Diploma Program

Admission to the Graduate Diploma Program

A graduate diploma program is a post-baccalaureate program that can be taken by students with a bachelor’s degree who wish to pursue a master’s degree in a field other than their BS/BA degree. It provides opportunity to those who prepare for changing careers and profession or as a supportive for those interested in continuing education to familiarize with new modalities in their particular fields *.

The UP Open University offers 11 graduate diploma programs, as follows:
(click on the program’s name for more information about the program and its curriculum)

Diploma in Computer Science (DCS)
Diploma in International Health (DIH) (Ladderized to MIH)
Diploma in Land Use Planning (DLUP)
Diploma in Land Valuation and Management (DLVM) (Ladderized to MLVM)
Diploma in Language and Literacy Education (DLLE) (Ladderized to MALLE)
Diploma in Mathematics Teaching (DMT)
Diploma in Research and Development Management (DRDM)
Diploma in Science Teaching (DST) (Majors: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
Diploma in Social Studies Education (DSSE) (Ladderized to MASSE)
Diploma in Social Work (DSW)
Diploma in Women and Development (DWD)

* Reference: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postbaccalaureate_program

Program Schedule/Offering: Semester
Admission Schedule:
- DCS, DIH, DRDM: every 1st semester of every academic year
- All other Diploma programs : 1st and 2nd semester of every academic year
Admission Exam: Not Applicable
Admission Qualifications and Requirements:

Admission Qualifications
Admission Requirements

Admission Qualifications

Admission Qualifications:
To be admitted to a Graduate Diploma program, the applicant must:

have satisfied the program-specific requirements specified in the program’s information and curriculum.
have submitted the complete documentary requirements for admission before the application deadline; and
for DLLE, DMT, DST, and DSSE applicants, have completed the UPOU Distance Education Readiness Module (DERM). Link to the DERM will be emailed by admissions.

Admission Requirements

Documentary Admission Requirements:

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

1. A signed hard copy of the application form generated from the Online Application System.

2. Official Transcript of Records (OTR)

Reminders about the OTR:

- - - Must bear the school’s dry seal and imprint, and the Registrar’s original ink signature.
    - If multiple schools or degrees were attended/earned, submit the OTR from the most recent school, and this OTR must reflect all credentials from previous schools/degrees, both completed and not completed degree programs.

3. Two (2) Letters of Recommendation

These may come from an employer/supervisor, former professor, or former program adviser. Recommenders must use UPOU Form 1a. They can either mail it to:

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

or they may email the recommendation, using their institutional email address, to [email protected]

4. Photocopy of NSO or PSA-issued Birth Certificate

B. Documents to be uploaded via the Online Application System:

1. Scanned Copy of the OTR (Do not upload a photo of your TOR)
Should reflect all academic credentials from previous schools/degrees.

2. Essay
A 500-word essay stating your reason for applying to UPOU’s distance education programs and your plans after completing your graduate studies.

3. Proof of Payment of the Non-refundable Application Fee

- - - - PHP 500.00 for applicants in the Philippines
      - USD 100.00 for applicants abroad

Payment instructions are available in the Online Application System.

4. NSO or PSA-issued Birth Certificate

5. Government-issued Identification Cards

6. Photo Requirements

- - Size: 2×2 inches
  - Color: Colored, with a neutral (white or off-white) background
  - Date Taken: Within the last 4 months
  - Face Visibility: Full face centered, eyes visible; no eyeglasses or accessories that obscure features
  - Labeling: Handwritten name tag in the format:
    First Name, Middle Initial, Last Name, and Extension Name (if any), with signature over printed name

* Photos are AI generated

C. Additional Requirements for Foreign Applicants:

- 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 Official Transcript of Records (OTR) with valid remarks.
For details on what constitutes valid remarks, please visit: TOR Acceptable Remarks – Office of the University Registrar

For applicants with international scholastic records:
Submit the original copy of the records, duly authenticated 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, 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 about the admission results. Results of the evaluation will be released after the evaluation of the respective Admissions Committee of the program and before the registration/enrollment period of the applied term.

Updated 26 April 2021