University of the Philippines

Also known as UP

national university of the Philippines

Key facts

Other name: UP
Motto: Honor, Excellence, Service
Type: Public coeducational non-profit research higher education institution and national university system
Established: June 18, 1908 ; 117 years ago ( June 18, 1908 )
Affiliation: Association of Pacific Rim Universities Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning ASEAN University Network ASEAN-European University Network
Budget: ₱ 22.695 billion (US$375 million) (2025)
Chairperson: Shirley Agrupis
President: Angelo Jimenez
Academic staff: 7,362 (2024)
Students: 66,463 (2024)
Undergraduates: 47,207 (2024)
Postgraduates

~40 min read

Article

The University of the Philippines (UP; Filipino: Unibersidad ng Pilipinas or Pamantasan ng Pilipinas) is a state public university system and the national university of the Philippines under Republic Act No. 9500. Established on June 18, 1908, by the American colonial government through Act No. 1870 of the First Philippine Legislature, it was founded as the country's premier institution of higher learning, and has a mandated role in national development through instruction, research, and public service.

The university's earliest academic units were established in Manila and Los Baños. In 1949, UP transferred several of its units to Diliman which became its new administrative center. In 1972, the university was reorganized into a multi-campus system of autonomous constituent universities.