Admission to the Master’s Program
The UP Open University offers 12 Master’s programs, as follows:
(click on the program’s name for more information about the program and its curriculum)
- Master of ASEAN Studies (MAS)
- Master of Arts in Language and Literacy Education (MALLE) (for UPOU DLLE graduates only)
- Master of Arts in Social Studies Education (MASSE) (for UPOU DSSE graduates only)
- Master of Arts in Nursing (MAN)
- Master of Development Communication (MDC)
- Master of Distance Education (MDE)
- Master of Environment and Natural Resources Management (MENRM)
- Master of Information Systems (MIS)
- Master of International Health (MIH) (for UPOU DIH graduates only)
- Master of Land Valuation and Management (MLVM) (for UPOU DLVM graduates only)
- Master of Public Management (MPM)
- Master of Research and Development Management (MR&DM)
- Master of Social Work (MSW)
Program Schedule/Offering:
- Trimester: MDE
- Semester : All other Master’s programs
Admission Schedule:
- MDE: 1st, 2nd, and 3rd trimester of every academic year
- MAS, MAN, MDC, MIS, MIH, MRDM: every 1st semester of every academic year
- All other Master’s programs : 1st and 2nd semester of every academic year
Admission Exam:
- MPM : MPM Graduate Admission Test (GAT) (online)
- MALLE : MLLE Qualifying Exam (online)
- MIH : MIH Qualifying Exam (online)
- MSW : MSW Qualifying Exam (online; to be taken by selected DSW graduates. List of examinees will come from the Faculty Office)
- All other Master’s programs: Not Applicable
Admission Qualifications and Requirements:
Admission Qualifications:
To be admitted to a Master’s 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;
- have taken and passed the admission exam if required for the program. Details of and instructions for taking the exam will be emailed by admissions; and
- for MDE applicants, have completed the UPOU Distance Education Readiness Module (DERM). Link to the DERM will be emailed by admissions.
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.
- Original and photocopy of the Official Transcript of Records (OTR). Please take note of the following:
- 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 Requirements for MALLE, MASSE, MIH, MLVM, MAS (for GCAS Graduate), MRDM (for DRDM Graduate), and MENRM (for DENRM Graduate) Programs
(submission of the general requirements is not required)
- Print copy of the signed application for admission form generated from the Online Application System.
- True Copy of Grades (TCG) for the Diploma program.
- 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.
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
PhilippinesRefer to the UPOU Academic Calendar for the deadline for submission of application documents.
Step 3: If required, take the admission exam. The details of and instructions for taking the exam will be emailed by admissions.
Step 4: If required, 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 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
Application Deadlines
for the Master’s Programs
Academic Year 2023-2024
- 1st Trimester : 05 August 2023 (MDE)
- 2nd Trimester : 09 December 2023 (MDE)
- 3rd Trimester : 13 April 2024 (MDE)
- 1st Semester:
- MPM : 08 April 2023 (S)
- MLLE : 08 April 2023 (S)
- MIH : 08 April 2023 (S)
- All other Master’s programs: 06 May 2023 (S)
- 2nd Semester:
- MPM : 02 September 2023 (S)
- MLLE : 02 September 2023 (S)
- All other Master’s programs: 30 September 2023 (S)
Schedule of Admission Exams
for the Master’s Program
Academic Year 2023-2024
- MPM GAT:
- 1st Semester : 10 June 2023 (S)
- 2nd Semester : 04 November 2023 (S)
- MLLE QE:
- 1st Semester : 24 June 2023 (S)
- 2nd Semester : 18 November 2023 (S)
- MIH QE:
- 1st Semester : 01 July 2023 (S)
Contact Information:
Admission Section
Office of the University Registrar
UP Open University
Los Baños, Laguna 4031 Philippines
Tel No: (6349) 536-6001 local 441/199
Email: [email protected]