If you are in "graduating" status, that is, if you have no more than 12 units left to enroll in the AA program, you may apply for graduation. Application for Graduation is required for you to be considered as a Candidate for graduation for that term. If you do not apply for graduation on or before the deadline, you will have to wait for the next term in order to become a Candidate for Graduation.


Note: To know the deadline for the submission of applications for graduation in a certain trimester, make it a habit to regularly check the UPOU Academic Calendar.


When a student applies for graduation, the Faculty Office looks at the student records and evaluates it if indeed the student is in his or her last term. If this is true, then the student records are evaluated for completeness and the FICs are alerted as to whether the grades from the previous terms are already in.  


At the end of the term, the names of all the Candidates for graduation are presented to the Faculty Councils, first to the Faculty Council of the Faculty of Education, then to the University Council of the UPOU. The Councils then decide on whether to recommend the candidates for graduation based on their academic standing. This is also when deliberations for Latin Honors are held.


A list of the recommended Candidates for Graduation are then passed on to the UP Board of Regents for approval. If approved, the candidate is now considered a Graduate of the UP Open University.


The process for conferring a degree is a long and complicated one, so it really is important for the student to take the first step by applying for graduation. The process is actually very simple:


  1. Start by reading this.
  2. Download and fill up the Application for Graduation. Some clarifications:

    - For "Did you apply for a change of name while studying in UP?", check "YES" to indicate if you have changed your surname (i.e., upon getting married), so that your old records (i.e., transcripts and birth certificate) in your former name are reconciled with your new name. You will also need to state your previous name in the form. 
    - Under "Educational Background", list the colleges/universities that you have attended thus far. Write N/A under Graduation Year if you did not graduate from the course. This facilitates the records section in creating your Transcript of Records. In case you did not previously attend any other colleges/universities prior to enrolling in the AA program, you may either leave this section blank or indicate N/A instead.
    - Signify your consent for the various sections in the form as instructed.
  3. Email the signed and scanned/soft copy of the form to your Faculty Office (fed@upou.edu.ph) and cc records@upou.edu.ph. If you are sending a scanned copy, make sure that the file is in its proper orientation (for instance, this is not upside down) and the scan is very clear.
  4. There is no fee for Application for Graduation.
  5. Wait for the Faculty office to advise you on their initial evaluation of records.
  6. Wait for the UPOU OUR to email you regarding the outcome of the evaluation of your application for graduation by the UP Board of Regents. Do note that you may be notified regarding this within a few months after the end of the trimester of your expected graduation.


If the Faculty Office evaluated your record and found that you need more than 1 term to graduate, it is ok, no harm done. You will just have to apply again in the next term (when you are hopefully truly on graduating status).