Study Abroad Programs in Quezon City, Philippines

Originally the residential center of Metropolitan Manila, it was founded in 1939 and has transformed over the years into the most populous and commercially competitive city in the capital region. This transformation can be credited in part to its status as the nation’s capital from 1948 to 1976. About 2.8 million Filipinos now call Quezon City home.

Quezon City, like the rest of the country, is warm throughout most of the year. The wet season is plagued with monsoons or typhoons which bring rain almost daily but the scorching dry season, which precedes the rain, refuses to let the temperature drop more than a few degrees. January and February are normally the coolest months in the Philippines while May and June bring the toastiest weather. The frequent weather changes of the wet season has led Quezon City residents to develop a habit of carrying umbrellas nearly every day. They utilize the umbrellas to ward off both the glaring sun and the heavy rain that the sky releases without warning. This habit is actually quite prevalent anywhere in the Philippines, since sunny days commonly turn rainy then back to sunny in an instant.

The city is alive at all times of the day. During the first half the offices in Quezon City's premier business centers, Cubao and Eastwood City, are buzzing with activity, while nightfall morphs the city into one of Metro Manila’s prominent nightlife districts. Quezon Avenue, one of the main roads connecting Quezon to Manila, is the center of nocturnal activity with numerous bars and clubs, restaurants and coffee shops.

On the other hand, Katipunan Avenue fondly called Katips by locals, has a wide array of establishments which attract a different kind of patron. Quezon Avenue tends to lure the well off middle class and even the wealthy and powerful upper class, while Katipunan Avenue is the favorite haunt of students, teachers, and professors. Katipunan Avenue lies in close proximity to large schools, colleges, and universities, most notably the University of the Philippines, Miriam College, and the respectable Ateneo de Manila University.

In Quezon City people are adamantly laid back, as well as in almost every part of the Philippine archipelago. The residents of Quezon are friendly, as most people in the Philippines are, with a traditional Filipino inclination for hospitality and optimistic happiness. In general, Filipinos are also very religious, with an overwhelming proportion calling themselves practicing Catholics. They are also very open and accepting when discussing matters of religion among friends and even strangers. 

Quezon City, or the country itself, is in no way short of English speakers; English is actually mandatory in schools with classes beginning in elementary grades. While English speaking levels vary greatly, visitors can always find someone who can give them directions or answer questions.

Food is readily available any time of the day, as Filipinos love to eat. Most city streets are dining havens, food vendors, kiosks, snack bars, canteens, and restaurants usually line the streets catering to busy hungry students. Filipino food is centered around rice, which is paired with fresh vegetables and meat or fish dishes. One of the most common sauces, called adobo, is used with nearly any food. Adobo has a base of soy sauce, vinegar, and garlic. Bakeries offer a large variety of snack size bread, often topped with sugar or filled with meat. The necessities of college life are never too far away; coffee shops, like Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Tea Leaf, and Seattle's Best, abound near university campuses.

Those who find themselves studying abroad in the Philippines tend to spend a lot of time in the Katipunan Avenue area. The University of the Philippines has multiple study abroad programs available and gives students the opportunity to attend what is regarded as the country's premier university. The main university campus is located in Diliman district, which encompasses Katipunan Avenue and also hosts most of the major government offices.

Study abroad programs in Quezon City are a perfect choice for students looking for a wide array of course choices and the chance to travel around one of the most culturally diverse countries in Southeast Asia. One of the most popular courses of study is engineering, which covers a broad range including chemical, computer, civil, electrical, and mechanical. All university courses are taught in English in the Philippines. Housing for study abroad participants is normally located in a shared dormitory, where rooms are furnished with familiar comforts like microwave ovens, refrigerators, and air-conditioners. 

Visa requirements for study abroad programs in the Philippines are somewhat extensive but also straightforward and easily granted.