Polytechnic University of the Philippines

PUPCET 2026 is now open

John Wyne M. Palad, News, Communication Management Office

The Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) has officially opened the application period for the PUP College Entrance Test (PUPCET) 2026, inviting aspiring Iskolar ng Bayan to begin their journey towards quality public education.

For the Sta. Mesa Campus, applications are open from November 10 to December 31, 2025. Future Iskos are encouraged to create an account through the PUP iApply portal and ensure that all supporting documents are complete and valid.

Applicants must prepare the following requirements:

Grade 11 card showing the complete name, LRN, and GWA for the First and Second Semesters.
2x2 inch colored photo with name tag (Photo guidelines available at https://www.pup.edu.ph/iapply/photoguidelines).

Applicants are advised to carefully follow the step-by-step process indicated in their iApply account or visit https://www.pup.edu.ph/iapply/procedure/pupcet for detailed instructions. They must also remember their registered email and password, which will be used to access their exam permit and results.

Who Are Qualified to Take the PUPCET?
The following applicants are qualified to take the PUP College Entrance Test (PUPCET):

Grade 12 students expected to graduate at the end of Academic Year 2024–2025.
Graduates from K–12 pilot schools who have not enrolled in any technical, diploma, or degree program after graduation, with a General Weighted Average (GWA) of not lower than 82%.
Passers of PEPT, ALS, or NFEA & E Programs in accordance with the Department of Education (DepEd) regulations and certified eligible for admission to college or tertiary level.

Applicants are advised to allow six (6) to twenty (20) working days after completing their online application before downloading and printing their PUPCET e-Permit through their iApply account.

PUPCET 2026 Schedule Across Campuses
According to the tentative schedule released by the University, the application period for PUPCET 2026 runs from December 1, 2025, to May 11, 2026, depending on the campus, while examinations will take place between February 21 and May 16, 2026.

For PUP Caloocan, applications are open from December 1, 2025 to February 18, 2026, with the examination set on February 21, 2026. PUP Leyte follows from December 1, 2025 to February 27, 2026, with the examination set on March 6, 2026.

Applications for PUP Mulanay and PUP Lopez are open from January 5, 2026, with examinations scheduled on April 11, 2026. Examinations for General Luna, Sto. Tomas, Ragay, and Bansud will be on April 12, 2026, followed by Sablayan on April 14, 2026.

Sta. Rosa and Calauan will conduct their exams on April 18, 2026, while Unisan, Quezon City, San Juan, and Sta. Maria will hold theirs on April 19, 2026. San Pedro and Pakil will have their exams on April 23 and 24, 2026, respectively.

Taguig and Biñan will administer the PUPCET on April 25, 2026, and Cabiao on April 26, 2026. Bataan and Parañaque are scheduled on May 3, 2026, Alfonso on May 9, 2026, and Pulilan and Maragondon on May 10, 2026. The final schedule is set for May 16, 2026, at PUP Talisay Campus.

Where to Apply
All PUPCET applicants must apply online using the PUP iApply portal. Each applicant is allowed to apply and take the PUPCET in only one PUP campus per academic year. Multiple applications will result in disqualification, and applications are non-transferable.

The PUP iApply portal performs best using Google Chrome (version 20 or higher), Mozilla Firefox (version 20 or higher), or Microsoft Edge.

The PUPCET serves as the official admission examination of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines for incoming first-year students, ensuring transparent and merit-based access to quality education across its campuses nationwide.