade 12? Take the UGS. It covers your whole degree, and it's your first chance at a DOST scholarship.
- Already in college? Aim for the JLSS in your second year. Keep your GWA at 83% or higher, and make sure your course and school are on DOST-SEI's priority list.
- Didn't make it in the UGS? The JLSS is your next chance, as long as your course and grades qualify. Start preparing in your first year.
How the exams compare
Both scholarships use a qualifying exam, and both have a limited number of slots. In 2026, 1,000 of the 11,592 students who took the JLSS exam qualified, about 1 in 12.
The JLSS exam has three timed parts: Creative Reasoning and Language & Literature (45 items, 45 minutes), Science (60 items, 65 minutes), and Mathematics (70 items, 70 minutes). That's 175 items in 3 hours. See the JLSS exam format.
SciScholar has a reviewer for each exam. Both cover Creative Reasoning, Language & Literature, Science, and Mathematics, and each has its own 100-item mock exam: 135 minutes for the UGS and 180 minutes for the JLSS.
DOST-SEI doesn't publish a detailed topic list for the JLSS. Free review sessions that DOST scholars ran for JLSS applicants have covered Mathematics, Science, English, Logical Reasoning, and Mechanical and Technical problem-solving.
Read the full guides
Each guide covers eligibility, dates, benefits, and how to prepare in more detail.
Sources
- DOST-SEI: 2026 Junior Level Science Scholarship official list of qualifiers
- Philippine Information Agency: DOST calls for applications for the 2024 JLSS
- DOST Region 6: Capiz DOST scholars lead JLSS review effort
- DOST Scholarship Return Service: What Applicants Should Understand
SciScholar is an independent reviewer and is not affiliated with DOST or SEI.