The University of the Philippines announced they will begin accepting online applications for college freshmen on January 7, 2021.
Last month, the UP System announced that there will be no UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) for incoming first-year students in Academic Year 2021-2022.
As stated in a memorandum issued by the Office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs on 30 October 2020, the University Councils of the CUs “unanimously voted NOT to administer UPCAT in light of logistical issues in the paper-and-pencil testing of about 100,000 17-year old applicants.”
The University Councils are vested with the power to “fix the requirements for admission to any college or unit, graduation and grant of honors subject to minimum system-wide requirements,” according to Sections 16 and 17 of Republic Act No. 9500 or the UP Charter of 2008.
UP to accept online applications for freshmen on Jan. 7
UP posted on its website on December 18 the process on how incoming freshmen could apply online:
• Applicants shall accomplish Form 1 (Personal Data Sheet) electronically and upload their photo and electronic signature
• High schools shall be requested to log on to the Grades Submission link to accomplish Form 2 (High School Records) on behalf of the applicants. An online survey was sent earlier to high schools using their registered email addresses in the records of the UP Office of Admissions (OAdms).
• If a high school has not received the email of the UP OAdms, applicants from that school must inform the office of the school’s official email address via dataproc.oadms@up.edu.ph to facilitate communications between the UP OAdms and the high school.
UP urges applicants to use secure email accounts “preferably with two-step verification to better protect their right to data privacy.”
“However, UP is not requiring all applicants to use accounts with two-step verification, as some applicants may not have full access to devices and/or internet connectivity,” it added.
UP added that those who have no access to the internet should seek the help of their concerned high schools for assistance.
UP said the incoming freshmen could send online applications until February 15. It added the details on how to accomplish the forms properly would be posted on its online portal.