- Undergraduate transcript is required for maste'rs degree applicants
- Undergraduate and master's degree transcript is required for PhD applicants
Payment Options
- direct cash payment at the UPLB Cashier's Office
- JRS and LBC courier services
The Graduate School and the individual programs reserve the right to require additional information or documents from an applicant when deemed necessary. All application materials become part of the permanent records of UPLB and will not be returned to the applicant.
Applicants from Foreign Countries
A duly accomplished application form must be submitted to the Graduate School together with the following documents:
English Proficiency Examination
If English is not the medium of instruction or the TOEFL score is below 500, an applicant is required to take the English Proficiency Examination (EPE) in UPLB. This is to determine one's level of proficiency. The fee for EPE is P250. If the applicant’s level of proficiency is Level A, he/she is required to take the Level A English Intensive Course for a fee of P8000.
Application Fee
US$ 40 as application fee. Payment can be accepted through bank transfer to the Philippine National Bank with Account No.: 399-692-7000-21, Swift Code: PNBMPHMM payable to Graduate School. A copy of your bank transaction should be emailed to admissions.gs@up.edu.ph as proof of payment, the original bank transaction must be presented upon admission together with the original documents (TOR, Diploma, etc).
Application Deadlines
All documents must be received by the Graduate School not later than 30 May for First Semester (August) admission, and 30 October for Second Semester (January) admission.
Incomplete Applications
Applications lacking the required documents will not be processed until after all the papers are received by the Graduate School. Processing will then commence at the earliest succeeding evaluation period.
Admission Categories
An applicant to a degree program may be admitted on either regular or provisional status. Regular admission is offered to an applicant whose academic records and supporting documents indicate that he is qualified to undertake graduate study in his chosen field. Provisional admission is offered to an applicant whose academic records and supporting documents indicate deficiencies but show promise of success in graduate study. An applicant must meet the specific requirements of his admission before his provisional status can be changed to regular. An applicant who fails to meet the terms of provisional admission is disqualified from the intended program of study.
Deferment of Admission
An applicant who cannot enroll in the semester for which admission was offered may send a written request to the dean of the Graduate School to have his admission deferred for a period not exceeding one year. If the request is approved, the student cannot register for graduate course work as a nondegree or special student in UPLB while his deferment is in effect.
Nonregular Admission
An applicant for nondegree or special programs may be offered admission to the Graduate School but not to any graduate degree program upon recommendation of the Graduate Admissions Committee of the department for which the applicant intends to enroll courses. The recommendation must be endorsed by the department chair and approved by the dean of the Graduate School. An applicant admitted on nondegree status may take a maximum of 12 units of course work for credit but shall not be allowed to enroll for more than one semester, except by special permission of the dean of the Graduate School and the Registrar. An applicant admitted on special status shall not be allowed to enroll for more than 9 units a semester or to register for more than 2 years, except by special permission of the dean of the Graduate School; subjects taken shall not be credited.
Readmission
An applicant offered readmission to a degree program shall undergo the same procedure as that of a newly-admitted graduate student. Applications for readmission to a graduate program can be made only once.
Applicants not admitted
Applicants who are denied admission due to lack of preparatory or fundamental courses in the intended graduate program of study may have their applications reconsidered only after submission of additional documents not submitted at the time of original evaluation. Applicants denied admission due to poor academic credentials are discouraged from reapplying for admission.
Step 1. See if you meet the minimum qualifications
Degree Applied For |
Minimum Qualifications |
Master's Degree |
Bachelor's Degree (4-year degree course) or its equivalent from any recognized institution. |
Doctor of Philosophy(Regular PhD) |
Master's Degree or its equivalent from any recognized institution |
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD by Research) |
Master's Degree or its equivalent from any recognized institution. Five (5) years of experience in research beyond the Master of Science degree. Published at least three (3) papers (excluding the M.S. and B.S. theses) in refereed scientific journals, at least two of which the applicant must be sole or senior author in the field he is applying for |
Non regular Admission |
Bachelor's Degree (4-year degree couse) or its equivalent from any recognized institution |
Step 2. Secure/Download Application Form and Recommendation Form
For MS/Regular PhD/PhD by Research, Download or secure a copy of GS Form No. 1 (Application for Admission form) and GS Form No. 2 (Recommendation Form) at the UPLB Graduate School Office. For non-degree admission use GS Form No. 1a (Application for Non-Degree Admission form).
Fill-up the application form. For those applying for MS/Regular PhD/PhD by Research ask the persons you asked to recommend you for graduate study to fill-up GS Form No. 2. Application for MS requires two accomplished recommendation forms from your former professors.
Three accomplished recommendation forms are required for application to Regular PhD/PhD by Research. Each recommendation letter must be placed in a sealed envelope and sent directly to the UPLB Graduate School, handcarried by the applicant or a representative in a sealed envelope or a pdf file emailed to admissions.gs.uplb@up.edu.ph
Step 3. Attach required documents and fee
1. Transcript of records
One original and one photocopy for each degree you indicated in your GS Form No. 1 / 1a. It must have an English translation.
2. TOEFL score
TOEFL score of 500 or better taken within the last two years is required only for applicants from countries where English is not the medium of instruction and/or not the native language.
Submit one copy of the official score report issued by the Educational Testing Service (ETS). Please request ETS to send your TOEFL scores to the University of the Philippines Los Baños-Graduate School. You may send a photocopy of your scores to facilitate processing of your documents. However, the result of your admission will not be issued unless we receive a copy of the official score report from ETS.
Applicants granted admission and whose TOEFL scores are below 500 are required to take the English Proficiency Examination (EPE) prior to registration. Performance in the EPE will determine the required Intensive English for Foreign Graduate Students (IEFGS) the applicants has to take during their first semester of enrolment.
3. Fee (nonrefundable)
PhP500 for Filipino Citizen and US$40 for internationals. A copy of bank transaction should be submitted to the Graduate School.
4. Recent photo
Attach one copy of your recent photo (colored 2"x2") to the application form. Please use paste or glue.
5. Additional requirements for those applying for the PhD by Research program
Step 4. Send application forms and documents
Send completed GS Form Nos. 1/1a and 2 to the UPLB Graduate School through post, through email or submit personally together with the required fee and documents. Due to the poor print quality of faxed documents, we will not accept documents sent through fax. Your application shall not be acted upon unless the required fee and documents are received by the Graduate School on or before May 30 for the First Semester (August) admission or October 30 for the Second Semester (January) admission.
Policy regarding submitted papers.
Documents submitted to the Graduate School pertinent to application become a permanent part of the University files and cannot be returned to the applicant.
Step 5. Wait for the result
The applicant will be notified through mail and email. If no email has been received this means that the application is still on process.
Applicants (for MS/Regular PhD/PhD by Research) who are admitted are classified in one of 2 groups: regular, for students who have met satisfactorily the minimum requirements for the particular discipline; provisional, for students who have certain deficiencies which may be corrected by prescribing additional requirements. The provisional admission is valid for one term only. During the first semester of residence, students admitted on probationary basis should register at least 9 units of courses with graduate credit in his field of specialization and should obtain a weighted average grade of 2.00 or better.
Notification of Admission
Letters of admission for MS/Regular PhD/PhD by Research will be sent out beginning March 1 for the first semester admission and August 1 for the second semester admission. Letters of admission for non-regular admission will be sent before or during regular registration.
The admission process is not complete until the admitted applicants acknowledge their admission by sending back to the Graduate School a duly accomplished acceptance card.
Deferment of Admission
An applicant who cannot enroll in the semester for which admission was offered may send a written request (or send the accomplished acceptance card) to the dean of the Graduate School to have his admission deferred for a period not exceeding one year. If the request is approved, the student cannot register for graduate course work as a non-degree or special student in UPLB while his deferment is in effect.
Deferment fee of PhP200 for Filipino citizen or USD15 for foreign nationals will be charged.
Master's Degree, Ph.D. Degree (both domestic and international applicants)
Term |
Deadline Date |
1st Semester |
May 30 |
2nd Semester |
October 30 |
Click to links to download
Form 1 Application Form for Degree Program - PDF
Form 1 Application Form for Degree Program - Fillable Word File
Form 1a Application Form for Non-Degree - PDF
Recommendation Form - PDF
Recommendation Form - Fillable Word File