Application and Admission

UPOU offers a variety of academic programs including:

• Undergraduate degrees
• Graduate certificates
• Graduate diplomas
• Master’s degrees
• Doctoral programs

UPOU also offers:

• Professional Teaching Certificate (PTC)
• Continuing Education Programs
• Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs)
• Microcredentials

For the complete list of programs, visit:
https://www.upou.edu.ph/academics/

Check your eligibility, choose a program from UPOU Academics, prepare the required documents, and submit your application online via the UPOU Admission portal.  You also need to submit hard copies of the following:

1. Signed hard copy of the application form generated from the Online Application System.
2. Original copy of the Official Transcript of Records (OTR)
3. One (1) piece 2″ x 2″ ID photo (refer to the photo requirements below)
4. Original copy of birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
5. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation (Not applicable for Undergraduate and PTC Programs)

Monitor your OAS account and email for updates.

Documents should be mailed to:

Office of the University Registrar
UP Open University
National Highway, Maahas,
Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines, 4031

Use a reliable courier service and keep your receipt for tracking.

Students admitted provisionally must submit the missing admission requirements (usually the Transcript of Records or Form 137) within one year. Failure to do so will restrict your enrollment in the next term. Once the required documents are received by the Office of the University Registrar (OUR), the status update usually takes 1–2 weeks.

Probationary admission means you must meet certain conditions within a specified period (usually one term or one academic year).

These conditions are indicated in your Notice of Admission (NOA). For clarification, contact your Program’s Faculty Secretary’s Office.

The Notice of Admission (NOA) is released once all admission requirements have been submitted and validated by the Office of the University Registrar (OUR). It is usually issued 1 to 2 weeks before registration begins. You may check your Online Application System (OAS) account for updates.

You may check the status of your application through your OAS account and your registered email address.

The CTC/HD may be sent to your previous school via courier upon request. A mailing and processing fee is required. Once the document is sent, a tracking number will be provided.

Your previous school may also require coordination and additional fees for releasing your Transcript of Records. For inquiries, please email [email protected]

Yes. Applications from students who do not meet the required GWA will still undergo evaluation by the Program Committee, which will decide whether the applicant may be admitted.

You may check the list of available programs here:
https://www.upou.edu.ph/academics/

Only programs listed on the UPOU website are currently offered.

Applicants are recommended to have relevant supervisory or managerial experience.

Applicants without such experience may still be admitted under probationary status, which may be lifted after completing 12 units of coursework.

The test generally assesses:

• Reading comprehension
• Qualitative analysis
• Essay writing on issues related to Public Administration and Governance in the Philippines

Reviewers are not officially provided.

No. The Professional Teaching Certificate (PTC) is a non-degree program.

You may simply register during the next registration period through the Student Portal. Email [email protected]

Yes. Applicants may request a deferment if they cannot enroll in the term for which they were admitted.

Key conditions:

• The request must be submitted within one month after the start of classes
• Deferment is allowed for up to one academic year
• Students must confirm reactivation at least two months before the desired term enrollment schedule

No. UPOU does not allow concurrent enrollment in another degree program at another university.

To initiate the evaluation, you also need to submit hard copies of the following to the Office of the University Registrar:

1. Signed hard copy of the application form generated from the Online Application System.
2. Original copy of the Official Transcript of Records (OTR)
3. One (1) piece 2″ x 2″ ID photo (refer to the photo requirements below)
4. Original copy of birth certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)
5. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation (Not applicable for Undergraduate and PTC Programs)

All applicants are advised to submit their complete and valid admission requirements on or before the application deadline to facilitate the processing of their applications. Those with late submissions will be considered in the succeeding semester.

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 at https://our.upou.edu.ph/student. 

Please do not create a new OAS account.

Once submitted, your documents are officially logged and queued for evaluation. Your Online Application System (OAS) will reflect that your documents have been received, and your current application status will be updated after evaluation.

You will receive an email notification and a system update in the Online Application System (OAS) confirming receipt of your documents, along with a remark indicating the current status of your application.