Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) 2023

Q: How do I know my UPG?

A: UPG is the University Predicted Grade. It is only provided to UPCA applicants who did not successfully receive an offer for admission.

For qualifiers, requests for UPG will not be entertained.


Q: I am a UP Cebu qualifier, can I appeal for change of degree program?

A: In the event you are not admitted into the degree program and/or UP campus of your choice, the UPCA portal will provide you with access to the DiWA Portal which indicates degree programs with available slots and/or UP campuses for which you are eligible to apply. This portal, which is also managed by the UP Office of Admissions, makes use of the same email address and password that you used for submitting your UPCA application. In order for UP to process your appeal, we will require you to indicate two (2) degree programs and/or a UP campus through such portal. In case your appeal is successful, you will be required by this portal to state whether you are accepting or declining the slot within a specified deadline, and if applicable to you, your assigned learner reference number.
https://upcollegeadmissions.up.edu.ph/htmls/aboutupcollegeadmissions.html

There is no guarantee that you will be accepted in the program you are appealing for. All appeals for reconsideration will be subject to the availability of slots and your UPG (University Predicted Grade) score. Should your appeal not be successful, you will be reverted back to your original degree program.


Q: I am an UPCA qualifier from another UP campus/unit, can I transfer to UP Cebu instead?

A: In the event you are not admitted into the degree program and/or UP campus of your choice, the UPCA portal will provide you with access to the DiWA Portal which indicates degree programs with available slots and/or UP campuses for which you are eligible to apply. This portal, which is also managed by the UP Office of Admissions, makes use of the same email address and password that you used for submitting your UPCA application. In order for UP to process your appeal, we will require you to indicate two (2) degree programs and/or a UP campus through such portal. In case your appeal is successful, you will be required by this portal to state whether you are accepting or declining the slot within a specified deadline, and if applicable to you, your assigned learner reference number.
https://upcollegeadmissions.up.edu.ph/htmls/aboutupcollegeadmissions.html

However, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted in UP Cebu and in the program you are appealing for. All appeals for reconsideration to UP Cebu will be subject to the availability of slots and your UPG (University Predicted Grade) score.


Q: I am a UP Cebu qualifier under the DPWAS**, how can I confirm for a specific program?

A: Please submit your appeal via the DiWA Portal.

Admission into a degree program will be subject to the availability of slots and your UPG score.

** DPWAS – Degree Program with Available Slot


Q: I am a Non-Qualifier to the campuses I applied for but my UPG is 2.8 or better*, can I apply for reconsideration to UP Cebu?

A: Yes. The UP Cebu UPG (University Predicted Grade) cut-off is 2.800.

If your UPG is 2.800 or better, please submit your appeal via the DiWA Portal.

However, there is no guarantee that you will be accepted in UP Cebu and in the program you are appealing for. All appeals for reconsideration to UP Cebu will be subject to the availability of slots and your UPG (University Predicted Grade) score.

* in the UP Marking System, better means not more than 2.800, e.g. 2.810,  2.853, 2.902, 3.000


Q: I am a Non-Qualifier to the campuses I applied for but my UPG is lower than 2.8**, can I apply for reconsideration to UP Cebu?

A: The UP Cebu UPG (University Predicted Grade) cut-off is 2.800.
The absolute minimum UPG cut-off is 2.800 for all undergraduate degree programs in the University of the Philippines.

You have the following options:

    • Apply for admission to an Associate in Arts or Certificate program, such as the Certificate in Fine Arts (CFA) program of UP Cebu. Applicants to the CFA program have to pass the Talent Aptitude Test (TAT) of the UP Cebu Fine Arts Program.
      If accepted to the 3-year CFA program, you cannot shift or proceed to any other bachelor’s degree program in the University; except to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program and only after graduating from the CFA program with a GWA of 2.5 or better.
    • Apply for admission as a student athlete through the Varsity Athletic Admission System (VAAS) and undergo a system of tryouts. VAAS students are required to represent the university in national or international sports competitions to maintain their status as UP students.
    • Apply for transfer to UP Cebu after earning 33 collegiate academic units and obtaining a GWA of 2.0 or better from another school or university.

* in the UP Marking System, lower means more than 2.800, e.g. 2.810,  2.853, 2.902, 3.000


Q: I am a UP Cebu qualifier but would like to defer my enrollment to the next semester or schoolyear. May I?

A: A qualified first year applicant who, for a valid reason, cannot enroll during the semester originally applied for, may apply for deferment of enrollment to the succeeding semester by writing an email to [email protected] indicating their deferment request.

Such applicant must not take any college academic subject prior to enrollment. The maximum period allowed by the University for deferment of enrollment is one year.


Q: I would like to apply for admission as Iskolar ng Bayan. How to do this?

A: UP will accept applications from high school graduates who satisfy the following conditions:

    • Must be a Filipino citizen.
    • Must have graduated from a Public High School in the Philippines within two (2) years before AY 2023-2024.
    • Must provide a certification from their public high school, duly signed by the School Principal, that the applicant belongs to the top ten graduating (Grade 12) class students.
    • Must be enrolling for the first time in college and has no credited previous college work.
    • Must have obtained a rating (UPG 1) designated by the UP CU as the minimum for a student to qualify for the UP campus where the student filed an INB application.
      UP Cebu UPG (University Predicted Grade) Cut-off is 2.800.

To qualify for the Iskolar ng Bayan program, please submit your appeal via the DiWA Portal.

1 Note: Prior to AY 2021-2022, INB grantees were admitted to UP without taking the UPCAT. Grantees were determined after the ranking based on High School Weighted Average. Beginning AY 2021-2022, INB applicants must have satisfied the minimum requirements of the UP unit they intend to enroll in.


Q: Can I enroll in UP Cebu without confirming my slot, or if i failed to accept the UP admissions offer?

A: Failure to confirm your slot or reply to the UP Admissions Offer with the Office of Admissions will mean that your slot will automatically be forfeited.


Q: I have been classified under pending cases.

A: Please contact the Office of Admissions to clear your deficiencies. More information here.

Office of Admissions
University of the Philippines
Kalaw Corner Quirino Streets UP Diliman, Quezon City
1101 Philippines
Telefax: +63 (2) 927 4561
Telephone: +63 (2) 981 8500 LOC 3826/3827/3828/3830/3831
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://upcollegeadmissions.up.edu.ph/


Q: If I don’t have yet my original High School Report Card (Form 138) for the Advance Registration, can I still enroll?

A: Yes, you can enroll. But note that your admission is provisional pending submission of the original High School Report Card or Form 138 bearing the signature of your principal and the remark: “Graduated and eligible for admission to college”.

This applies to FORM 137 as well.

Added Note:

In UP, we call subjects “courses”, and we call courses “degree programs”, or “program” for short.
You would hear an Iskolar say, “My program is BS Biology and I am taking the General Education course, Ethics 1, this First Semester”.