The University of the Philippines Open University allows eligible students to earn a college degree without paying tuition, but only under specific rules set by law and university policy.
UPOU implements the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act of 2017 (RA 10931), together with its Implementing Rules and Regulations and UP internal guidelines issued in 2018. These rules clearly define who qualifies, how long free tuition lasts, and when it stops.
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Who can get free tuition at UPOU
Free tuition and other school fees apply only if all conditions are met.
- Students must be pursuing their first bachelor’s or comparable undergraduate degree. Anyone who already holds a bachelor’s degree from a public or private school is not eligible.
- Students must also follow all admission and retention policies. Failure to meet academic or administrative requirements results in loss of free tuition.
- There is also a strict time limit. Students must finish within the prescribed program length plus one year. For bachelor’s programs such as Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Studies and Bachelor of Education Studies, this means four years plus one additional year. Associate programs follow a two year plus one year rule. Exceeding this limit means tuition will be charged.
- Choosing to voluntarily opt out of free tuition is permanent. Once a student decides to pay tuition, they cannot return to the free tuition program.
- UPOU also clarified leave rules. Approved leaves of absence are not counted against free tuition coverage. AWOL terms are counted, reducing the remaining eligibility period.
Official ways to enter UPOU with free tuition
There are only three official admission routes into UPOU undergraduate programs covered by free tuition.
- The first is the UPCAT route, used for bachelor’s programs. This applies to qualified senior high school students or graduates who meet strict academic and application rules.
- The second is the UPOU Undergraduate Admission Test, which applies to associate degree programs. This route is open to senior high school graduates who have not enrolled in college and ALS secondary level passers.
- The third is transfer admission, available to qualified students from UP and non UP schools who meet unit, grade, and documentation requirements and complete the Distance Education Readiness Module.
What free tuition covers and when it starts
Under RA 10931, free tuition covers tuition and other school fees only. It applies to Filipino undergraduate students who remain eligible.
The free tuition clock starts on the first term a student enrolls in any UP unit, not when they enter UPOU specifically.
For official requirements and updates, applicants are advised to check the UPOU Admissions Portal and the Office of the University Registrar.
The Takeaway
Free tuition at UPOU is real, but conditional. Students planning to apply should check eligibility early, track their study timeline carefully, and avoid actions that permanently end the benefit.