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The University of the Philippines (UP; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Pilipinas or Pamantasan ng Pilipinas) is a state public university system and the national university of the Philippines under Republic Act No. 9500 (UP Charter of 2008). It has a mandated role in national development through instruction, research, and public service. UP was established on June 18, 1908, by the American colonial government through Act No. 1870 of the First Philippine Legislature, as the country's premier institution of higher learning, mandated to provide advanced instruction and professional and technical training without discrimination.
The UP System is composed of eight constituent universities and one autonomous college: UP Diliman, UP Los Baños, UP Manila, UP Visayas, UP Open University, UP Mindanao, UP Baguio, UP Cebu, and UP Tacloban. These units are distributed across 17 campuses, with the system-wide administration headquartered at UP Diliman. The university is also responsible for the operations of the Philippine General Hospital—the national referral center and tertiary state-owned hospital specifically operated by the University of the Philippines Manila and also functions as a university hospital.
The University of the Philippines and her alums are among the most visible figures in the Philippines. The university produced 7 Presidents—the most number of Presidents of the Philippines from any university in the country, Senators, Members of the Congress, local government officials, National Artists of the Philippines, National Scientists of the Philippines, and other notable Filipino public figures in journalism, entertainment, and public service. The university also leads in research and the development of the country through its network of nationally top-performing engineers, doctors, lawyers, allied health professionals, artists, and writers.
History
The University of the Philippines was created to give Filipinos a place to study advanced subjects since many had to go to Europe for education before that. It started on June 18, 1908, with different schools like Agriculture, Fine Arts, Veterinary Medicine, Liberal Arts, Engineering, and Medicine. These schools were spread out, mostly in Manila, but some were in Los Baños.
Later, a big campus was built in Diliman, Quezon City. This took place between 1939 and 1949, but World War II stopped building for a while. After the war, many new buildings were constructed, and all the schools moved to Diliman.
As the university grew, new campuses were added in Los Baños, Manila, Visayas, and Mindanao. Each campus became its own university with its own leader. New programs and research centers were also started to help with the country's development.
In 2008, a new law made UP the national university of the Philippines. That year also marked the university's 100th birthday, with special events and celebrations. The university continues to grow and change to better serve the country.
Autonomous units
The University of the Philippines has eight main universities and one special unit spread across 15 campuses in the country. UP Diliman is where the main offices are located. Each main university is led by a chancellor chosen by the Board of Regents for a three-year term, and they can be chosen again once. The president of the whole university is chosen for a six-year term and cannot be chosen again.
Autonomous College
On April 27, 2023, the Board of Regents decided to make UP Tacloban its own special unit, separate from UP Visayas. This change helps UP Tacloban serve better in the Eastern Visayas area and could become a full university in the next few years.
Satellite campuses
These campuses are smaller parts of the bigger universities and do not have their own special status. They offer programs from the bigger universities they belong to.
UP Diliman
- UPD Bonifacio Global City Professional Schools (Taguig City, Metro Manila)
- UPD Extension Program in Olongapo (Olongapo City, Zambales)
- UPD Extension Program in Pampanga (Clark Freeport Zone, Mabalacat, Pampanga)
- UP Dasmarinas Technology Innovation Campus (Dasmariñas, Cavite), groundbreaking.
UP Los Baños
- UPLB Professional School for Agriculture and the Environment (Panabo City, Davao del Norte)
UP Manila
- UPM School of Health Sciences in Baler (Baler, Aurora)
- UPM School of Health Sciences in Koronadal (Koronadal City, South Cotabato)
- UPM School of Health Sciences in Palo (Palo, Leyte)
- UPM School of Health Sciences in Tarlac (Tarlac City, Tarlac)
UP Cebu
- UPC Professional Schools (Cebu City, Cebu)
UP Visayas
- UPV Iloilo City Campus (Iloilo City)
- UPV Antique Extension (Pandan, Antique)
UP Open University
- Seven (7) learning centers across the country
Basic education
- University of the Philippines High School Cebu in UP Cebu
- University of the Philippines High School Iloilo in UP Visayas
- University of the Philippines Integrated School in UP Diliman
- University of the Philippines Rural High School in UP Los Baños
| University | Chancellor | Campus land area (Hectares) | Founded | Focus Areas (Non-exhaustive) | CHED Centers of Excellence and Development | Description and remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the Philippines Baguio | Prof. Joel M. Addawe | 6 | 1961 | Social Sciences (Anthropology, Culture Studies, etc.); Arts and Communication; Business and Management; Biology; Mathematics | Biology, Mathematics, Physics | UP's regional hub in the Cordillera, advancing science and cultural studies |
| University of the Philippines Cebu | Atty. Leo B. Malagar | 12+ | 1918 (Junior College of Liberal Arts); 1930 (Cebu Junior College, UP) | Information Technology; Arts; Various Sciences including Mathematics and Statistics; Social Sciences (e.g., Political Science) | Environmental Science, Information Technology | UP's creative and innovation hub in Central Philippines; Elevated from UP Visayas to an autonomous unit, and later to a constituent university. |
| University of the Philippines Diliman | Atty. Edgardo Carlo Vistan II | 493 (Quezon City campus only) | 1909 (founding colleges); 1949 (Diliman campus) | Arts and Humanities (e.g., Fine Arts, Music, Film, Media, etc.); Social Sciences (e.g., Law, Governance, Sports Science, Economics, etc.); Natural and Physical Sciences (e.g., Geology, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and related fields); Engineering; Business and Management | Anthropology, Biology, Broadcasting, Cell and Molecular Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Communication, Electrical Engineering, English, Environmental Science, Foreign Language, Geodetic Engineering, Geology, History, Journalism, Library and Information Science, Literature, Marine Science, Mathematics, Metallurgical Engineering, Music, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Social Work, Statistics, Teacher Education | UP's leading institution for liberal arts, scientific research, and nation-building; Houses the central administration of the UP system; represents UP in the University Athletics Association of the Philippines |
| University of the Philippines Los Baños | Dr. Jose V. Camacho, Jr. | 15,205 (total); 5,445 (main campus); 9,760 (land grants) | 1909 | Agricultural and Food Sciences (including Biotechnology); Life and Natural Sciences (e.g., Forestry, Biology, Chemistry, Nutrition, Physics, and related fields); Mathematics, Statistics, and Computer Science; Engineering; Veterinary Medicine; Communication; Economics | Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture, Biology, Chemical Engineering, Development Communication, Environmental Science, Forestry, Information Technology, Statistics, Veterinary Medicine | UP's center of excellence for agricultural, natural, and applied sciences; Houses the International Rice Research Institute; designated as caretaker of Mount Makiling |
| University of the Philippines Manila | Dr. Michael L. Tee | 14 | 1905 (College of Medicine); 1908 (UP) | Health Sciences and Allied Medical Professions; Biomedical Sciences (Biochemistry, Biology) | Medicine, Nursing | The Philippines' national center for health sciences and medical education; Operates the Philippine General Hospital and houses the National Institutes of Health |
| University of the Philippines Mindanao | Prof. Lyre Anni Murao | 204 | 1995 | Humanities and Social Sciences (e.g., Architecture, Sports Science, etc.); Agribusiness; Various Sciences including Data Science | Biology | UP's flagbearer in Mindanao, advancing the sciences, culture, and innovation; houses the CHED Zonal Research Center, DOST-SEI Regional Biotechnology Laboratory, and the Philippine Genome Center Mindanao |
| University of the Philippines Visayas | Dr. Clement Camposano | 1,500 Main Campus | 1947 | Fisheries and Ocean Sciences; Basic and Applied Sciences; Business and Management, Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts | Fisheries | UP's regional hub in the Visayas, pioneering in fisheries and regional development |
| University of the Philippines Open University | Dr. Joane V. Serrano | 23 (Headquartered in Los Baños, Laguna) | 1995 | Education, Information & Communication Studies, Management & Development Studies (offered in the distance education mode) | UP's leader in open and distance e-learning |
| College | Dean | Founded | Focus Areas (Non-exhaustive) | Declared as Autonomous Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of the Philippines Tacloban | Dr. Patricia Arinto | 1973 | Humanities, Management, Social Sciences, Natural Sciences & Mathematics | April 27, 2023 |
Organization
The University of the Philippines is led by a President who is chosen by a group of 11 leaders called the Board of Regents. This board makes the most important decisions for the university.
The current president is Angelo Jimenez, who began his role in February 2023. The Board includes representatives from students, faculty, alumni, and staff, as well as leaders from the government.
Presidents of the University of the Philippines
Main article: President of the University of the Philippines
The President of the University of the Philippines is elected for a single six-year term by the university's eleven-member Board of Regents. As of 2023, two Americans and 20 Filipinos served as Presidents of the University of the Philippines.
The current president of UP is lawyer and former regent Angelo Jimenez. He assumed office on February 10, 2023.
Board of Regents
The governance of the university is vested in the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines System (or Lupon ng mga Rehente in Filipino) and is commonly abbreviated as BoR. The board, with its 11 members, is the highest decision-making body in the UP system.
The Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education (CHED) serves as the Board's Chairperson while the President of the University of the Philippines is the co-chairperson. The Chairpersons of the Committee on Higher, Technical and Vocational Education of the Senate and the Committee on Higher and Technical Education House of Representatives are members of the Board of Regents which are concurrent with their functions as committee chairpersons.
UP students, represented by the General Assembly of Student Councils, nominate a Student Regent. While the Faculty Regent is likewise nominated by the faculty members of the whole University. Alumni are represented by the President of the UP Alumni Association. A Staff Regent, representing professional and administrative personnel, was included with the passage of the new UP Charter in 2008. The remaining members of the Board of Regents are nominated into the position by the President of the Philippines.
As of 2025, the members of the Board of Regents of the University of the Philippines System are:
The secretary of the university and of the Board of Regents is Atty. Roberto M.J. Lara.
| Presidents of the University of the Philippines |
| Murray S. Bartlett, 1911-1915 |
| Ignacio B. Villamor, 1915-1921 |
| Guy Potter Wharton Benton, 1921-1925 |
| Rafael V. Palma, 1925-1933 |
| Jorge Bocobo, 1934-1939 |
| Bienvenido Ma. González, 1939–1943, 1945-1951 |
| Antonio Sison, 1943-1945 |
| Vidal A. Tan, 1951-1956 |
| Enrique Virata, 1956-1958 |
| Vicente G. Sinco, 1958-1962 |
| Carlos P. Romulo, 1962-1968 |
| Salvador P. Lopez, 1969-1975 |
| Onofre D. Corpuz, 1975-1979 |
| Emanuel V. Soriano, 1979-1981 |
| Edgardo J. Angara, 1981-1987 |
| José Abueva, 1987-1993 |
| Emil Q. Javier, 1993-1999 |
| Francisco Nemenzo, Jr., 1999-2005 |
| Emerlinda R. Roman, 2005–2011 |
| Alfredo E. Pascual, 2011–2017 |
| Danilo Concepcion, 2017–2023 |
| Angelo Jimenez, 2023–present |
| Board member | ||
|---|---|---|
| Chairperson | Hon. Shirley C. Agrupis | Chairperson of the Commission on Higher Education |
| Co-chairperson | Hon. Angelo A. Jimenez | President of the University of the Philippines |
| Member | Hon. Loren B. Legarda | Chairperson, Senate Higher, Technical and Vocational Education Committee |
| Member | Hon. Jude A. Acidre | Chairperson, House Committee on Higher and Technical Education |
| Member | Hon. Robert Lester F. Aranton | Alumni Regent & President, UP Alumni Association |
| Member | Hon. Early Sol A. Gadong | Faculty Regent |
| Member | Hon. Marie Theresa S. Alambra | Staff Regent |
| Member | Hon. Ron Dexter L. Clemente | Student Regent |
| Member | Hon. Alfredo E. Pascual | Appointed Regent by President Bongbong Marcos |
| Member | Hon. Gregorio B. Pastorfide | Appointed Regent by President Rodrigo Duterte |
| Member | Hon. Raul C. Pagdanganan | Appointed Regent by President Rodrigo Duterte |
Academics
The University of the Philippines System has many programs. It offers 246 programs for students starting their studies and 362 programs for students continuing their education, more than any other university in the country. The Diliman campus has the most programs, while other campuses focus on specific areas of study.
The university has 57 different schools and departments, each offering special programs. For example, the Los Baños campus has a special school for advanced studies in fields like agriculture and forestry. The Manila campus works with Boston University, allowing students to study there for a semester. The university has 4,571 teachers, with many having studied both in the Philippines and abroad.
The university is part of important university networks, connecting it with schools across Asia and Europe. It is also the only Philippine university linked with universities around the Pacific Rim.
The university has the largest library collections in agriculture, medicine, and related sciences in the Philippines. Its libraries hold many books, journals, and special materials, including items from student and political groups during a past time of change in the country. The library system began in 1922 and was once considered one of the best in Asia before facing destruction during the Second World War. It was later rebuilt and has been a leader in library education, offering courses since 1914 and starting the country's first graduate program in library science in 1961.
Admissions and financial aid
See also: University of the Philippines College Admission Test
The University of the Philippines has very selective undergraduate admissions. In 2026, over 147,000 students took the entrance exam, and only about 18,000 were accepted, making it one of the toughest in the country. Admission depends mostly on the results of the University of the Philippines College Admissions Test (UPCAT) and high school grades.
The university also has a program called the Socialized Tuition System, or Iskolar ng Bayan, to help students from families with limited money. This program was started in 2014 to make education more fair and accessible. It offers different levels of help based on what a family can afford, including full scholarships for those who need it most.
See also: Oblation (University of the Philippines)
The university’s colors are maroon and forest green. Maroon represents the fight for freedom, as it was a color used by a group of people in Jamaica who successfully defended their freedom for over 100 years. These colors are used in the university’s hymn and official symbols.
The university’s seal features a bald eagle holding symbols of science, medicine, engineering, and agriculture. This seal was approved in 1913 and is used on official documents. Each part of the seal represents important areas of study at the university. The university also has its own flag, which is a horizontal banner with maroon and green stripes and the university seal in the center.
"UP Naming Mahal" is the official hymn of the university. The music was composed by Nicanor Abelardo, a famous Filipino musician and UP alum. The hymn has both English and Filipino lyrics.
The university also uses a special sash called the “Sablay” for graduation ceremonies. The Sablay is patterned after old academic sashes from Scandinavian universities and features the university’s initials in an ancient Filipino script. Graduates wear it during the ceremony.
| Filipino Lyrics (U.P. Naming Mahal) | Original Lyrics in English (U.P. Beloved) |
|---|---|
| I. U.P. naming mahal, pamantasang hirang Ang tinig namin, sana'y inyong dinggin Malayong lupain, amin mang marating Di rin magbabago ang damdamin Di rin magbabago ang damdamin. II. Luntian at pula, Sagisag magpakailanman Ating pagdiwang, bulwagan ng dangal Humayo't itanghal, giting at tapang Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan Mabuhay ang pag-asa ng bayan. | I. U.P. beloved, thou Alma Mater dear For thee united, our joyful voices hear Far tho we wander, o'er island yonder Loyal thy sons we'll ever be Loyal thy sons we'll ever be. II. Echo the watchword, the Red and Green forever. Give out the password, to the Hall of Brave sons rare. Sing forth the message, ring out with courage All hail, thou hope of our dear land, All hail, thou hope of our dear land. |
In popular culture
The University of the Philippines is well-known for its active students who often speak up for what they believe is right. During a difficult time in the country's history under the Marcos dictatorship, students at the university protested for their rights, especially during an event called the Diliman Commune. Later, during Rodrigo Duterte's time as leader, the university again stood up for important issues.
Many students in the Philippines dream of attending UP because it is very selective. Each year, over 120,000 people take the UPCAT exam to try to join the university. Students often study hard at special review centers to prepare.
UP students are known for doing very well in important tests for jobs like doctors, engineers, and scientists. Many graduates go on to work in important positions in the government, showing the university's focus on public service. UP is often ranked as the best university in the Philippines.
Notable alumni
Main article: List of University of the Philippines people
The University of the Philippines has many important graduates and teachers who have become leaders in many fields.
In politics, UP graduates include past presidents of the Philippines such as José P. Laurel, Diosdado Macapagal, Ferdinand Marcos, and Gloria Macapagal Arroyo. Other graduates hold important jobs like senators, vice presidents, and members of Congress.
In business, UP graduates have started big companies. One graduate started the first television station in the Philippines, now known as ABS-CBN Corporation. Another graduate won a top prize for work in motion pictures.
The university is proud that one of its graduates, Maria Ressa, received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021 for her important work.
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