Facts about the University of the Philippines College of Medicine

At the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, you can pursue and earn an M.D. in a wide range of medical fields taught at the university.

I recently published an article on the medical schools in the Philippines, and the University of the Philippines College of Medicine is one of the top medical schools listed in the blog post. Aside from that, it is one of the top medical schools in the country and has international recognition as well. Due to its academic strength in medical education and recognition, I had to draft out an article specially for the school.

Also, the University of the Philippines College of Medicine is the first choice of medical aspirants in the country, therefore, it requires further details to be provided to assist individuals who want to get into the school to acquire top-notch medical skills. In this article, details required to get you into medical school have been provided. You only need to read carefully to avoid missing any important detail that will facilitate your admission.

Without further ado, let’s get into it.

[lwptoc]

History of the University of Philippines College of Medicine

There is no way that the facts about the University of Philippines College of Medicine will be talked about without spilling out facts first. If you want to attend this medical school, you must learn as much as you can about it. Learning about history can actually help you in knowing if it is the right school for you or not.

The University of the Philippines College of Medicine was established in 1905 as the medical school of the University of the Philippines to offer academic programs and degrees in the medical field. In 1910 it was integrated as one of the colleges into the University of the Philippines and was renamed to U.P College of Medicine and Surgery. The college is also recognized among the oldest medical schools in the country.

It may also interest you to know that during World War II, the University of Philippines College of Medicine was the only unit of the University of the Philippines System that never seized operating, it was kept open and functional to keep providing medical services. The Philippine General Hospital is the school’s teaching hospital where medical students in various medical fields gain hands-on practical skills and knowledge.

The college is proclaimed as a “Center of Excellence” in the field of Medical Education by the Commission of Higher Education. It has produced several topnotchers in the National Licensure Examination (Medical Board Examination) for Filipino physicians.

And there you have the history of the University of Philippines College of Medicine, hopefully, that could inspire you to apply for admission.

The University of the Philippines College of Medicine Academic Programs and Departments

This is another important detail to know as it can help facilitate your admission into medical school. The academic degree programs offered by the college are:

  • Bachelor of Science in Basic Medical Sciences
  • Doctor of Medicine
  • Master in Orthopedics
  • Master in Clinical Audiology
  • Master of Science in Basic Medical Sciences
  • Master of Science in Biochemistry
  • Master of Science in Clinical Epidemiology
  • Master of Science in Clinical Medicine
  • Major in Child Health
  • Major in Family and Community Health
  • Major in Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Major in Surgery
  • Master of Science in Pharmacology
  • Master of Science in Physiology
  • Master of Science in Health Informatics
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Biochemistry
  • MD-PhD in Molecular Medicine

The Up College of Medicine is comprised of 8 basic science and 15 clinical science departments. These departments are:

Basic Science

  • Anatomy
  • Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
  • Clinical Epidemiology
  • Medical Microbiology
  • Parasitology
  • Pathology
  • Pharmacology
  • Physiology

Clinical Sciences

  • Anesthesiology
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Dermatology
  • Family and Community Medicine
  • Medicine
  • Neurosciences
  • Obstetrics and Gynecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopedics
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Pediatrics
  • Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
  • Radiology
  • Rehabilitation Medicine
  • Surgery

Units

  • Community Oriented Medical Education (COME)
  • Medical Informatics Unit
  • Medical Education Unit
  • Social Medicine Unit

The Post Graduate Institute of Medicine provides graduate degree certificates.

The University of the Philippines College of Medicine Tuition Fee

The tuition fee for the University of the Philippines College of Medicine is P 43,875.00 for 29.25 units, Php 1,500 per unit.

Aside from the tuition fee, you will also pay the following fees:

  • Miscellaneous – P 1,950
  • Student fund – P 64.50
  • Lab fee – P 4,500
  • ENT/DEP – P 130
  • D. – P 130

The University of the Philippines College of Medicine Ranking

In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings (THE WUR) 2021, the University of the Philippines is among the best universities globally for medical courses. Following its debut entry in the list at 201-250 in 2018, UP Medicine was rated 126-150 in THE WUR 2021, replicating its placement in the 2020 and 2019 editions.

The WUR Subject Rankings for Clinical, Preclinical, and Health Studies, released on October 28, 2020, ranked the University of Philippines among the top 856 institutions in the world for clinical, preclinical, and health studies, with schools from over 50 nations.

The following are the results of the UP Medicine’s evaluations:

  • Citations – 94
  • International outlook – 43.4
  • Industry income – 42.2
  • Teaching – 22.8
  • Research – 11.9

The University of the Philippines College of Medicine Admission Requirements

This section is very important for facilitating your admission into the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, read these requirements thoroughly and carefully.

The admission requirements below apply to all programs, these requirements are:

  1. A correctly completed UPCM application form and proof of payment of the Php 1,500.00* non-refundable application fee. Follow the steps outlined on the CM website for applying.

Note: The Application Form is only valid for the Academic Year for which it is submitted.

* Information is subject to change.

  1. Original or official transcript of records for at least three and a half (3-1/2) years of the Baccalaureate Program. The 4th year high school report card for at least three grading periods must be presented for INTARMED applicants.
  2. Four copies of 2×2 photographs with the applicant’s signature on the front.
  3. PSA Birth Certificate certified true copy (If the original is shred, a photocopy is acceptable.)
  4. Naturalized Filipino nationals receive an original Certificate of Naturalization. Original Naturalization Certificates and other documentation issued by the Commission on Immigration and Deportation are the only documents that will be accepted. Applicants whose naturalization papers and paperwork are still pending are ineligible to apply.
  5. Both parents’ most recent true copies of their income tax returns (ITR). (A photocopy is allowed as long as the original can be verified.)
  6. The applicant must have a valid National Medical Admission Test (NMAT) score not lower than 90.
  7. The original plus a photocopy of the NMAT score is required exclusively for LU III and MD-PhD applicants.
  8. DOST Clearance is reserved for LU III and MD-PhD applicants who have received DOST subsidies during their undergraduate degree program.

Applicants who received their Baccalaureate degree during the first semester of 2018-2019 or earlier are advised to submit their complete application before the deadline to ensure that their application is processed as quickly as possible.

The application period for the academic year 2021–2022 is now open: 1 December 2020 – 5 March 2021

The following is the deadline for submitting all essential documentation for a complete application:

5th of March, 2021

All criteria must be submitted in a large brown envelope (with your printed name) to the Admissions Office, UP College of Medicine, 547 Pedro Gil Street, Ermita, Manila. Telephone number is 8536-1368

Immunization

Enrollment will require a vaccination certificate as well as a catch-up immunization. MMR, dT, Varicella, Hepatitis B, and Hepatitis A vaccines are suggested for students who are still susceptible. Rabies, Typhoid, and Meningococcal immunizations are optional. The UP Manila Health Service provides low-cost screening and immunization.

Aside from these admission requirements, there are some criteria you must also meet along with these requirements before you can apply for admission into the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. These criteria are known as “General Admission Policies”, they are listed below.

General Admission Policies

  1. Only those with a good moral character will be accepted.
  2. Only those who have never been convicted of a crime are eligible to apply.
  3. Admission will be granted to only those applicants who have excellent academic records.
  4. Only those with the mentality and attitudes deemed appropriate for a profession in medicine will be evaluated.
  5. Priority would be given to Filipino citizens when it comes to admission.
  6. The top-scoring applicants based on the admissions criteria will be interviewed by a faculty panel for further consideration.
  7. If an admitted student fails to enroll in the next year, he or she may reapply and be picked on a competitive basis with the other applicants for that year.
  8. Applicants who are not accepted may reapply in the following year if they are otherwise qualified.
  9. Students who have been dismissed from the University of the Philippines College of Medicine or other medical institutions will not be admitted or readmitted.
  10. Other medical school students are not eligible for admission to any Learning Unit.
  11. Other applicable University admission rules that are not in conflict with the preceding guidelines will be followed.
  12. The Admissions Committee and the UPCM reserve the right to deny admission to any candidate who does not meet the Committee’s requirements and criteria as stipulated by appropriate University officials.

Applicants may apply either as Director Lateral entrants to the Doctor of Medicine Program at the UP College of Medicine. Applicants may also apply to the MD-PhD Program.

The University of the Philippines College of Medicine Admission Application Process

If you have passed the eligibility criteria and admission requirements to apply to the University of the Philippines College of Medicine, the next phase should be the admission process. In this section, I have outlined the process of applying to this prestigious Filipino medical school.

Follow the application process below to apply into the institution:

Step 1: Email cmadmissions.upmanila@up.edu.ph the completed Applicants Information Sheet obtained from the cm.upm.edu.ph website.

Step 2: Check your inbox for an email containing your Billing Statement and Payment Option Instructions for the P 1,500.00 CM application fee. Following payment, a scanned copy of the Validated Bank Deposit Slip/Linkbiz Confirmation Slip/Transaction Acknowledgement, as well as the Bill/SOA, must be forwarded to the UPM Cash Office at cash@post.upm.edu.ph and the admission email.

Step 3: Print the Application Form from the CM website, fill it out completely, and mail or fax it to us along with the necessary prerequisites by the deadline.

*Note that that school will not process/evaluate applicants with incomplete requirements

  • Original Records Transcript (for at least 3 and a half years)
  • NMAT Result Photocopy (taken from April 2019 up to January 2021)
  • 4 pcs. of 2×2 colored pictures (add your signature on the front of your photograph)
  • PSA Birth Certificate (photocopy) – If you are a dual citizen, you must also submit a copy of your Filipino passport as well as proof of dual citizenship from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA)
  • A certified true copy of both parents’ Income Tax Returns (ITR) (Certificate of Non-Filing of ITR from the BIR for parents who do not have an ITR, Certificate of Employment with Compensation for OFW parent/s)
  • Accomplished Return Service Agreement (RSA) and its Reply Slip (page 24 of the Handbook on UPCM Return Service Obligation Policy (RSOP)
  • Proof of payment of application fee (P 1,500) and accomplished billing statement.

You must submit the following documents to the Admissions Office and your appropriate Community Liaison Officer (CLO) if you are applying for the Regionalization Program.

  • RP Application Form Completed
  • Acceptance to Serve and Assumption of Liability (ASAL) Agreement and Reply Slip completed (page 24 of the Handbook on UPCM RSOP and RP) (There is no need to fill out the RSA.)
  • PSA Birth Certificate
  • RP Form #3 photocopy (to be downloaded from CM website)
  • Certified true copies of parents’ income tax returns (ITR) for the previous three (3) years
  • Voter’s/Comelec ID of parent (s) and applicant
  • Letter of Intention to be considered for the Regionalization Program and to serve the region (particular province) or underserved parts of the Philippines following graduating from medical school, written to the RPC Chair.
  • For your respective CLO contact information and phone number, send an email to upmanila@up.edu.ph.

Please note that RSA is for normal applicants only, whereas ASAL is for RP applicants only.

Fill out the Alumni Form (available on the CM website) and attach the parents’ CV for UP College of Medicine alumni children.

Please attach a Certificate of Employment for the children of UP faculty and workers.

4th Step: Wait for the Admissions Office to send you an email acknowledgment.

Read and follow these steps carefully to apply for admission into any medical program at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine.

The University of the Philippines College of Medicine Curriculum

The Integrated Liberal Arts and Medicine (INTARMED) Program at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine is a seven-year medical curriculum that leads to a doctor of medicine degree (M.D.). Its medical curriculum (Learning Units III through IV) began in 2009 with an Organ Systems Integration (OSI) curriculum.

There are two ways to enter the College of Medicine: “Learning Unit I,” which requires a high school diploma, and a “Learning Unit III,” which requires a baccalaureate degree.

FAQs on the University of the Philippines College of Medicine

Is UP College of Medicine free tuition?

The UP College of Medicine isn’t tuition-free but not all medical students need to pay tuition but pay only miscellaneous fees. The tuition is covered by cash grants for medical schools of state universities.

Is the Philippines medical degree valid in the USA?

The pattern of study and method of teaching is quite related to US medical education pattern, Philippines MBBS is absolutely valid in the USA either way to study PG or to practice as a Medical practitioner, although one needs to pass the USMLE licensing and eligibility examination for the same.

This brings an end to the blog post on the facts about the University of the Philippines College of Medicine. I hope the details here have been helpful and would help facilitate your admission into a medical program of your choice at the university.

Recommendations