Schools have different fee structures. But many of the "big" Manila schools charge a foreign surcharge of $10,000 dollars.
But not all schools follow this. There are over thirty medschools in the Philippines. Some have up-front surcharges ranging from about $6,000 to $10,000. Some have no up-front surcharge, but will charge you an extra 50%, kind of similar to an "out-of-state" surcharge in the States.
Some schools have neither, and charge foreign students the same as they charge local students. CDC, to name one, only charges foreign students an extra 15,000 Pesos per semester. Pesos, not dollars.
The up-front surcharge is often called a "donation". This, of course, is blatantly untrue. We should encourage schools to stop using the phrase "donation" because it is untrue. It is simply an extra fee. Using the phrase "donation" is irrational and unprofessional. It creates the impression to outsiders that somehow people are bribing their way into schools.
The up-front surcharge is understandable at state run schools. These are supported by the local taxpayer and there is no reason why they should support the education of foreign students.
But it's a different story at private schools which are not taxpayer supported. For them, this is simply a money-making tool.
Going to medschool in the Philippines is a major decision. Paying a surcharge up-front, rather than spread out over four years is, frankly speaking, a bit of a scam, as it allows no room for a foreign student who realizes after one year that they are not capable (for whatever reason) of finishing medschool in the Philippines. They drop and the school keeps all of the up-front fee.
So, do your research, and make your decisons carefully. Don't be afraid to make a few phone calls.
