Deadline: 30-Apr-2026
The DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant Program is now accepting applications from 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students in the Philippines for research on indigenous plants and microorganisms with potential human health applications. The program offers up to Php 75,000 per approved thesis proposal to support natural products research, drug discovery, and the development of safe, effective, and affordable alternative medicines.
DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant Program at a Glance
The DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant Program supports undergraduate students conducting thesis research in natural products, particularly studies involving indigenous plants and microorganisms that may contribute to human health and drug discovery in the Philippines.
The initiative aims to strengthen the country’s research ecosystem by encouraging more student-led studies that use locally available biological resources for future health applications.
Key focus areas:
- Natural products research
- Indigenous plants and microorganisms
- Human health applications
- Drug discovery and development
- Alternative medicines
- Undergraduate thesis funding
- Health and allied sciences research
- Philippine biological resources
What is the DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant Program?
The DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant Program is a funding opportunity for undergraduate students in the Philippines who are conducting thesis research on natural products derived from indigenous plants or microorganisms.
The program is designed to:
- Sustain a strong research culture in natural products
- Increase the number of student research studies in the field
- Build a future pool of experts and researchers
- Support drug discovery and development
- Promote safe, effective, and affordable alternative medicines using local natural resources
Funding Available
The program provides direct financial support for approved undergraduate thesis proposals.
Grant amount:
- Up to Php 75,000 per approved thesis proposal
Regional allocation:
- Up to four qualified proposals per region may be funded
- Funding is subject to availability of funds and approval by the selection committee
This means the program is competitive, and strong, well-aligned proposals will have a better chance of being selected.
Who is Eligible?
The program is open to 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students enrolled in specific health and science-related degree programs in the Philippines.
Eligible applicants include students in:
- Pharmacy
- Chemistry
- Nursing
- Biology
- Biochemistry
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Medical Technology
- Nutrition and Dietetics
- Other Health and Allied Sciences fields
Eligibility requirements:
Applicants must:
- Be a 3rd or 4th year undergraduate student
- Be enrolled in an eligible degree program
- Submit a thesis proposal focused on natural products
- Ensure the study uses indigenous plants or microorganisms
- Show clear relevance to human health
- Ensure the project is not ongoing at the time of application
- Align the research timeline with the grant duration
Adviser requirements:
The thesis adviser must:
- Have a strong background in natural products or related disciplines
- Have no unresolved obligations with the funding body
What Kind of Research Does the Program Support?
The grant supports undergraduate thesis projects focused on natural products research that can contribute to human health applications.
Eligible research themes include:
- Studies on indigenous medicinal plants
- Research on microorganisms with therapeutic potential
- Natural compounds for drug discovery
- Bioactive substances from local biological resources
- Alternative medicine research based on Philippine biodiversity
- Natural product screening and validation for health-related uses
Core research criteria:
Your proposed thesis should:
- Focus on natural products
- Use indigenous plants or microorganisms found in the Philippines
- Show potential or direct relevance to human health
- Fit within the program timeline
- Be suitable for completion at the undergraduate thesis level
Why This Grant Matters
This grant is important because it introduces undergraduate students early to scientific research, natural products innovation, and drug discovery pathways.
It also helps strengthen the Philippines’ long-term capacity in health research and local resource-based medicine development.
Key benefits include:
- Financial support for undergraduate thesis work
- More student participation in natural products research
- Early exposure to drug discovery and development
- Support for affordable and locally sourced health solutions
- Stronger regional research activity across the Philippines
- Development of future experts in health and allied sciences
Research Timeline
Selected students must complete their funded research within the official grant period.
Project duration:
- Start: August 2026
- End: May 2027
Applicants should make sure their thesis plan, laboratory work, data collection, and analysis can realistically be completed within this timeframe.
What Happens After the Research is Completed?
After finishing the thesis project, grantees will be expected to share their findings through a formal presentation.
Post-grant requirement:
- Participate in an oral research presentation competition
This presentation component is intended to:
- Recognize innovative student research
- Promote knowledge sharing
- Encourage scientific communication skills
- Highlight promising work in natural products and health research
How to Apply
Students should prepare a strong thesis proposal that clearly matches the grant’s scientific and public health priorities.
Suggested application steps:
- Confirm your eligibility
Make sure you are a 3rd or 4th year student in an eligible program. - Choose a relevant thesis topic
Select a study focused on indigenous plants or microorganisms with human health relevance. - Check that the project is new
Ongoing projects are not eligible, so your proposal should be a new thesis project. - Work closely with your thesis adviser
Ensure your adviser has expertise in natural products or a related field. - Design a realistic research plan
Your methodology and timeline should fit within August 2026 to May 2027. - Prepare a clear budget
Show how the up to Php 75,000 will be used for your thesis research needs. - Submit a strong, health-relevant proposal
Clearly explain the scientific value, local resource relevance, and potential health application of your study.
Tips for Applicants
To improve your chances of selection:
- Choose a specific indigenous plant or microorganism with clear health relevance
- Make sure the project is manageable at undergraduate level
- Clearly explain the human health application of the study
- Align your methods with the available time and budget
- Work with an adviser who has relevant technical expertise
- Show how the research can contribute to drug discovery or alternative medicine development
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Avoid these common errors:
- Proposing a project that is already ongoing
- Choosing a topic with weak or unclear human health relevance
- Submitting an overly broad thesis that cannot be completed on time
- Failing to align the work plan with the August 2026–May 2027 timeline
- Selecting an adviser without a strong natural products background
- Writing a proposal that lacks clear scientific focus or feasibility
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. How much funding is available under the DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant Program?
Each approved thesis proposal may receive up to Php 75,000.
2. How many proposals can be funded in each region?
Up to four qualified proposals per region may be supported, depending on available funds and committee approval.
3. Who can apply for this grant?
Eligible applicants are 3rd and 4th year undergraduate students in programs such as Pharmacy, Chemistry, Nursing, Biology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Medical Technology, Nutrition and Dietetics, and other Health and Allied Sciences fields.
4. What type of thesis topics are eligible?
The thesis must focus on natural products derived from indigenous plants or microorganisms and must show relevance to human health.
5. Are ongoing thesis projects allowed?
No. Ongoing projects are not eligible for this grant.
6. What is the research timeline for selected grantees?
Funded research is expected to start in August 2026 and be completed by May 2027.
7. Is there any requirement after completing the research?
Yes. Grantees must present their findings in an oral research presentation competition after completing the project.
Final Takeaway
The DOST-PCHRD Undergraduate Thesis Grant Program 2026 is an excellent opportunity for undergraduate students in the Philippines who want to pursue natural products research using indigenous plants and microorganisms with potential human health applications.
With funding of up to Php 75,000 per thesis proposal, the program helps students build research experience, contribute to drug discovery and alternative medicine development, and strengthen the country’s future scientific capacity in health and natural products research.
For more information, visit DOST-PCHRD.