University of Santo Tomas Admissions 2026-27: Acceptance Rate, Deadlines and Requirements

University of Santo Tomas Application Deadlines 2026-27

UST runs one primary August intake per academic year. Undergraduate applicants route through the USTET portal, which is the University of Santo Tomas Entrance Test system, while graduate applicants apply directly to each faculty on a rolling basis. The 2026–27 undergraduate cycle closed on January 19, 2026, so Indian applicants reading now should target the August 2027 intake.

University of Santo Tomas’s primary intake for Indian students is August, the start of the academic year — most undergraduate and graduate programs open here.

The LEAPMed track is the direct-entry pathway to UST’s medical school and closes about six weeks earlier than standard undergraduate applications. The International Credentials path is the standard route for Indian students who submit their Class XII grades directly, while the International Testing Center path is for Indian students sitting the USTET at overseas venues such as Dubai, Doha, and Muscat.

University of Santo Tomas Eligibility Criteria for Indian Students

Eligibility at UST rests on two floors: a subject-appropriate academic threshold and a verified English score. The official UST admission policies page confirms both.

• UG general entry: Class XII at 65 percent or higher in academic subjects.
• UG LEAPMed / pre-med: Class XII with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, plus a valid NEET qualification for Indian applicants.
• PG master’s entry: a bachelor’s degree with weighted average not lower than 2.00 (85 percent, B grade).
• PhD entry: a completed master’s with weighted average not lower than 1.35 (92 percent, A- grade).

Accepted English proficiency tests

UST accepts scores issued no earlier than two years before your intended start date. The institution-wide minimums are:

• IELTS Academic: 5.5 for undergraduate, 6.0 for postgraduate.
• TOEFL iBT: commonly accepted at 61 for UG and 79 for PG, per program discretion.
• Pearson PTE Academic: accepted at faculty discretion; confirm the program floor.

Applicants who fall short may enroll in UST’s short pre-sessional English pathway before entering the degree program. Score reports must be sent electronically from the testing body to the UST Office for International Relations and Programs.

University of Santo Tomas PG Programs for Indian Students

The UST Graduate School and specialized faculty graduate schools together run more than 40 master’s tracks. Base tuition sits around PHP 60,000 to PHP 90,000 per semester (₹93,000 to ₹1.39 Lakhs) for most programs, plus a one-time out-of-state fee of USD 2,750 (₹2.30 Lakhs) for foreign master’s applicants payable in installments. See the course-wise fees breakdown for per-program figures.

Insider note: UST Graduate School accepts postgraduate applications on a rolling basis, but foreign applicants must send certified documents through international courier — email submissions are not accepted for transcripts and application forms.

Note: Program-specific entry requirements, fees, and intake availability may differ from the institution-wide minimums shown above. Always confirm on the official University of Santo Tomas page for your chosen program before applying.

University of Santo Tomas UG Programs for Indian Students

UST runs over 60 undergraduate programs across 20 faculties, with the College of Nursing, College of Architecture, AMV College of Accountancy, and Faculty of Medicine and Surgery seeing the highest Indian-student interest. Base tuition sits around PHP 55,000 to PHP 75,000 per semester (₹85,250 to ₹1.16 Lakhs), which works out to about PHP 110,000 to PHP 150,000 per academic year (₹1.71 Lakhs to ₹2.33 Lakhs).

Every undergraduate applicant sits the USTET entrance test. The final admission score is a weighted mix of the USTET raw score at 80 percent weight and Class XI + Class XII averages in English, Mathematics, and Science at 20 percent weight. Indian applicants can sit the USTET at international testing centers in Dubai, Doha, Muscat, and Saudi Arabian cities.

University of Santo Tomas PhD Admissions for Indian Students

The UST Graduate School runs doctoral tracks across humanities, sciences, education, business, and theology. Duration is typically 3 to 5 years depending on discipline and thesis progress. Base tuition is charged per unit and averages PHP 90,000 to PHP 150,000 per academic year (₹1.39 Lakhs to ₹2.33 Lakhs), and foreign doctoral candidates additionally pay a one-time out-of-state fee of USD 3,500 (₹2.92 Lakhs).

PhD entry requirements

• Master’s degree in the relevant discipline from a recognized institution.
• Weighted average of 1.35 or better (92 percent, A- grade) across the master’s program.
• IELTS 6.0 or an equivalent English score valid within the last two years.
• Research proposal aligned with a faculty supervisor’s active research theme.
• Two academic recommendation letters from thesis committee members.

UST PhD funding for Indian students

Full teaching or research assistantships are limited and prioritize Filipino nationals, but Indian applicants may apply for the UST Thomasian Alumni Scholarship or external funding via the CHED-DAP (Commission on Higher Education–Development Academy of the Philippines) route. The out-of-state fee can be paid in installments spanning the full duration of the doctorate.

Planning note: Contact your target Graduate School department at least three months before applying — most PhD supervisors prefer to align on the research area before the formal application, and rolling admissions still require faculty endorsement.

University of Santo Tomas Application Process for Indian Students

The undergraduate application runs entirely online through the USTET portal, while graduate applications require couriered document sets to the relevant faculty. Both paths share the same core steps.

1. Register a candidate account on the USTET portal (undergraduate) or contact the target Graduate School department (postgraduate).
2. Complete the online application form and select your preferred program choices.
3. Upload the USTET Application Grades Form signed by your Class XII school principal.
4. Pay the application fee of PHP 3,000 (₹4,650) for the International Credentials route on the USTET portal.
5. Book your USTET test slot at a Manila or international testing center.
6. Sit the USTET (undergraduate) or attend a Graduate School interview for postgraduate programs.
7. Track the result release in Q2 of the intake year and download your Notice of Acceptance.

Application fees are non-refundable regardless of admission outcome. Indian applicants sitting the USTET at an International Testing Center pay PHP 6,000 (₹9,300), and LEAPMed candidates pay PHP 9,000 (₹13,950). UST does not provide visa assistance, so plan your Bureau of Immigration paperwork independently after receiving your offer.

University of Santo Tomas Admission Decisions Timeline

USTET results are released in the second quarter of the admission year — for the August 2027 intake, expect result release around April to May 2027. Notices arrive via the USTET portal dashboard and via email, with the digital Notice of Acceptance downloadable directly.

• Offer letter: issued within 2 to 3 weeks of the USTET result release.
• Acceptance deadline: confirm your slot within 30 days of the offer by paying the reservation fee.
• Conditional offers: issued to applicants pending final Class XII marksheet or IELTS score submission.
• Deferral policy: deferral by one full academic year is allowed with written justification and dean approval.
• Graduate School decisions: issued rolling within 4 to 6 weeks of complete document receipt.

If the initial offer routes you to a program that was not your first choice, UST allows one internal program-shift request within the same college during the first semester, subject to seat availability.

Documents Required for University of Santo Tomas Admissions

Indian applicants must consolidate the following paperwork before submitting an application. All foreign-issued documents require authentication by the Philippine Consulate or Embassy in India (Delhi or Mumbai) before UST accepts them.

• Valid passport with a minimum of 18 months validity beyond the intended start date.
• Two recent 2 x 2 inch ID photographs.
• Original and photocopy of the Class X and Class XII passing certificates and marksheets.
• Bachelor’s or master’s degree certificate and consolidated transcript, for PG or PhD applicants.
• USTET Application Grades Form signed and sealed by the previous school principal.
• English proficiency test score report sent directly from the testing body.
• Birth certificate authenticated by the Philippine Consulate.
• Police clearance certificate issued within the last six months.
• Medical clearance certificate showing no communicable diseases.
• Financial capability affidavit or bank statement showing at least USD 5,000 (₹4.17 Lakhs) available balance.
• Two academic recommendation letters, for PG and PhD applicants only.

UST will not process incomplete document sets, and courier delays from India typically run 7 to 10 working days. Build in a buffer of at least three weeks between document dispatch and the target application deadline.

University of Santo Tomas Acceptance Rate for Indian Students

UST does not publish an official institutional acceptance rate, but third-party analysis of the USTET pool estimates the acceptance band at 80 to 89 percent, based on entry-test pass rates and past enrollment. The Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, the College of Nursing, and BS Accountancy are markedly more selective than the institutional average.

How competitive are the selective UST programs?

Program-level selectivity varies sharply. Medicine (LEAPMed) and BS Nursing operate at around 20 to 30 percent acceptance, while less-oversubscribed programs like AB Philosophy or BS Biochemistry can go past 90 percent. USTET score cutoffs shift year on year with applicant pool size — see the broader field on top Philippine universities for benchmark comparison.

What USTET score do Indian students aim for?

Indian applicants targeting Nursing or Accountancy typically aim for a USTET score in the 85th percentile or higher. The composite score also weights Class XI and Class XII grades in English, Mathematics, and Science, so strong CBSE, ICSE, or state-board averages of 85 percent or above materially lift chances.

Insider note: UST publishes cutoff-passing lists on the USTET portal rather than individual scores, so applicants know only pass or fail, not their rank. Focus preparation on the essay-based English section, which many Indian USTET candidates underestimate.

Philippines Student Visa for University of Santo Tomas Applicants

Indian students enrolling at UST need the 9(f) student visa, issued by the Philippine Bureau of Immigration to non-immigrants attending a course above high school at a recognized institution. Apply at the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi or the Consulate General in Mumbai after receiving your UST Notice of Acceptance. Read the wider country guide at study in Philippines for the full pre-departure checklist.

The application requires a joint letter from UST addressed to the Immigration Commissioner, your original Notice of Acceptance with the UST dry seal, a completed CGAF (Consolidated General Application Form), authenticated Class XII transcripts, financial proof showing USD 5,000 (₹4.17 Lakhs) or equivalent, passport bio-page copies, and the visa fee. On arrival, register with the Bureau of Immigration within 60 days to obtain your Alien Certificate of Registration Identity Card (ACR I-Card), which acts as your resident permit throughout your studies.

2026 update: The Bureau of Immigration mandates biometric capture at the Alien Registration Division within the first 60 days of arrival — plan for a Manila-based visit in your first week to avoid overstay penalties that start at PHP 500 (₹775) per day.