Students who complete their courses with the following averages, computed on the basis of units, shall be graduated with honors

• • • • Summa cum laude ………………………  1.000 to 1.200

      • Magna cum laude ……………………….  1.210 to 1.450

      • Cum laude …………………………………... 1.460 to 1.750

Provided, that all the grades in all subjects prescribed in the curriculum, as well as subjects that qualify as electives, shall be included in the computation of the weighted average grade.

Students who are candidates for graduation with honors must have completed in the University at least 75% of the total number of academic units or hours for graduation and must have been in residence therein for at least two (2) years immediately prior to graduation.

In the computation of the final average of students who are candidates for graduation with honors, only resident credit shall be included. 

Students who are candidates for graduation with honors must have taken during each trimester not less than fifteen units of credit or the normal load prescribed in the curriculum in cases where such normal load is less than fifteen units (in the case of UPOU, the regular load is 12 units), unless the lighter load was due to justifiable causes, such as health reasons, the unavailability of courses needed in the curriculum to complete the full load, or the fact that the candidate is a working student.

The pertinent documents required from students to support “justifiable causes” for a lighter academic load are:

a. For health reasons – medical certification to be confirmed by the University Health Service;

b. For unavailability of course – certification by program adviser and copy of schedule of classes; and

c. For employment – copy of payroll or appointment papers indicating duration of employment.

It is the responsibility of the student to establish beyond reasonable doubt the veracity of his/her claim as to the cause/s of the lighter academic load. Note: THESE DOCUMENTS MUST BE SUBMITTED DURING THE TRIMESTER OF UNDERLOADING. 

[from Article 409 - 413 of the University of the Philippines System Code]