I am working on a scholarship management system using Laravel 12, Laravel Breeze, Blade, Tailwind, and MySQL. I created a multi-step applicant form with text fields and file uploads (passport photo, Form 137, certificates, etc.).
When I submit the form, the page reloads but the data is not being saved to the database, and the uploaded files are not stored in the storage/app/public folder.
I expected the form data to be inserted into the database and the uploaded files to be saved in storage, then accessible from the admin dashboard.
I already:
Used enctype=”multipart/form-data” in my form.
Added protected $fillable in my model.
Ran migrations for the fields.
Tried using php artisan storage:link to link storage.
But the problem is still the same: no data is saved, and files don’t upload.
<?php
namespace AppHttpControllers;
use IlluminateHttpRequest;
use AppModelsApplicationForm;
use IlluminateSupportFacadesAuth;
use IlluminateSupportFacadesStorage;
class ApplicationFormController extends Controller
{
/**
* Show the application form for applicants.
*/
public function create($program)
{
// Validate program
if (!in_array($program, ['DOST', 'CHED'])) {
abort(404); // If invalid program, show 404
}
// Pass the program to your Blade view
return view('applicant.application-form', compact('program'));
}
/**
* Store a newly created application form in storage.
*/
public function store(Request $request)
{
$validated = $request->validate([
// Basic info
'last_name' => 'required|string|max:255',
'first_name' => 'required|string|max:255',
'middle_name' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'academic_year' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'school_term' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'application_no' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'program' => 'required|string|in:DOST,CHED',
// Contact / personal details
'birthdate' => 'nullable|date',
'gender' => 'nullable|string|max:20',
'civil_status' => 'nullable|string|max:50',
'address' => 'nullable|string|max:500',
'email' => 'nullable|email|max:255',
'phone' => 'nullable|string|max:50',
// Academic background
'bs_field' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'bs_university' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'bs_scholarship_type' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'bs_scholarship_others' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'bs_remarks' => 'nullable|string|max:500',
// Graduate intent
'grad_field' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'grad_university' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'grad_plan' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
// Employment
'employer_name' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'employer_address' => 'nullable|string|max:500',
'position' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'employment_status' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
// Research & plans
'research_title' => 'nullable|string|max:500',
'career_plan' => 'nullable|string|max:500',
// File uploads
'passport_picture' => 'nullable|file|mimes:jpg,jpeg,png,pdf|max:4096',
'form137' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'cert_employment' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'cert_purpose' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'birth_certificate_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'transcript_of_record_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'endorsement_1_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'endorsement_2_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'recommendation_head_agency_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'form_2a_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'form_2b_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'form_a_research_plans_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'form_b_career_plans_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'form_c_health_status_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'nbi_clearance_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'letter_of_admission_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'approved_program_of_study_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
'lateral_certification_pdf' => 'nullable|file|mimes:pdf|max:4096',
// Declaration
'terms_and_conditions_agreed' => 'nullable|boolean',
'applicant_signature' => 'nullable|string|max:255',
'declaration_date' => 'nullable|date',
]);
$application = new ApplicationForm();
$application->user_id = Auth::id();
$application->program = $request->program;
$application->status = 'pending';
$application->submitted_at = now();
// Fill non-file fields
$application->fill(collect($validated)->except([
'passport_picture',
'form137',
'cert_employment',
'cert_purpose',
'birth_certificate_pdf',
'transcript_of_record_pdf',
'endorsement_1_pdf',
'endorsement_2_pdf',
'recommendation_head_agency_pdf',
'form_2a_pdf',
'form_2b_pdf',
'form_a_research_plans_pdf',
'form_b_career_plans_pdf',
'form_c_health_status_pdf',
'nbi_clearance_pdf',
'letter_of_admission_pdf',
'approved_program_of_study_pdf',
'lateral_certification_pdf',
])->toArray());
// File uploads
$fileFields = [
'passport_picture',
'form137',
'cert_employment',
'cert_purpose',
'birth_certificate_pdf',
'transcript_of_record_pdf',
'endorsement_1_pdf',
'endorsement_2_pdf',
'recommendation_head_agency_pdf',
'form_2a_pdf',
'form_2b_pdf',
'form_a_research_plans_pdf',
'form_b_career_plans_pdf',
'form_c_health_status_pdf',
'nbi_clearance_pdf',
'letter_of_admission_pdf',
'approved_program_of_study_pdf',
'lateral_certification_pdf',
];
foreach ($fileFields as $field) {
if ($request->hasFile($field)) {
$path = $request->file($field)->store("uploads/application_forms", "public");
$application->$field = $path;
}
}
$application->save();
return redirect()->route('dashboard')
->with('success', 'Application form submitted successfully.');
}
/**
* Update an existing application form.
*/
public function update(Request $request, $id)
{
$application = ApplicationForm::findOrFail($id);
// Ensure only the owner can update
if ($application->user_id !== Auth::id()) {
abort(403, 'Unauthorized action.');
}
$validated = $request->validate([
'program' => 'required|string|max:255',
'school' => 'required|string|max:255',
'year_level' => 'required|string|max:50',
'reason' => 'nullable|string|max:1000',
// file fields
'passport_picture' => 'nullable|image|mimes:jpg,jpeg,png|max:2048',
'form137' => 'nullable|mimes:pdf,jpg,jpeg,png|max:4096',
'cert_employment' => 'nullable|mimes:pdf,jpg,jpeg,png|max:4096',
'cert_purpose' => 'nullable|mimes:pdf,jpg,jpeg,png|max:4096',
]);
// Update normal fields
$application->program = $validated['program'];
$application->school = $validated['school'];
$application->year_level = $validated['year_level'];
$application->reason = $validated['reason'] ?? $application->reason;
// Handle file uploads (optional replacement)
if ($request->hasFile('passport_picture')) {
$application->passport_picture = $request->file('passport_picture')->store('uploads/passport', 'public');
}
if ($request->hasFile('form137')) {
$application->form137 = $request->file('form137')->store('uploads/form137', 'public');
}
if ($request->hasFile('cert_employment')) {
$application->cert_employment = $request->file('cert_employment')->store('uploads/employment', 'public');
}
if ($request->hasFile('cert_purpose')) {
$application->cert_purpose = $request->file('cert_purpose')->store('uploads/purpose', 'public');
}
// Keep status "pending" after edit
$application->status = 'pending';
$application->save();
return redirect()->route('applicant.myApplication')
->with('success', 'Your application has been updated and set to Pending.');
}
/**
* Show all applications submitted by the logged-in user.
*/
public function viewMyApplication()
{
$applications = auth()->user()->applicationForms()->latest()->get();
return view('applicant.my-application', compact('applications'));
}
public function edit($id)
{
$application = ApplicationForm::findOrFail($id);
if ($application->user_id !== Auth::id()) {
abort(403, 'Unauthorized action.');
}
return view('applicant.application-edit', compact('application'));
}
}
