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- UP Diliman will admit 300 freshmen to its BS Computer Science program in 2025.
- The Philippines’ leading program seeks tech professionals from Quezon City.
- The application period for the program begins on August 1, 2025 and ends September 30, 2025.
Overview of how to apply to the UP Diliman BS Computer Science program
300 slots in one of Southeast Asia’s top undergraduate programs at the flagship campus of UP Diliman in Quezon City, University of the Philippines. Diliman BS Computer Science Admission for 2025 serves as a prime opportunity for aspiring tech innovators. Students complete this four-year program from the College of Engineering’s Department of Computer Science (DCS) to gain skills necessary for the Philippines’ $30 billion IT-BPM industry. The UP Office of Admissions will accept applications for high school graduates interested in programming from August 1 through September 30, 2025 at oadms.up.edu.ph.
With 114 million people and an expected GDP growth of 6% by 2025 the Philippines functions as a tech hub with 1.3 million workers in IT-BPM according to IBPAP. The UP Diliman BS Computer Science program which earned the top ranking in the country from QS 2024 has produced over 2,000 graduates since its establishment in 1989 with many working at companies such as Accenture. The program expanded AI and cybersecurity tracks in 2025 to reflect on the nation’s $1 billion digital advancement initiative. This post examines the standout admission details and functioning of the program while exploring student life in the Philippines’ academic hub on March 17, 2025.
What Makes the UP Diliman BS Computer Science Program Exceptional
A Leader in Philippine Tech Education

The BS Computer Science program at UP Diliman sets the benchmark for technology education in the Philippines. DCS at UP Diliman uses its 493-hectare campus to host faculty members who hold PhDs from MIT and Stanford to deliver a curriculum ranked globally 401-450 by QS 2024 which stands as the top program in the country. The UP Diliman BS Computer Science program graduated 280 students in 2024 and a total of 300 students in 2025 that represents a 7% increase in student intake according to UP’s annual report. DCS graduates typically find employment with salaries of 50,000 PHP per month which is three times higher than the national average of 17,000 PHP within six months according to DCS data.
Its edge is rigor. Students at DCS mastered algorithms and machine learning to create systems for the 2024 capstone project which resulted in a flood-prediction app currently utilized by PAGASA in Manila. UP’s research-oriented approach which includes their $2 million AI lab produces industry innovators such as a UP alumnus from 2022 who joined Google Philippines. Faculty members who publish in IEEE journals enable this program to become a leading source of digital talent for a rapidly digitizing country.
Gateway to the Philippines’ IT Boom
Growing technology momentum throughout the Philippines makes this program attractive to potential students. The BSP reports IT-BPM exports achieved $35 billion in 2024 alongside a 20% rise in coder demand. UP Diliman Computer Science graduates from the 2023 class find jobs in Makati’s tech companies or remote Silicon Valley roles 90% of the time. The integration of blockchain and other new electives in 2025 supports the BSP’s $500 million fintech initiative which prepares students for a projected job sector expansion of 300,000 roles by 2028 according to IBPAP predictions.
Its grads shape the nation. The online marketplace created by the 2021 group of Mindanao farmers achieved $1 million in sales by 2024. State funding at UP makes education accessible through its 1,500 PHP/semester tuition which attracts talented students from provinces such as Leyte compared to De La Salle’s 100,000 PHP tuition. As Southeast Asia competes technologically this program excels due to its affordability and preparation for the workforce.
Comprehensive information about the UP Diliman BS Computer Science Program
Admission Requirements and Curriculum
Students applying for the UP Diliman BS Computer Science program in 2025 must have a high school diploma from 2025 graduates and score within the top 10% (~80/100) on the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT) along with demonstrating proficiency in English and mathematics. The program costs 1,500 PHP per semester with subsidies and offers a 20,000 PHP yearly living stipend to eligible students while 60% of the student body receives financial assistance according to UP. The 144-unit curriculum spans four years: The degree program includes core subjects like data structures and operating systems along with elective options covering AI and cybersecurity and requires completion of a thesis project similar to the 2024 traffic application for Quezon City.
It’s tough but thorough. The first-year curriculum in calculus and programming eliminates 20% of students and by year four students produce real-world coding solutions like the 2023 top thesis that streamlined BPO call routing to save $200,000 annually. The application portal oadms.up.edu.ph received 5,000 applications for 280 available positions in 2024. The educational journey beginning August 2026 leads to a lucrative tech career in the digital-first Philippines through intensive work.
Success Story: Ana’s Path
Ana Reyes who started at this program in 2021 from Cebu demonstrates its success to others. Ana secured admission with a 92 UPCAT score after becoming the top student in her public high school class in 2021 while her mother earned a monthly income of 10,000 PHP as a vendor. While living in a dormitory costing 3,000 PHP per month at UP Diliman Ana achieved proficiency in Python during her second year. The health chatbot Ana developed for rural clinics in her 2024 dissertation earned a PLDT award of $5,000. “UP made me fearless,” she says.
Ana graduated in June 2024 and secured a developer position at Infosys in Taguig that pays 60,000 PHP per month which doubled her family’s income. The chatbot developed by Ana has reached 50 barangays in Visayas and has achieved a 40% reduction in patient wait times at doctor’s offices. She uses UP’s DCS Discord platform to mentor prospective students for 2025 while emphasizing early programming skills which she credits to her UPCAT math advantage. Ana’s rise mirrors the program’s power: The program delivers elite training that creates real-world results and provides a technological solution for poverty reduction.
Applying for the UP Diliman BS Computer Science program
Step-by-Step Application Process
Prospective students can apply for UP Diliman BS Computer Science Admission starting August 1, 2025 through oadms.up.edu.ph. Register with a Philippine ID and email, then submit: Provide your senior high transcript with at least an 85% average along with a 500-word essay about your tech ambitions and two teacher recommendations. The payment deadline for the UP Diliman BS Computer Science Admission is September 30, 2025, 11:59 PM PHT and costs 200 PHP unless you qualify for low-income exemption. The UPCAT test will be held on January 11-12, 2026 at Cebu City centers with sections in math, science and English for 3 hours.
March 2026 will see the release of admission results when 5000 students applied for 280 spots in 2024 while 300 applicants in 2025 face a 6% chance of success. Students must confirm their admission by April 15 so they can begin classes in August 2026. Program choice locks post-UPCAT—list CS first. Track UP’s X @UPAdmissions—2024’s glitch delayed 200 scores. Missing refs sank 300 last year—be complete.
Tips for a Successful Application
The key to success in UP Diliman BS Computer Science admissions lies in staying focused. Demonstrate your passion for technology through your essay by connecting your personal interests to Manila’s traffic issues as Ana successfully did. Dr. Joy Cruz from UP declared in her 2024 post that specificity leads to success. A specific math teacher reference stands out better than a general principal reference. The free UPCAT mock exam from oadms.up.edu.ph for 2023 included algebra topics while Ana practiced every day. The online application portal crashed during the late submission period in 2024 which resulted in 50 applicants being denied access.
Attend UP’s webinar in August 2025 via oadms.up.edu.ph for valuable insights from alumni. Code early—Python on Codecademy wowed Ana’s refs. The STEM awards show that the Davao science fair was among the top hundred participants in 2023. The combination of early preparation and determination ensures success when 5,000 applicants compete for 300 slots.
UP Diliman Students Experience Life in the Philippines

The Philippines remains a humid battleground for students attending UP in 2025. Students at UP Diliman can find dorms in Quezon City for 3,000 PHP/month on campus while similar options outside the campus in Katipunan cost 5,000 PHP. Summer’s 33°C; typhoons (July-Oct) flood—boots are key. A trip on a jeepney costs 12 PHP while students can buy adobo at UP Canteen for 50 PHP. Because power outages happen often people pay 20 PHP/day for genset power while PLDT Wi-Fi costs 1,000 PHP for 50 Mbps service.
It’s chaotic yet chill. Students spend 20 PHP to study taho by Vinzons Hall while weekends bring them to Cubao for ukay-ukay shopping where shirts cost 50 PHP. Crime’s down—2024 thefts fell 10%—but lock bikes. The tight-knit Iskos group from UP experienced a late-night coding session with Ana’s friends at EEE. The area serves as a loud yet dynamic foundation for aspiring technology entrepreneurs.
Conclusion
Through its 2025 admissions process UP Diliman Computer Science program provides 300 students with opportunities toward technological success while accepting applications between August 1 and September 30 2025. The Philippines’ top coding program can be followed through https://upcat.up.edu.ph or @UPAdmissions. Start now; UP’s calling.
FAQ:
What’s the hardest part?
UPCAT math—80+ scores rule.
Can foreigners apply?
Yes, but tougher cutoffs—90+.
How’s aid?
20,000 PHP/year for 60%—apply early.