If you’ve decided to apply for a short course, good job! You’re well on your way to expanding your professional toolbelt. Since short courses differ from the traditional four-year degree programs, almost anyone can apply for it at any time. It’s just a matter of being prepared with the requirements!

Even though it takes less time to finish a short course, preparation is still important. Different schools will have different requirements. Here are the three most common you’ll need in applying for a short course:

Qualifications

• Must be a college or high school graduate (depends on the school)
• Must be at least 18 years old
• Must have qualifying marks in the entrance exam or assessment (if any)

Requirements

Academic Records

Prepare your Transcript of Records if you’re a college graduate or Form 137 if you’re a high school graduate. Schools will use this to check your educational background. However, there are some schools that do not require academic records, especially when you’ve been working professionally for a long time. Either way, it’s best to prepare just in case!

Where to get: Registrar

How much: Fee varies per document and per school

Resume

People often enroll in short courses to upskill. But what’s great is that you don’t need to have experience in the field of the short course you’re applying to. Regardless of your level of experience, pwede kang mag-apply! They will only use your resume to know about the skills and experiences that aren’t included in your academic records.

Short courses are designed to be finished in a short amount of time. In comparison to traditional four-year courses, they target specific topics so that students get exactly what they need from the course. To do this, they will use your resume to recommend to you the right short course and the right level (beginner, intermediate, advanced, or for specific purposes). For other short course programs, a motivation letter may replace resume.

Where to get: Write your own resume

How much: Free

Valid ID

You will need a valid ID to apply for a short course. This will serve as your proof of identity. After all, kailangan siguraduhin ng eskwelahan na tama ang iyong records from enrollment until you finish the course. Kailangan ito as a reference for important materials kagaya ng school ID at certificate (upon finishing the course).

The valid IDs you need will differ depending on the school. Usually, they will ask for your birth certificate, pero maraming klase ng valid ID ang pwede mong ihanda.

Where to get: Check out this article to see where you can apply for a valid ID

How much: Fee depends on the kind of valid ID. Meron ring mga valid ID that you can get for free!

Bukod sa mga dokumentong ito, schools may also request for an interview to get to know you better. It would come in handy to brush up on your interview skills! If you’re applying for a short course related to the arts (kagaya ng fashion and photography), it would be good to prepare a portfolio of your samples, too.

With short courses, you make the most out of your time and money. Nandito rin ang Bukas to help maximize your studies even more. Apply for a Bukas student loan, and we can cover up to 100% of your tuition and other school fees while you pay us back in low monthly installments. You can spend more time studying while you let us worry about the finances! What are you waiting for? Take a short course today!

Learn more about Bukas and how we make education affordable for thousands of Filipino students like you. Apply for a Bukas student loan in your upcoming enrollment, and join our growing community for more tips and advice about all things student life. A brighter future awaits. Sa'yo ang Bukas!