UP Foreigner Registration

There is a great lack of clear information for foreign students at UP. I have the impressing at Ateneo has a better foreign student program and that after UP foreign student fees you will be paying almost the same price per term as Ateneo. That said I am glad that I am a UP student, so if you are thinking of trying school in the Philippines UP is a great option! I have successfully completed my second round of foreign student registration. This term was not as horrid as last term but still a long and unexciting process. It appears that they system and order of operations changes term to term but a few things remain the same.

Things to bring with you when you go to register

• ID, as many as you have, passport, I card, Student ID, driving ID
• copies of these ID's I would suggest 3 of each
• Snacks you will most likely be waiting a long time and wont want to sacrifice your place in line to buy food
• A book or some other distraction
• ID photos
• A long folder, the papers they give you are not the standard paper size
• Change for the jeep you are going to be going across campus several times
• Wet wipes for your face and arms most lines will not be in AC and its hot

Things that make registering easier

• Talking to the person next to you
• Asking the guard at the front of the building where to go 
• Do not worry about paying till after you get done registering, than wait a day before you go pay, it will make you more relaxed. 
• If you pay a day or two after the deadline there is no late charge
• wear cool comfortable clothes, but still somewhat nice looking
• its going to be hot
• you have to sit for a long time
• your Filipino classmates will somehow look very nice even in the heat

University of the Philippines

Have fun and good luck!




This is an outline of what to expect during your first semester as a international student at UP

1)      Find Ms. Ester Mendoza, get her phone number, she is going to help you a lot

2)      Go to the photo copy center at the back of this building/complex and get 10 copies of your passport, 6 of your most recent entry stamp, and 5 copies of your letter of admission. I know it seems like a lot but you will want them. This is going to be around 15 pesos

3)      Next you will need to go to the shopping center that is located on Katipuan Rd. In there you will find several stores that will take your photo for you. You are going to want 15 2x2 photos and 5 1x1. This will cost you about 100 pesos. Once you have them, always have several with you, people will want your photo for every form.

4)      While at the shopping center it will be a good idea if you buy a folder of some sort to keep all of the papers you are going to collect in order

5)      Once you have all of this you can return to Ms. Ester and she will give you a permission to study form.

6)      Take your permission to study form to the OUR (the registration / admission office). There you need to ask a student helper if you can speak with Jenn in admissions.

7)      Jenn will tell you that you need to go to your college or program to register, but that first you need to go online and update your profile and print out form 5A. She will give you your student ID number and a pass word.

8)      There are internet cafes at the shopping center as well as in near the OSA(where you found Ms. Ester). Various other building may have internet available however these two places are your best bet. Internet on campus costs around 10 pesos every 30min

9)      Once you have done this go to where Jenn told you to register and register!

10)  After you register you will be given your form 5, this is your key to life over the next week, so try not to destroy it.

11)  You will most likely be informed that you need to bring your form 5 to Jenn for assessment of how much you will pay.

12)  Once assessed you can head up to the 3^rd floor of the OUR to pay your tuition, it is cash only, they will however give you change if you do not have the exact amount.

13)  While you are in the building get in line for miscellaneous fees, there you can pay about 150 pesos for your student ID

14)  After you have the receipt for your ID go down to the second floor to the ID room to have your photo taken

15)  Now you need to go to the informatory / university health services for a series of exams. This will be free and they will tell you to come back in a few days to pick up your x-ray.

16)  At this point you need to go to a store and buy a good plastic container.

17)  Return to Health services to retrieve your x-ray and completed health form

18)  In order to receive your student visa you need to go the Bureau of quarantine and international health surveillance. It is located in metro manila next to manila hotel. On 25^th and Delgado St in the port area. The phone number is 527 4655 or 527 4654.  You need to bring a stool (poop) sample with you for your exam as well as two photos, your passport and your chest x-ray. If you do not have your chest x-ray they will take one there for 300 pesos. You can take public transit however it will be easiest to take a taxi. A taxi from the university to quarantine will cost around 180 pesos. Once you are finished they will ask you to come back in a day or two

19)  In a day or two return to quarantine to receive your results, be sure to bring your passport.

20)  Go to the photo copy center and make a copy of your results, you never know when you might need them

21)  Take your results back to Ms Ester along with your form 5

22)  Ms Ester has a friend who will process your student visa for you or you have the option of doing it yourself.  You will need to get a security clearance that takes about two weeks before your student visa will be processed and issued. Most likely this process will make your tourist visa stamp expire and you will need to apply for an extension …. All in all if Ms. Esters friend does this for you it will cost around 10,000 pesos, which you will need to pay in cash.

23)  Now that you have your student visa on the way you can take your medical results to the place you registered