Top Universities in the PH and Their College Admissions for SY 2020 to 2021
Summer is over, and another school year is fast approaching.
If you still haven’t made up your mind on the university where you’ll spend four years of college in, here are the top universities in the Philippines and everything you need to know about their college admissions for SY 2020 to 2021:
University of the Philippines
University of the Philippines Diliman/ IMAGE Faye Almazan
Established in 1908, the University of the Philippines (UP) is known as one of the most prestigious institutions for higher education. They have 8 universities and one autonomous college all over the archipelago, including UP Diliman (main campus), UP Manila, UP Los Baños, UP Baguio, UP Visayas, UP Cebu, UP Mindanao, UP Diliman Extension Program in Pampanga, and UP Open University.
As the country’s national university, they offer the most number of undergraduate and graduate degree programs with 258 programs to choose from in the entire UP System.
The University of the Philippines – Los Baños campus/ IMAGE Yana Bautista
In order to enter UP, applicants must pass the UP College Admissions Test (UPCAT) first. All applicants must submit the following requirements:
- Four (4) recent 2X2 photographs that are all identical
- UPCAT Forms (Personal Data Sheet and High School Record)
- High school diploma (for high school graduates)
- DepEd Certificate of Recognition
- Copy of Permanent Secondary School Record (F137) (for transferees)
- Proof of payment of UPCAT application fee (For Foreign Applicants Only)
For foreign or Filipino applicants who graduated or are graduating from a secondary school abroad, they may be admitted as freshmen in UP by automatic admission, providing qualifications for college admission by national or international foreign-administered examinations.
UPCAT application fee costs Php 450 for Filipino applicants and USD 50 for non-resident foreign applicants.
Also read: UP Integrated School: A Pioneer in the Philippines
Submission of applications: July 16 to August 23, 2019
Deadline of applications:
- Regional Public HS – August 2
- Regional Private HS – August 9
- Metro Manila Public HS – August 16
- Metro Manila Private HS – August 23
UPCAT schedule: October 5 and 6, 2019, nationwide
Website: UP Office of Admissions
Ateneo de Manila University
From one prestige university to another, Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) is among the popular universities in the country. Ateneo was established by Spanish Jesuits in 1859 as a public primary school in Intramuros.
Ateneo de Manila University’s De la Costa Hall, School of Humanities/ IMAGE Ateneo de Manila University
To date, Ateneo de Manila University is divided into 3 schools: the Loyola Schools in Loyola Heights Campus, the Professional Schools in Rockwell, and the Salcedo Campuses in Makati.
For the tertiary level, the Loyola Schools offer undergraduate and graduate degree programs composed of School of Humanities, the John Gokongwei School of Management, the School of Science and Engineering, and the School of Social Sciences.
Ateneo de Manila University School of Science and Education/ IMAGE Ateneo de Manila University
The Ateneo College Entrance Test (ACET) is the standardized exam that applicants are required to take to enter the university. For foreigners who wish to study in Ateneo, they may replace ACET with their SAT scores instead and will be given a special testing date.
The ACET fee costs Php 695 for regular test and Php 1,030 for a special test.
Submission of applications: July 8 to September 4, 2019
Deadline of applications: September 4, 2019
ACET schedule: September 21 or 22, 2019
Exam results: January 2020
Website: ACET College Applications
Also read: Expats’ Guide: Philippine Universities
De La Salle University
De La Salle University (DLSU) is a private Catholic coeducational institution founded by the Brothers of Christian Schools in 1911. Located in Manila, DLSU is home to local and international students who seek quality education in various departments.
De La Salle University-Manila campus/ IMAGE De La Salle University
DLSU has eight colleges and schools for Education, Computer Studies, Law, Liberal Arts, Science, Engineering, Business, and Economics. They also have other campuses located in Makati, BGC, and Laguna, while there are 16 La Salle schools all over the country.
For applicants, they provide an Online Admission Facility (OAF), wherein applicants may pay, fill out their application forms, submit requirements, and secure test permits online.
The DCAT fees are Php 600 for Filipino citizens, including dual citizens and Php 2,500.00 for non-Filipino citizens.
Submission of applications: July 1 to September 30, 2019
DCAT schedule:
- DLSU – Manila – October 13 and 20, 2019
- DLSU – Laguna – November 9, 2019
- Provincial – September, October and November 2019
Exam results: January 2020
Website: DLSU Freshman Applications
Also read: Expat’s Guide to LRT-1 Stations in Manila
University of Santo Tomas
The University of Santo Tomas in España, Manila is a Dominican learning institute founded in 1611 under its patron St. Thomas Aquinas. It is considered as the largest Catholic university in the world and the oldest university in Asia with more than 400 years of existence.
They offer a comprehensive 69 undergraduate programs and 39 graduate-level programs from various disciplines such as Business, Health, Humanities, Arts, Sports, Sacred Sciences, and Science and Mathematics.
Remember the game? Diether has one word for these four pictures: majestic.📸 Diether Arnecilla
College applicants and international applicants should register for the University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test (USTET) online.
The USTET fees are Php 600 for Filipino citizens, Php 1,000 for foreigners studying in the Philippines, and USD 30 or Php 1,650 for foreigners studying abroad.
Also read: List: Top-performing Medical Schools in Metro Manila
Submission of applications: July 06 to September 27, 2019
USTET schedule: October 06, 2019
Website: UST Admission
Which of these premier universities is your top choice for college? Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below.
Source: University of the Philippines, Ateneo de Manila University, De La Salle University, University of Santo Tomas
