Associate Program

Admissions to the Associate Programs

The UP Open University offers five (5) associate programs in the undergraduate level, as follows:
(click on the program’s name for more information about the program and its curriculum)

Program Schedule/Offering: Trimester
Admission Schedule:
- AADDA, AADE & ASIT : every 1st trimester of every academic year
- AA & ASIDT : 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester of every academic year
Admission Exam: Undergraduate Assessment Test (UgAT)
The UgAT is designed to assess both scholastic aptitude and the applicant’s capability to undertake independent learning. The UgAT can be taken only once and it consists of the following subtests: Language Proficiency, Reading Comprehension in English and Filipino, Science, and Mathematics.
- The UgAT is administered by UPOU
- Qualified transferees are not required to take the UgAT
Admission Qualifications and Requirements:

Admission Qualifications
Admission Requirements

Admission Qualifications

The following can apply for admission to AA

High School or Sr. High School graduates who have never enrolled in college; admission is through UgAT;
Passers of the DepEd’s Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency (ALS A&E) Test for secondary level; admission is through UgAT;
Transferees (with college units).

Admission through UgAT:
In order to be admitted to the AA program, the applicant must:

have submitted the complete documentary requirements for admission before the application deadline.
have taken and passed the UgAT. Details about the exam will be emailed by admissions.
have completed the UPOU Distance Education (DE) Readiness Module. Link to the DERM will be emailed by admissions.

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) 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.
2. Applicants who did not meet the transfer requirements will be required to take and pass the UgAT.

Admission Requirements

Documentary Admission Requirements:

A. To be mailed to the Office of the University Registrar:

1. 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)

For applicants without college units yet:

- - High School/Senior High School Graduates: Original copies of Form 137 and Form 138, with the school’s dry seal and date of graduation
  - Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) or Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency (ALS A&E) Passers: Original copy of the test results and a certified true copy of the diploma or graduation certificate issued by the Department of Education.

Reminders on the OTR:

- - Current UP students: original copy of the True Copy of Grades (TCG) issued by the current faculty office/college
  - Former UP students: original copy of the OTR indicating date cleared by concerned UP units, and permit to transfer
  - Former college students (non-UP): original copy of OTR
  - Attended multiple colleges: Submit the OTR from the last school attended, which must reflect all credentials from previous schools, whether completed or not.

For applicants below 18 years old:

- - Original copy of the filled-out and signed Consent and Assent Form for Minors.

B. To be uploaded via the Online Application System (OAS):

- - Scanned copy of the OTR
    Note: Must reflect all academic credentials from previous schools/degrees
  - Proof of payment of non-refundable application fee:
    - PHP 500.00 (for Filipino citizens)
    - USD 100.00 (for non-Filipino citizens)

For applicants without college units yet:

- - High School/Senior High School Graduates: Scanned copies of Form 137 and Form 138, with date of graduation and school’s dry seal is prominent
  - Philippine Educational Placement Test (PEPT) or Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency (ALS A&E) Passers: Scanned copy of the test results and a certified true copy of the diploma or graduation certificate issued by the Department of Education.

Note: Please refer to this link for payment instructions: Payment of Fees

- - NSO or PSA-issued Birth Certificate
  - Two government-issued identification cards
  - Photo requirements:

- - - ID Photo (2×2 inches)
    - Colored, with a white or off-white background
    - Taken within the last 4 months
    - Full face centered, eyes visible; no eyeglasses or accessories that obscure facial features.
    - With a handwritten name tag: First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, Extension Name (if any), and signature over printed name

* Photos are AI generated

For applicants below 18 years old:

- Original copy of the filled-out and signed Consent and Assent Form for Minors.

For applicants to the following degree programs:

- Associate of Arts in Digital Design and Art (AADDA)
- Associate of Science in Information Technology (ASIT)
- Associate of Arts in Digital Entrepreneurship (AADE)

Submit a 500-word essay stating your reasons for applying to UPOU’s distance education program and your plans after program completion

C. Additional Requirements for Foreign Applicants:

- Authenticated Scholastic Records:
  Duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post in the applicant’s country of origin or legal residence
- Passport and Birth Certificate:
  Copy of the passport’s data page (showing date and place of birth) and birth certificate or its equivalent, both authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post

Upon admission to the university, the student must submit the following documents in hard copy:

Original copy of the OTR with valid remarks.
Refer to this link for valid remarks: TOR Acceptable Remarks

For applicants with international scholastic records:
Original authenticated copy of the records, certified by the Philippine Foreign Service Post located in the applicant’s country of origin or legal residence.

Admission Procedure:

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: If required, take the Undergraduate Assessment Test (UgAT). Details of the UgAT will be emailed by admissions.

Step 4: Complete the DE Readiness Module (DERM). The link to the DERM will be emailed by admissions.

Step 5: 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