University of the Philippines

The University of the Philippines is the country’s national university, as mandated by Republic Act 9500 or the UP Charter of 2008. Established on June 18, 1908, in the heart of Manila, UP was meant to provide studies in medicine, law, engineering, and arts to every qualified student regardless of “age, sex, nationality, religious belief, and political affiliation.” As its first president Murray Simon Bartlett envisioned it, a “University for Filipinos.”

Over its 115-year history, UP has grown into a system of eight constituent universities and 17 campuses throughout the Philippines. It offers 586 undergraduate and graduate programs, of which 248 are in the sciences and engineering, 31 in agriculture and fisheries, and 100 in the social sciences. It also offers 93 programs in the arts and letters, 83 programs in management, and 29 programs in education.

As of December 31, 2022, the Philippine Commission on Higher Education (CHED) has declared 41 academic units of the University as Centers of Excellence (COE), while five units were declared as Centers for Development (COD).

With around 1,747 International Publication Awards and a lot more locally, UP continues to achieve groundbreaking research in medicine, engineering, agriculture, fisheries, and disaster risk reduction and management. It also inspires its artists to pursue works that elevate human consciousness and move societies. UP continues to play a vital role in shaping the nation’s consciousness and identity, always anchored in honor and excellence.