Bachelors Program

Admission to the Bachelors Program

The UP Open University offers two (2) degree programs in the undergraduate level, as follows:
(click on the program’s name for more information about the program and its curriculum)

The UPOU Associate in Arts (AA) graduates may proceed to the BAMS or BES program to obtain a Bachelor’s degree. The BAMS and BES programs can also be taken by applicants with previous degree/s.

Program Schedule/Offering: Trimester
Admission Schedule:
- BAMS: every 1st trimester of every academic year
- BES : 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester of every academic year
Admission Exam: UP College Admission Test (UPCAT)
- The UPCAT is administered by the Office of Admissions in UP Diliman
- The UPCAT is only taken once; qualified transferees are not required to take the UPCAT
- The UPCAT is also not required for AA graduates and applicants with previous degree/s.
Admission Qualifications and Requirements:

Admission Qualifications
Admission Requirements

Admission Qualifications

The following can apply for admission to BAMS or BES:

Successful UPCAT Applicants;
UPOU AA graduates or graduates of other degree program/s;
Qualified transferees.

1. Admission through the UPCAT (Successful UPCAT Applicant)
Successful UPCAT applicants to UPOU are senior students (i.e. Fourth Year, Grade 12, Senior 6) who have chosen to study at UPOU under the BAMS or BES program and have taken and passed the most recent UPCAT. Successful UPCAT applicants should wait an email from the Office of the University Registrar (OUR) for instructions for confirmation of admission. However, they are advised to prepare the following requirements:

Original Form 137
Original Form 138
Photocopy of NSO or PSA birth certificate
Two pieces identical 2″ x 2″ and 1″ x 1″ pictures

Successful UPCAT applicants to UPOU are also required to complete the online Distance Education Readiness Module (DERM). The information about the DERM will also be emailed by admissions.

* Instructions for appeals to UPOU will be posted in the announcement.

2. Admission through the completion of the UPOU Associate in Arts (AA) program or other degree program:
To be admitted to the BAMS or BES program, the applicant must:

have completed the Associate in Arts (AA) program of UPOU or a Bachelor’s degree from a recognized tertiary or higher education institution;
have submitted the complete documentary requirements for admission before the application deadline; and
if necessary, have completed the UPOU Distance Education (DE) Readiness Module. Link to the DERM will be emailed by admissions.

3. Admission through transfer admissions (transferees):
The following are considered as transferee:

a current or former student of another UP unit or school/university;
a graduate of a 2-year diploma, certificate, associate, or technical and vocational (tech voc) program; or a
former college, diploma, certificate, associate, or technical and vocational (tech voc) student who stopped schooling;

provided that he or she:

has satisfied the transfer admission requirements:
- If coming from a UP unit: completed at least 30 units of college and a GWA of 2.5 or better.
- If coming from a non-UP unit: completed at least 33 units of college and a GWA of 2.0 or better.
has submitted the complete documentary requirements for admission before the application deadline.
has completed the UPOU Distance Education (DE) Readiness Module. Link to the DERM will be emailed by admissions.

Notes:
1. PE, NSTP, theology, and technical courses from a 2-year or tech voc program are excluded in the computation of units and GWA.

Admission Requirements

General Requirements:
(only for AA graduates, transferees to BAMS and BES, and applicants with previous degree/s)

Print copy of the signed application for admission form generated from the Online Application System.
Original and photocopy of academic credentials:
- If a former UP student: Original copy of the Official Transcript of Records (OTR) indicating date cleared by the concerned UP units and a Permit to Transfer;
- If a former college student of another higher education institution: Original copy of the Official Transcript of Records (OTR). The OTR should bear the school’s dry seal and imprint, and the Registrar’s signature in ink, and must bear an acceptable remarks.
- If a former college student of multiple schools: Original copy of the Official Transcript of Records (OTR) from the last school attended. The latest OTR should reflect all credentials from prior school/s. The OTR should bear the school’s dry seal and imprint, and the Registrar’s signature in ink, and must bear an acceptable remarks.
- If the applicant holds an international scholastic records: Original copy of scholastic records with citation ‘copy for UP Open University’ duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post located in the student applicant’s country of origin or legal residence;
Proof of payment of application fee (non-refundable) amounting to PHP 350.00 for applicants based in the Philippines or USD 75.00 for applicants based abroad. Payment procedures are available in the Online Application System.
Two pieces identical 2” x 2” photos and two pieces identical 1” x 1” photos, with your name and the program applied for printed at the back of the photos;
Photocopy of NSO or PSA Birth Certificate;
Photocopy of government-issued IDs with photo;
Additional requirements for foreign applicants (non-Filipino):
- Scholastic Records duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post located in the student applicant’s country of origin or legal residence;
- Photocopy of data page of the student’s passport showing date and place of birth, and birth certificate or its equivalent duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post.

Admission Procedure:
(only for AA graduates, transferees to BAMS and BES, and applicants with previous degree/s)

Step 1: Apply for admission and upload the admission requirements through the Online Application System. Monitor the progress of your application through the OAS.

Note: If you are a UPOU alumnus or a former UPOU student applying for admission to a new degree program, please access the online application system through the Student Portal.
Please do not create a new OAS account.

Step 2: As soon as the online application is accomplished, mail the complete and valid admission documents to the address below:

The Admission Section
Office of the University Registrar
UP Open University
Los Baños, Laguna 4031
Philippines

Refer to the UPOU Academic Calendar for the deadline for submission of application documents.

Step 3: Complete the DE Readiness Module (DERM). The link to the DERM will be emailed by admissions.

Step 4: Wait for an email from the OUR for the admission results. Results of the evaluation will be released after the evaluation of the Undergraduate Admissions Committee and before the registration/enrollment period of the applied term.

Updated 26 April 2021