If you think obtaining a college degree is costly, think again. There are options, like UP Open University, that make undergraduate education accessible without imposing a heavy financial burden.
As the country’s leading open and distance elearning institution, UP Open University offers Bachelor’s and Associate programs for free through RA 10931 or the Free Tuition Law. This is supported by the UP OVPAA and OVPPF Joint Memorandum No. 5 of 2018, which sets the guidelines for free tuition and other school fees in UP.
Who qualifies for free tuition?
Based on the guidelines, undergraduates do not pay tuition fees, except if they:
- Already have a bachelor’s degree or a comparable undergraduate degree from any higher education institution, whether public or private.
- Fail to comply with the admission and retention policies of the University.
- Do not complete their bachelor’s degree or comparable undergraduate degree within a year after the period prescribed in the program.
- Voluntarily opt out
So if you are none of the above, your tuition is free.
With UPOU’s open and distance teaching and learning, all you need is a device with an internet connection, good time management, and self-motivation. There is no cost for transportation, dormitory rental, or even daily allowance.
The Hows
There are three routes to a free undergraduate degree from UPOU.
First, through the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) for the Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies and Bachelor of Education Studies programs. This route suits you if you are any of the following:
- Senior high school student expecting to graduate before SY 2026-2027 from a DepEd-accredited high school or an accredited secondary school abroad; OR
- Graduate of a DepEd-accredited high school or accredited secondary school abroad; AND
- Must have final grades for Grade 8, 9, 10, and Grade 11;
- Must not have taken any college subject/s prior to the opening of SY 2026-2027;
- Must not have taken the UP College Admission Test before; AND
- Must not have applied and completed the UP College Application for either the AY 2021-2022 (UPCA 2021), AY 2022-2023 (UPCA 2022), or AY 2023-2024 (UPCA 2023).
Application through UPCAT opens on 3 March 2026 and will end on 31 March 2026. More details at https://upcat.up.edu.ph/.
Second, through the UPOU Undergraduate Admission Test (UgAT) for the Associate programs — Associate in Arts, Associate of Arts in Digital Design and Arts, Associate of Arts in Digital Entrepreneurship, Associate of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, and the Associate of Science in Information Technology. It is open to high school or senior high school graduates who have never enrolled in college or to passers of the DepEd’s Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency (ALS A&E) Test for secondary level.
Thirdly, as a transfer student to any of the UPOU undergraduate programs, with the following qualifications:
- 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) student who stopped schooling.
As long as they:
- have 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 all required documentation for admission before the application deadline.
- have completed the UPOU Distance Education (DE) Readiness Module.
Take this opportunity to learn, upgrade your knowledge and skills, and earn your college degree for free at UPOU. Please visit https://www.upou.edu.ph/admissions/ for more information.
Written by Anna Cañas-Llamas | Edited by Primo G. Garcia | Graphics by Marinela Hernandez
