Ateneo de Manila offers undergraduate study at its Loyola Heights campus in Quezon City. An applicant educated abroad has three early decisions: choose a degree, establish the appropriate ACET, IB or SAT route, and budget for semester tuition plus fees. The university has published its 2027/28 entry requirements and estimated charges.
Programmes and selection
Undergraduate programmes span five schools: education and learning design, humanities, management, science and engineering, and social sciences. Examples in the School of Science and Engineering include BS Computer Science, BS Management Information Systems and BS Environmental Science. The catalogue also lists BS Computer Engineering and the combined BS Applied Mathematics — Master in Data Science pathway.
Computer Science, Computer Engineering and several other degrees carry the honors-programme designation, which Ateneo links to the top 15% of applicants. This is a selection distinction, not a scholarship. The list of programmes open to new entrants was updated on 22 June 2026.
International applications for 2027/28
Ateneo's International First-Year Applicant category depends on where you attended school. It covers graduates and final-year secondary students at schools outside the Philippines who have never enrolled in or taken college-level courses. Foreign citizenship alone does not determine this category.
The SAT route requires a minimum total score of 1100, with official results obtained within two years before the application period. Grades, recommendations, achievements and extracurricular involvement remain part of the assessment. Eligible applicants can also use IB Predicted Grades; Ateneo's principal entrance examination is the ACET.
The 2027/28 application deadline for the IB/SAT routes is 12 December 2026. The separate ACET application deadline, 17 August 2026, has already passed. Decisions are due through the portal by May 2027.
- Complete the Admissions Portal application and your programme preferences.
- Prepare Grade 9–11 report cards, a birth certificate and a recent 1×1 ID photograph.
- Arrange two recommendations: a guidance counsellor or class adviser, and a subject teacher.
- Write a personal essay of up to 750 words in English or Filipino.
- Include your passport if you are not a Filipino citizen, applicable Philippine status documents and international test results. Documents in another language require English translations.
The Office of Admission and Aid requests the official High School Record directly from your school. International applicants pay about $40 (PHP 2,500) and upload proof of payment.
Semester tuition and fees
Ateneo's estimate for school year 2027/28 with a 20-unit semester load is:
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition | About $1,766 (PHP 110,691) per 20-unit semester, 2027/28; fees additional. |
| Basic Fees | About $278 (PHP 17,394) |
| Other Fees | About $136 (PHP 8,524) |
| Total of these three components | About $2,180 (PHP 136,609) per semester |
The total is calculated by adding the university's published components. Accommodation, food, laboratory charges and overload fees are additional. Science and Engineering programmes may carry higher laboratory charges. Payment in two or four instalments is available; instalments spread the payment rather than reduce the price.
Accommodation and alternatives
The on-campus University Residence Halls at Loyola Heights accommodate undergraduate students as well as other university residents. Ateneo also publishes an off-campus housing directory. Its inclusion disclaimer matters: listing a property does not mean the university endorses it or has a commercial relationship with it. Inspect the room, contract and journey to your teaching buildings before booking.
Compare the entry routes and costs at nearby UP Diliman, or explore De La Salle University for Computer Science degrees with named specialisations. Each institution has its own admission process; Ateneo's SAT threshold cannot be applied to UP or DLSU.
Questions before applying
Can I submit SAT results instead of taking the ACET?
Yes, if you meet the SAT-route conditions, including secondary education outside the Philippines and an official score of at least 1100 obtained within the stated two-year period. The remaining documents and competitive assessment still apply.
When is the 2027/28 IB or SAT application deadline?
The published deadline is 12 December 2026. The ACET route had a separate deadline of 17 August 2026.
Does PHP 136,609 cover tuition and living expenses?
No. It is the sum of the three published semester components for a 20-unit load in 2027/28: tuition, Basic Fees and Other Fees. Housing, food, laboratory supplements and overload charges are additional.
Plan your application
Tell us your intended degree level, school background and timing. On a free initial consultation, we clarify your goals and identify the next realistic step.
StudyU services. Individual programme selection and application support are provided under an agreement with StudyU; admission decisions are made by the university.