Paying for UP: Free Tuition, SLAS and Scholarships

Qualifying through the UPCAT is the first hurdle. Paying for UP is the second one — and for many Filipino families, the bigger one. The good news is that tuition at UP is free for most Filipino undergraduates, and there are several layers of support on top of that. Applicants who understand the landscape early can plan for the costs tuition doesn't cover.

This guide covers free tuition under RA 10931, UP's Student Learning Assistance System (SLAS), the Iskolar ng Bayan admission route, and outside scholarships such as DOST-SEI. Programme details change, so verify with UP's SLAS Online portal, the UP Office of Admissions, your campus's scholarships office, and DOST-SEI before applying.

The Landscape at a Glance

• Free tuition (RA 10931) — the Universal Access to Quality Tertiary Education Act, signed in 2017, lets UP's constituent universities offer undergraduate education at no tuition cost to qualified Filipino students.
• SLAS — UP's Student Learning Assistance System, which provides additional financial and learning assistance to financially challenged students. You apply online through SLAS Online.
• Iskolar ng Bayan route — an admission route for Top Ten graduates of public high schools.
• Outside scholarships — DOST-SEI for science and technology courses, CHED programmes, local government units and private foundations.

Free Tuition Under RA 10931

RA 10931 covers tuition for undergraduates at state universities and colleges, including UP, subject to the law's eligibility rules. It doesn't cover everything a student spends — books, transport, housing, food and other living costs still add up, and that's where the other layers come in.

SLAS: UP's Learning Assistance System

UP developed the Student Learning Assistance System to give additional financial and academic support to students who need it. Applications go through the SLAS Online portal, and free-tuition beneficiaries can still apply for SLAS assistance. If you're an undergraduate not covered by free tuition, your SLAS result also matters when you apply for other UP financial assistance.

What SLAS provides and its current application windows are set by UP and can change year to year, so check the portal and your campus's student affairs or scholarships office after you're admitted. Prepare your family's income documents early — financial aid applications generally ask for proof of income.

Iskolar ng Bayan: The Top-of-Class Route

RA 10648, the Iskolar ng Bayan Act of 2014, supports top graduates of public high schools. For UP, the UP Office of Admissions describes the route like this: Top Ten graduates from public high schools may apply to a UP unit in the same region as their senior high school, or to UP Open University, provided they meet the UPG cutoff.

So it isn't a guaranteed slot — you still take the UPCAT, and you still need to meet the cutoff. Check the current UPCAT bulletin for the exact rules and what your school needs to certify.

DOST-SEI Scholarships: For Science and Technology Courses

The Department of Science and Technology's Science Education Institute runs the DOST-SEI Undergraduate Scholarships, separate from UP financial aid. You apply and take the DOST-SEI exam while in Grade 12, independently of the UPCAT, and use the scholarship at whichever university you enrol in for a priority course.

What DOST Provides

DOST-CAR lists these 2026 benefits:

• Tuition and fees — up to ₱40,000 per academic year.
• Monthly living allowance — ₱8,000.
• Learning materials and connectivity allowance — ₱10,000 per year.
• Other allowances — thesis, graduation, transportation and clothing, plus insurance.

For a UP student on free tuition, the living allowance and other allowances are what make the biggest difference.

The DOST-SEI Exam

For the 2027 scholarships, applications ran from 17 August to 17 September 2026 and the nationwide exam is on 14–15 November 2026, with results expected around March 2027. The exam is a pen-and-paper test in three parts — Creative Reasoning plus Language and Literature, Science, and Mathematics — lasting 180 minutes. The 2026 exam had 97,617 examinees, and 8,500 qualified (8.71%). See our DOST-SEI scholarship exam guide for eligibility and a review plan.

CHED, LGU and Private Scholarships

The Commission on Higher Education runs merit-based and need-based scholarship programmes, and many local government units and private foundations fund college scholarships too. Eligibility varies — some target STEM, some target leadership, some target particular provinces or cities. Check CHED's and your LGU's current calls, and read each scholarship's terms on whether it can be combined with others.

The honest framing: applying for several private scholarships is a part-time job for a month. It's worth it if your family budget is tight.

A Sensible Funding Plan

1. Free tuition (RA 10931) — check that you meet the eligibility rules.
2. SLAS — apply through SLAS Online once admitted, with your documents ready.
3. One large outside scholarship — DOST-SEI if you're taking a priority science or technology course, or a CHED or LGU scholarship.
4. Smaller private awards — for extra living-cost support.

Always read each scholarship's rules on holding more than one award.

What to Avoid

• Missing application windows — scholarship calls are time-bound. The DOST-SEI application, for example, closes months before the exam.
• Understating income — financial aid offices check documents. Declare your situation accurately.
• Holding two conflicting scholarships — some programmes don't allow it. Read the terms.
• Skipping smaller applications — every award you win is money your family doesn't spend.

How Super Tutor Helps

Super Tutor handles the exam side, not the paperwork. Our UPCAT reviewer and DOST-SEI reviewer each have chapter content in 11 study formats, practice quizzes at three difficulty levels and an AI tutor; the UPCAT reviewer also has full mock exams. Each plan covers one exam, from ₱249 a month with auto-pay (cancel anytime), or ₱1,999 for a full year, paid once.

For broader context, see the Complete UPCAT Guide 2026. The post-exam piece covers what happens between the test and enrolment. If you didn't qualify and are looking at second-chance routes, the paths back to UP piece is the companion read. The Super Tutor exam hub lists other exams we cover if you're applying broadly.

FAQs

Is UP tuition really free?

For most Filipino undergraduates, yes — RA 10931 lets UP offer undergraduate education at no tuition cost to qualified students. Check whether you meet the law's eligibility rules, and budget for books, transport, housing and food.

Can I hold a DOST scholarship and still get UP financial assistance?

Check the terms of each programme. Free-tuition beneficiaries can apply for SLAS, but individual scholarships have their own rules on combining awards.

Is Iskolar ng Bayan a guaranteed UP slot?

No. Top Ten graduates of public high schools can apply to a UP unit in their region or to UP Open University, but they still need to meet the UPG cutoff.

Can I apply for scholarships before knowing my UPCAT result?

For DOST-SEI and many private and LGU scholarships, yes — you apply during Grade 12, often before UPCAT results come out. For UP's own assistance, you apply once you're admitted. That's why applying for outside scholarships early matters.