The University of Santo Tomas (UST) is a private Catholic university on a 21.5-hectare campus in Sampaloc, Manila. It was founded on 28 April 1611 and calls itself the oldest existing university in Asia.[1] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is in the 951–1000 band and the fourth-placed Philippine university.[2]
UST Manila publishes a schedule of fees for each faculty. For the first term of A.Y. 2026–2027, the first-year Arts and Letters example we read totals ₱64,729 in full payment and the Chemical Engineering example ₱67,688.[3][4] Foreign students owe an additional “out of state” fee of US$50 in these schedules and US$15,000 in Medicine.[3][5] Applicants take the UST Entrance Test (USTET).[6]
Key facts
| Official name | University of Santo Tomas (UST) |
| Location | España Boulevard, Sampaloc, Manila, Philippines 1008[1] |
| Type | Private, non-profit Catholic research university run by the Dominican Order[7] |
| Founded | 28 April 1611; elevated to a university on 20 November 1645; Pontifical University since 17 September 1902[1] |
| Campus | 21.5 hectares in Sampaloc since 1927 (earlier campus in Intramuros)[1] |
| Students | 45,731 in the first term of A.Y. 2026–2027, including 38,463 in higher education and 7,268 in basic education (Wikipedia, not an official count)[7] |
| Accreditation and recognition | QS 5 Stars rating; PAASCU and PACUCOA accredited; 13 CHED Centers of Excellence and 13 Centers of Development[8] |
| Degree clusters | Accountancy and Business Management; Health; Humanities and Social Science; Music, Arts and Design; Physical Education and Sports; Sacred Sciences; Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics[9] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | 951–1000 band (851–900 in 2026); fourth in the Philippines[2] |
| Fees, first term A.Y. 2026–2027, Arts and Letters (Asian Studies, year I, 21 units) | ₱64,729 full payment (₱65,729 in instalments)[3] |
| Fees, first term A.Y. 2026–2027, Chemical Engineering year I | ₱67,688 full payment (₱68,688 in instalments)[4] |
| Out-of-state fee for foreign students (undergraduate schedules) | US$50 in the Arts and Letters and Engineering schedules[3] |
| Out-of-state fee, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery | US$15,000 (period not stated)[5] |
| Out-of-state fee, Graduate School | US$2,750 master’s · US$3,500 doctorate[10] |
| Official website | ust.edu.ph |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 5 November 2026.
About the University of Santo Tomas
UST says it is the oldest existing university in Asia, founded on 28 April 1611 on the initiative of Bishop Miguel de Benavides, O.P., third Archbishop of Manila. The first campus was in Intramuros and the school was first called Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario, later Colegio de Santo Tomas.[1] Pope Innocent X elevated it to a university on 20 November 1645, Pope Leo XIII made it a Pontifical University on 17 September 1902, and in 1947 Pope Pius XII gave it the title “The Catholic University of the Philippines”.[1]
The university moved to its present site in Sampaloc in 1927.[1] The admissions office adds that it holds three titles (Royal, Pontifical and Catholic University of the Philippines) and describes the Arch of the Centuries, the Seminary, the Open Field, the Main Building and the Baybayin Collection as National Cultural Treasures.[8]
How is the University of Santo Tomas ranked?
UST states that in the 2027 QS World University Rankings it “retained its spot as the #4 best university in the country, clinching the 951-1000 bracket”.[2] The Varsitarian reports that it slipped to this band from 851–900 in 2026.[11] UST also lists its QS scores: sustainability 52.8 and employer reputation 41.5 are its highest.[2]
Ahead of UST in the 2027 ranking are the University of the Philippines (402nd), Ateneo de Manila University (581st) and De La Salle University (751–760).[11] See the Philippines ranking table and how we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Santo Tomas?
The admissions office groups degrees into these clusters:[9]
- Accountancy and Business Management
- Health
- Humanities and Social Science
- Music, Arts and Design
- Physical Education and Sports
- Sacred Sciences
- Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
It also lists certificate programmes (Architecture; a Teachers Certificate Program of 18 units) and secondary education programmes.[9] The fee schedules name faculties and colleges including Accountancy, Architecture, Arts and Letters, Civil Law, Commerce and Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Fine Arts and Design, Information and Computing Sciences, Medicine and Surgery, Music, Nursing, Pharmacy, Rehabilitation Sciences, Science and Tourism and Hospitality Management.[12] The academic year is divided into two terms.[7]
How much does the University of Santo Tomas cost?
UST Manila publishes a table of fees for each faculty and, for some programmes, each year level, in pesos (₱). The schedules for the first term of A.Y. 2026–2027 (August to December 2026) were uploaded in October 2026.[12] They give a “full” total and an instalment total that is ₱1,000 higher in the examples below. Totals depend on the units and extras such as PE, NSTP/ROTC and laboratory fees.
| Example (first term, year I) | Full payment | Instalment total |
|---|---|---|
| Arts and Letters, Asian Studies, 21 units with PE and NSTP/ROTC | ₱64,729 | ₱65,729 |
| Arts and Letters, Asian Studies, without NSTP/ROTC | ₱61,790 | ₱62,790 |
| Engineering, Chemical Engineering, with PE and NSTP/ROTC | ₱67,688 | ₱68,688 |
| Engineering, Chemical Engineering, without NSTP/ROTC | ₱64,749 | ₱65,749 |
These are two rows read from scanned PDFs of the Faculty of Arts and Letters and the Faculty of Engineering, whose layout is partly garbled; check the PDF for your own programme.[3][4]
Extra fees for foreign students
- Undergraduate faculties: the Arts and Letters and Engineering schedules list an “Out of State” fee for foreign students of US$50.[3][4]
- Medicine: the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery schedule lists “Out of State (foreign students) $15,000” without saying whether it is per term or per year.[5]
- Graduate School: a foreign student, new or transferee, pays an out-of-state fee of US$2,750 for a master’s or US$3,500 for a doctorate before formal enrolment; it may be paid in full or in instalments.[10]
The unit of the US$50 fee (per term or per year) is not stated in the schedules we read.
How do you apply to the University of Santo Tomas as an international student?
Applications are made online. Admission is based on the UST Entrance Test (USTET): the overall rating combines the test score (80%) and the average grades in English, Mathematics and Science (20%) from the USTET Application Grades Form. Some programmes add an interview, audition or drawing test.[6]
- International students (non-Filipino applicants from schools abroad): application fee of ₱1,000; applicants from foreign schools first need clearance from the UST Manila Office of the Registrar.[6]
- Applicants with international credentials (college only): ₱3,000.[6]
- Taking the USTET at an international testing centre: ₱6,000.[6]
- Documents for a non-Filipino applicant from abroad include an ID photo, the USTET Application Grades Form, a valid passport, the Registrar’s clearance and certified grades or a temporary transcript.[6]
For foreign undergraduates, the College of Nursing’s programme specification also lists scholastic records, passport data page and birth certificate authenticated by the Philippine Foreign Service Post.[13] Graduate applicants submit their documents to the Graduate School Office, foreign applicants may send them by international courier, and foreign applicants provide TOEFL results.[10]
We give no deadlines because they change every year. Check the Office for Admissions announcements before you start.
Which English level do you need?
The College of Nursing’s programme specification asks for TOEFL or IELTS results from applicants coming from non-English-speaking countries; it names no minimum score.[13] For the Graduate School, foreign applicants must submit TOEFL English proficiency results, also without a stated minimum on the page we read.[10] We found no statement of the language of instruction or an English test requirement for the other undergraduate faculties, so ask the Office for Admissions (ofad@ust.edu.ph).[6]
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the University of Santo Tomas cost per term?
Do foreign students pay extra at UST?
How is the University of Santo Tomas ranked?
It is in the 951–1000 band of the QS World University Rankings 2027 and the fourth-placed Philippine university, according to UST.[2]
What entrance test does UST use?
The UST Entrance Test (USTET), weighted 80% on the test score and 20% on grades in English, Mathematics and Science.[6]
Is UST Manila the same as UST Angelicum College or UST General Santos?
The admissions portal lists them as separate application options.[6]
More about studying in Philippines
- Philippines: best universities
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Philippines
- Ateneo de Manila University
- De La Salle University
- Mapúa University
- University of the Philippines Diliman
Sources
[1] University of Santo Tomas: University History (page without a date)
[2] University of Santo Tomas: UST is still #4 PH university in 2027 QS World University Rankings (university news item on the QS 2027 release; page date not shown (QS publishes the ranking at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access))
[3] UST Faculty of Arts and Letters: Schedule of Fees, first term A.Y. 2026–2027 (PDF) (first term A.Y. 2026–2027; scanned table)
[4] UST Faculty of Engineering: Schedule of Fees, first term A.Y. 2026–2027 (PDF) (first term A.Y. 2026–2027; scanned table)
[5] UST Faculty of Medicine and Surgery: Schedule of Fees, first term A.Y. 2026–2027 (PDF) (first term A.Y. 2026–2027; scanned table)
[6] UST Admission: USTET application guidelines (page with announcements up to 29 Oct 2026; fees and guidelines for the A.Y. 2027–2028 intake)
[7] Wikipedia: University of Santo Tomas (type, enrolment and term system; page without a date)
[8] UST Office for Admissions: About (page without a date; footer shows 2021)
[9] UST Office for Admissions: Degrees (page without a date)
[10] University of Santo Tomas: Admission Policies and Procedures (Graduate School) (page without a date)
[11] The Varsitarian: UST, 4 other PH schools drop in 2027 QS World University Rankings (article on the QS 2027 release of 18 Jun 2026; student newspaper of UST)
[12] University of Santo Tomas: Tuition Fees (UST Manila, first term A.Y. 2026–2027) (schedules uploaded Oct 2026)
[13] UST College of Nursing: Program Specification 2023–2027 (PDF) (document for 2023–2027; one college’s specification)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.