USTET requirements for college applicants: the documents, the ₱600 fee, who gets it waived, the remaining test dates, and how UST computes your rating.
Mariano Luiz King
Published October 31, 2026 · Updated November 6, 2026
Yes, UST has an entrance exam: the USTET (University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test). For a Grade 12 student in a Philippine school, it costs ₱600, and you need three documents. UST keeps its college application open for months, usually from August to January. This post lists the requirements, fees, and waivers straight from UST's admission site, as of October 2026.
After reading this, you can prepare your USTET application without missing a document.
UST says only college applicants currently enrolled in Grade 12 may apply. Some other groups can apply too, but they need clearance from UST Manila's Office of the Registrar first:
You pick two programs: a Priority Program and an Alternative Program. Some programs also need an interview or talent test on top of the USTET.
If you're a Filipino graduating from a local school (UST calls this Category 1), you upload:
UST does not accept a civil registry copy of your birth certificate. Get the PSA copy early, since it can take time to arrive.
Graduates of previous school years also need a clearance and a Form 138 (report card) certified by their school.
| Applicant | Fee |
|---|---|
| Filipino applicant in a local school | ₱600 |
| Filipino graduate of a previous school year | ₱600 |
| PEPT, ALS, or A&E passer | ₱600 |
| Filipino from a foreign school | ₱1,000 |
| Non-Filipino in a Philippine school | ₱1,000 |
| International student | ₱1,000 |
| Applicant using international credentials | ₱3,000 |
| LEAPMed applicant (testing in the Philippines) | ₱3,600 |
| International testing center | ₱6,000 |
The fee is non-refundable. You pay online through UST's payment gateway. The payment option only appears after UST verifies your documents and you choose a testing center.
UST waives the fee for:
College applications run from August 8, 2026 to January 8, 2027. If you're also applying to LEAPMed (UST's six-year medicine program), your deadline is earlier: November 27, 2026.
Remaining UST Manila test dates for college applicants, as of October 31, 2026:
| Test date | Pay by |
|---|---|
| December 6, 2026 | November 27, 2026 |
| January 24, 2027 | January 8, 2027 |
You don't pick the exact date and time yourself. UST's system assigns them based on when you completed your application. Provincial centers can fill up before the deadline, so apply early if you're outside Manila.
This part matters for how you review. UST says your overall rating is:
So the test carries most of the weight. The USTET has four subtests: Mental Ability, English, Mathematics, and Science. See the USTET coverage for the topics past takers reported.
Results come out in the second quarter of 2027.
UST lists false or incomplete documents and wrong information in the portal as grounds for disqualification. Double-check your grades before you submit, since they feed into 20% of your rating.
The USTET is cheap and straightforward if you're a Grade 12 student in a local school. The two things that trip people up are the PSA birth certificate and late payment. Order the PSA copy now and pay as soon as the payment option appears.
Yes. College applicants take the USTET, except some who apply with accepted international credentials.
₱600 for Filipino applicants in local schools, as of October 2026. Other categories pay more.
January 8, 2027 for college applicants, and November 27, 2026 for LEAPMed.
Grades count for 20% of your overall rating. The USTET score counts for 80%.
Practice with the free USTET reviewer and mock exam questions.
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