About UP

AS THE ONLY national university in the country, the University of the Philippines System takes pride in being the pioneer in higher education through academic excellence, outstanding research, public service, and modernized facilities.

Established in 1908, UP started as a small Manila campus with only a few colleges. Over the years, UP has made a reputation for itself as a research and graduate university that produces scientific and creative outputs of the highest quality which receive both national and in international recognition. Today, the University is comprised of seven constituent universities and one autonomous college located in 14 campuses throughout the Philippine archipelago. UP’s constituent universities nurture the intellectual and cultural growth of the Filipino through 240 undergraduate and 402 graduate programs. No other academic institution in the country can match the scope and range of the University’s course offerings that include almost all disciplines and embrace all interests and inclinations. Almost 26.6 percent of its faculty have doctorate degrees and 36.2 percent have master’s degrees. The rest are working on their graduate studies.

UP’s student population of almost 52,000 thrives in the liberal atmosphere that is part of the tradition of a UP education. And UP graduates have become the country’s leaders in politics and governance, law, the sciences, and the arts.

To date, UP has produced 36 out of 37 National Scientists in fields as diverse as history, engineering, physics, agriculture, biophysical chemistry, psychology, medicine, plant physiology, genetics, and cytogenetics. But UP’s strength does not lie in its scientific pursuits alone because 34 out of 57 National Artists named thus far are from UP, coming from literature, the visual arts, music, dance, theater, film, and architecture.

UP also maintains an exemplary performance record in professional licensure examinations in fields such as law, accounting, medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, chemistry, geology, engineering, environmental planning, education, library science, social work, nutrition and dietetics, interior design, architecture, fisheries, agriculture, etc.

Internationally recognized as the leading educational institution in the country, UP is the only Philippine university in the Association of Pacific Rim Universities (APRU), where membership is based on the nomination and votes of member universities. UP is also the only Philippine university in the ASEAN-European University Network (ASEA UNINET), and is one of two Philippine universities in the ASEAN University Network (AUN).

Moving on from its centennial, the University aims to further improve its academic and research programs across the System and works towards strengthening its units outside Metro Manila. By streamlining functions, encouraging innovation and creativity in its course offerings, as well as developing its technological and physical infrastructure, UP hopes to meet the demands of the changing times and take its place as one of the best in the region, and eventually, the world.