Admission and Retention Policy
The admission to the Institute’s Graduate and Undergraduate degree programs is open to all applicants interested to study Religious Studies (M.A. in Religious Studies and B.A. in Religious Studies). However, students are required to be fluent in the English language since the medium of instruction is English. All student applicants are required to take the English Assessment Test prior to enrollment. A remedial course in English may be recommended for those who need it.
Master of Arts in Religious Studies
To be admitted in a program, the following requisites must be complied with.
All applicants to the Masters of Arts in Religious Studies must have completed the following Bachelor degree courses or its equivalent:
PH103 Fundamentals of Philosophy
TH114 Introduction to Theology
TH117 Ecclesiology
TH120 Fundamentals of Moral Theology
HS123 Church History
SC101 Introduction to Old Testament
SC102 Introduction to New Testament
GS101 Gender Studies: A Theological Perspective
Bachelor of Arts in Religious Studies
- High School graduate from a Department of Education (DepED) recognized institutions (for Filipino Students)
- Graduates from recognized foreign secondary schools (for Foreign Students)
Transferees
- The School has the freedom to exercise its rights to withhold or deny admission of transfer applicants for non-compliance of the prescribed admission requirements, criteria and screening demands.
- Transfer applicants should pass the interview by the Dean before being admitted or accepted in a program.
- Transfer applicants may be required to repeat some subjects which were previously completed upon the discretion of the Dean.
For Cross-enrollees
- Applicants for cross-enrollment must submit the needed admission requirements prescribed by the school.
- Cross-enrollees must obtain the approval of the Registrar and the Dean prior to their enrollment in IFRS.
- Course(s) taken from another school must be similar to those offered in IFRS.
- Students cannot cross-enroll in more than one school per term.
- Cross registration for a major subject is not encouraged.
Student Visa Application
A Student Visa is necessary if a foreign national, 18 years old and above, intends to pursue a course or degree program in higher education in the Philippines. Furthermore, he/she has to have sufficient means of support for education in the Philippines.
In compliance with the Philippine Laws, the following documents must be submitted to the Institute:
Documentary Requirements for Conversion to Student Visa
- Joint letter request addressed to the Commissioner from the authorized representative of the petitioning school and applicant, using the school letterhead with dry seal;
- Duly accomplished CGAF for Student Visa and Special Study Permit;
- Photocopy of passport pages bearing the bio-page, latest admission with valid authorized stay and Bureau of Quarantine (BOQ) stamp;
- Notice of Acceptance of the applicant bearing a clear impression of the school’s official dry seal;
- Endorsement letter from IFRS addressed to the Commissioner from the school for the conversion of the applicant’s status, signed by the School Registrar;
- Certificate of Eligibility for Admission from the Commission on Higher Education (CHED), in case of Medicine/Dentistry;
- CHED Endorsement for transfer and shifting of course, if applicable;
- National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) Clearance, if application is filed six (6) months or more from the date of first arrival in the Philippines;
- Photocopy of Bureau of Immigration (BI) school accreditation ID of the registrar or school representative; and
- BI Clearance Certificate.
