ADMISSION INTO THE UNIVERSITY

A. THROUGH THE UP COLLEGE ADMISSIONS TEST (UPCAT)

You are qualified to apply as a freshman to UP through the UPCAT for SY 2020-2021 if:

You are a high school graduate from 2019 or earlier and have not taken any college courses,

Or, you are a senior high school student expecting to graduate before SY 2020; AND

Or, you are a senior high school student expecting to graduate before SY 2020; AND You have final grades for three (3) high school years preceding the year of graduation; AND

You have not taken the UPCAT before.

The UPCAT consists of 4 subtests: Language Proficiency (in English and Filipino), and Reading Comprehension (in English and Filipino), Science, and Math. Standardized UPCAT scores are combined with the weighted average of the last 3 years of high school final grades to determine the UP admission grade (UPG). To implement the policy of demographic access, UP also considers socioeconomic and geographic factors in its admission process. (https://upcat.up.edu.ph)

SELECTION for a Campus

Admission into UP is very selective due to high demand. UPCAT applicants come from very diverse backgrounds but they are all ranked based on the UPG as an indicator of academic preparedness for university life.

Selection for admission to a campus is based on the applicant’s rank, campus quota and/or cut-off grade.

A successful applicant can receive an offer of admission to only one campus out of 2 choices.

SELECTION for a Degree Program

The successful applicants for a given campus are ranked according to grade predictors and quotas of their chosen degree programs. Some degree programs are more competitive due to high demand.

Applicants should choose only degree programs they are interested in. If an applicant is not successful for his/her first choice of campus, the process continues in order of priority of the remaining choices.

Applicants who are selected for a given campus but have not been selected for any of their chosen degree programs in that campus will be assisted by the Office of the University Registrar to choose a degree program with available slots (DPWAS).

Appeals

If your application to any of your campus choices is not successful, you may appeal for admission to a degree program in another UP campus if your UPG is within the campus’ cut-off grade, and the program has available slots.

Some campuses are not open to appeals. Please check the different campus websites to find out which campuses are open to appeals.

Each campus may have additional criteria to the UPG in processing appeals.

B. THROUGH THE ISKOLAR NG BAYAN PROGRAM

If you are a Filipino public high school graduate in the Top Ten of your graduating class , you may apply for freshman automatic admission (i.e. without having to take the UPCAT) for SY 2020-2021, as provided by the Iskolar ng Bayan Law of 2014. The law also requires that you comply with other admission requirements of the university and enroll in a UP Campus that is in the same region as your high school.

You are also entitled to free tuition and other school fees for the first year of college.

Application forms for the Iskolar ng Bayan program may be obtained from the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) or Office of Scholarships and Student Services (OSSS) of the campus you wish to enroll in.

There are limited slots per campus for the Iskolar ng Bayan Program.

C. THROUGH INTERNATIONAL QUALIFICATIONS

Foreign OR Filipino applicants who have graduated or are graduating from a secondary school school abroad (i.e. international applicant) and have not enrolled in college before SY 2020 may be admitted as freshmen by automatic admission (i.e. without taking the UPCAT), provided they meet other admission requirements, including qualifications for college admission by national or international foreign-administered examinations . For details please visit https://upcat.up.edu.ph.

D. TRANSFER ADMISSIONS (NOT FOR FRESHMEN)

Students from other universities may apply for transfer to a UP campus after earning 33 academic units in another school with a weighted average of 2.00 or better on the UP marking system. Information regarding transfer procedures to UP may be obtained from the Office of the University Registrar of the respective UP campuses.