Graduate Certificate Program

Admission to the Graduate Certificate Program

A graduate certificate 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 two (2) graduate certificate programs, as follows:
(click on the program’s name for more information about the program and its curriculum)

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

Program Schedule/Offering:
- Semester: GCAS
- Trimester: GCDE
Admission Schedule:
- GCAS: every 1st semester of every academic year
- GCDE: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester 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 Certificate 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 GCDE applicants, have completed the UPOU Distance Education Readiness Module (DERM). Link to the DERM will be emailed by admissions.

Admission Requirements

General Requirements:

Print copy of the signed application for admission form generated from the Online Application System.
Original copy of academic credentials:
- Original and photocopy of the Official Transcript of Records (OTR). Please take note of the following:
  - If the applicant attended multiple schools or earned multiple degrees, the applicant must submit the OTR from the last school attended. The latest OTR should reflect all credentials from prior school/s or degree/s.
  - The OTR should bear the school’s dry seal and imprint, the Registrar’s signature in ink, and must bear an acceptable remarks. TORs without remarks are considered valid.
  - If the applicant holds an international scholastic records, the applicant must submit the original copy duly authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post located in the student applicant’s country of origin or legal residence.
Two (2) letters of recommendation from any of your employer/supervisor, former professor, or former program adviser. Applicants must use the UPOU Form 1a for the recommendation.
500-word essay indicating your purpose for applying to the distance education programs and your plans after completion of graduate study at the UP Open University.
Proof of Payment of Application fee (non-refundable) amounting to PHP 500.00 for applicants based in the Philippines, and USD 100.00 for applicants based abroad. Payment procedures are available in the Online Application System.
Photocopy of NSO or PSA birth certificate;
Photocopy of government-issued IDs;
Two (2) pieces identical 2” x 2” photos and two (2) pieces identical 1” x 1” photos, with your name and the program applied for printed at the back of the 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:

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

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