By Celeste Ann Castillo Llaneta, UP Media and Public Relations Office

Applicants for first-year admission at the University of the Philippines (UP) for Academic Year (AY) 2021-2022 can now access the online portal upadmissionsonline.up.edu.ph to submit their applications.

Before accessing the UP online admissions portal, applicants are enjoined to visit upcollegeadmissions.up.edu.ph for preparatory information and instructions as well as the latest announcements. After the applicants have read the pertinent information on this website, they will be directed to the online application portal.

Online submission of applications

For safety reasons and in compliance with the IATF’s community quarantine guidelines, the UP Office of Admissions (OAdms) is implementing a No Walk-In Policy. Instead, all applicants are strongly encouraged to apply via the online portal. However, while UP encourages online accomplishment and submission, it is cognizant of technological limitations and will continue to coordinate with concerned high schools for alternative modes of submission.

To minimize exposure to the coronavirus, however, all forms shall be submitted online. Applicants shall accomplish Form 1 (Personal Data Sheet) electronically and upload their photo and electronic signature. The names of the applicants will be sent to their high schools for batch processing of grade submission starting January 18, 2021. High schools shall be notified and then be requested to log on to the Grades Submission link to accomplish Form 2 (High School Records) on behalf of the applicants.

The online admissions applications for UP are being done in light of the unanimous decision by the UP System’s University Councils (UCs) that there will be no UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) for AY 2021-2022 applicants due to health and logistical issues brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The UCs further approved an additional assessment by academic units to qualify for a degree program, if deemed necessary. Applicants will be notified of such assessment or other additional requirements after the evaluation of their High School Records.

General information on admissions

The UP OAdms has made a General Information Bulletin on Freshman Admissions (AY 2021-2022) available on both the website and the online portal.

Admission into UP is very selective due to high demand. While they come from very diverse backgrounds, applicants to UP are all ranked according to indicators of academic preparedness for university life.

In the absence of the UPCAT, a composite of the final grades in Grade 8, 9, 10 and first semester of Grade 11 shall be the basis to determine the UP admission grade (UPG). Specific degree programs may request for additional requirements to qualify for admission, if deemed necessary. To implement the policy of democratic access, UP also considers socio-economic and geographic factors in its admission process.

Selection for admission to a campus is based on the applicant’s UPG, campus quota, and/or cut-off grade. A successful applicant can receive an offer of admission to only one of his/her UP campus of choice.

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

Filipino public high school graduates who are in the top ten of their graduating class may apply for freshman automatic admission for AY 2021-2022, as provided by Republic Act No. 10648 or the Iskolar ng Bayan Law of 2014. The law also requires that applicants comply with other admission requirements of the University and enroll in a UP campus that is in the same region as their high school.

For more details and instructions, please visit upcollegeadmissions.up.edu.ph.

For assistance and concerns regarding the online submission of application, and to prevent the spread of misinformation, the University would like to remind the general public to get their information only from the UP Office of Admissions at:

     Landline: (02) 8981-8500 local 3827 / 3828 / 3830 / 3831

     Cellphone: +63 918 904 9195

     Facebook Messenger Helpdesk (8:00 am – 11:00 pm): facebook.com/UPSystemOfficeOfAdmissions

     E-mail: