✕

GUIDE: How to get a college degree for free at UP Open University

By Cecile Baltasar Published Feb 05, 2026 2:30 pm

Did you know you have a chance to study for free at the University of the Philippines Open University and earn either a bachelor or associate degree?

UPOU has been offering its pioneering distance education program since 1995 using printed modules and face-to-face tutorial sessions when necessary. Today, teaching and learning are done fully online. 

In the first trimester of academic year 2018–2019, UPOU began its free-tuition program under the Free Tuition Law on RA 10931. Qualified undergraduates get to study fully online with a flexible schedule without having to worry about transportation or food costs, dorm rental fees, and a daily allowance. 

If you are ready to give it a shot, here's what you need to know. 

Who can apply for free tuition at UP Open University?

There are some boxes you must tick to qualify for a free degree:

  • This will be your first bachelor's or comparable undergraduate degree at any public or private higher education institution 
  • You abide by all the admission and retention policies of the university
  • You complete the bachelor's or comparable undergraduate degree within a year after the program's prescribed period

If you are accepted into the program but voluntarily opt out before completing your degree, you will automatically be required to pay tuition for the rest of your stay in the university. 

How to get in 

Use one of the following three avenues to access UPOU's free undergraduate degree.

The UP College Admission Test for Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies and Bachelor of Education Studies programs

Take this route if you fulfill the following conditions:

  • You are a senior high school student graduating before SY 2026–2027 from a DepEd-accredited local high school or secondary school abroad, or a graduate of said schools.
  • You have final grades for Grades 8, 9, 10, and 11.
  • You have not taken any college subject ahead of SY 2026–2027
  • This is your first time taking the UPCAT
  • You did not apply and complete the UP College Application for AY 2021–2022, 2022–2023, or 2023–2024. 

The application period through UPCAT runs from March 3 to 31. 

The UPOU Undergraduate Admission Test for associate programs

An associate program, which focuses on specific technical skills, typically takes less time to complete than a four-year bachelor’s degree.

The programs you may apply for are 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 Associate of Science in Information Technology.

This route is available to senior high school graduates who have yet to enroll in college. It is also open to passers of DepEd's Alternative Learning System Accreditation and Equivalency Test for the secondary level. 

Apply as a transfer student

UP students wanting to transfer to any of the UPOU undergraduate programs are welcome to apply for UPOU's free-tuition program.

Make sure that you meet the following criteria: 

  • You are a current or former student of another UP school or university
  • You are a graduate of a two-year diploma, certificate, associate, or technical and vocational program
  • You are a former student of a college, diploma, certificate, associate, or technical and vocational program, but did not complete a degree
  • You have met all the transfer admission requirements 
  • If from a UP school: You have completed at least 30 units of college with a GWA (general weighted average) of at least 2.5
  • If not from a UP school: You have completed at least 33 units of college with a GWA of at least 2.0
  • You have submitted all the required documents for admission within the application period
  • You have completed the UPOU Distance Education Readiness Module

 Find more application details here. 

If you're up for short courses, UP Open University also has online courses you can take for free.