GENERAL INQUIRIES

1. Does PLM operate autonomously from the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd)?
Yes. As a national legislative creation, PLM operates under the authority of its own Charter, Republic Act No. 4196, which conferred upon the Board of Regents exclusive powers of governance over the University, in addition to its general powers of administration and the exercise of its corporate powers under the Corporation Code of the Philippines as a chartered institution and as specifically authorized by the Philippine Congress.

PLM, however, follows the minimum curricular requirements prescribed by CHEd for its program offerings as a means of the State to maintain academic excellence across the nation. PLM, however, through its University Council, is not proscribed from infusing program improvements or enhancements in order to maintain the primacy of its excellence as among the most respected universities in the country. Authority to fix the curriculum is exclusively conferred by R.A. 4196 upon the University Council.

2. Is PLM required to secure a Special Order from CHEd for the conferment of degrees upon its graduates like other universities in the Philippines?
PLM is exempted. As a chartered higher education institution created by the Philippine Congress, PLM has its own Charter. Republic Act No. 4196 prescribed the creation of a Board of Regents which has specific powers other than the exercise of corporate authority, including the exclusive authority to confer degrees, by virtue of a Board resolution, upon the recommendation of the University Council. Under the University Charter, the University Council exclusively exercises the specific authority to recommend candidates for graduation.

VERIFICATION OF AND REQUEST FOR CREDENTIALS

1. How does PLM validate the authenticity of the credentials of its alumni?
The Office of the University Registrar (OUR) is the exclusive unit that performs validation of student records submitted by alumni to prospective employers locally and abroad. Regular items requested for verification include: Name of the conferee, conferred degree, date of conferment, authenticity of diploma and signatures, grades and other contents of the Transcript of Record, entry requirement for the program, standard duration for the program, and the official medium of instruction.

Entities requesting for verification may direct their inquries to:
The University Registrar
Direct Line: (+63 2) 527-9070
Fax No.: (+63 2) 528-4574
Trunkline No.: (+63 2) 527-7941 to 48 loc. 48
Email: Soon to be in service

2. PLM-issued diplomae are in Filipino (Philippine national language). Is there an equivalent English translation?
PLM, as a matter of policy, issues its official diploma in the national language to preserve the national heritage and in keeping with its pioneering tradition of using the national language for its name. This diploma in Filipino has an adjunct copy of its English translation, certified by the University Registrar, to facilitate the understanding of foreign nationals and entities.

3. What is the official medium of instruction in PLM?
PLM uses English as the official medium of instruction for all subjects, including core subjects like Mathematics, Science, Ethics and Social Studies, except for Communication Arts in Filipino. Art. XIV of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provided for English as the official language of the Philippines for communication and instruction, in addition to Filipino as the national language.

4. How does an alumnus living in a foreign land apply for processing of credentials?
As a matter of policy involving the security and confidentiality of student records, documents must be secured by the applicant/alumnus himself. Applicants who live in geographically distant places, whether local or foreign, may download and fill-up the OUR Request Form and send it thru a duly authorized representative who will file the request, pay the fee through the Cashier's Office, and claim the requested credential on behalf of the applicant. An affidavit of loss may be required in some cases. For guidance, pls. refer to the OUR Checklist of Requirements.
An e-mail service will soon be in place. Watch out for the announcement by the OUR thru this website.

PLMAT AND SIMILAR CONCERNS

1. PLM traditionally caters to the top 10-20% graduates of DCS-Manila. Does PLM also accept PLMAT applicants from other high schools?
PLM was concepted with the social commitment to provide high quality education to the financially-disadvantaged but intelligent youth of Manila. Hence, when it started its operations in 1967, PLM has exclusively accepted applicants from the graduates and graduands of the public high schools of the Division of City Schools-Manila (DCS-Manila) who are qualified residents of Manila. Over the years, PLM also opened its doors to applicants from all high schools in and out of Manila recognized by the Department of Education; Provided, however, that they are qualified residents of Manila.

2. How can the applicants be considered as qualified residents of Manila?
The applicant's valid Sangguniang Kabataan (SK) voter's ID, or a parent's latest voter's ID or voter's registration or income tax return/real property tax receipt, bearing the "City of Manila" (as the place of issue and as the bearer's address) will primarily satisfy Manila residency. When submitting a parent's credential, a birth certificate is required to establish the applicant's relation with the parent. Secondary proofs of residency or identification are also required in support (but not in lieu) of the primary proof/s, such as a barangay certification of Manila residency and the parent's company ID.

3. Is there any automatic admission privilege available?
Yes. Manila residents who are honor graduates of DCS-Manila public high schools (valedictorians, salutatorians, and 1st to 3rd honorable mentions) shall automatically qualify for admission upon presentation of a verifiable credential executed by a duly authorized high school official. Such credential shall be validated with the list to be provided to PLM by the Superintendent of the DCS-Manila who also sits as an ex-officio member of the PLM Board of Regents.

4. Can non-Manila residents still have a privilege of being admitted to PLM?
Yes. While admittance to PLM is exclusive to Manila residents, non-residents may still qualify for application as freshmen, provided they have graduated either as valedictorian or salutatorian, which fact shall be established by a verifiable credential executed by a duly authorized high school official. Passing the PLMAT to be administered on the 3rd week of April 2010 will then qualify them for admission.

5. Can high school graduates through non-traditional systems also qualify for application?
Yes. Manila residents who have completed their secondary education through non-formal and alternative learning systems, as evidenced by the PEPT or NFE/ALS certification in lieu of a regular secondary report card (Form 138), may qualify for application.

6. I have previously taken the PLMAT. Can I take it again to qualify for admission this coming school year?
No. An applicant who has already taken the PLMAT in the past, whether or not he passed the same, can no longer qualify for application to re-take the PLMAT in the current and succeeding school years.

7. How much is the entrance exam (PLMAT) fee?
Beginning this year, no fees shall be imposed to ALL applicants as a policy-direction of the city government of Manila and the PLM Management pursuant to PLM's social commitment to providing free high-quality tertiary education to the residents of Manila. Application for PLMAT is therefore FREE. This democratizes the aperture and access to quality higher education by the talented youth of our financially-strapped communities.

8. When will be the PLMAT schedules?
Applications for PLMAT that were processed before the respective cutoff dates will be scheduled on the ff. dates:
06 and 13 December 2009; 17 and 24 January 2010
Valedictorians and Salutatorians who are non-Manilans will be scheduled on the the 3rd week of April 2010, subject to further notice.
Examinees are strongly advised against being late on the assigned testing time.

9. How are successful examinees determined? What are the criteria in passing the PLMAT?
The PLMAT is basically a standardized test/measurement instrument. Hence, the examinees' scores are weighted against a standardized PLMAT score. If their scores satisfy the suggested cut-off score, they will qualify for enrolment. The range of cut-off scores approximates the examinees' expected performance in the University, particularly in the 5 major subtests (English, Science, Mathematics, Filipino and Abstract Reasoning). Examinees who successfully achieve a score that is equal to or better than the standardized cut-off score are expected to exude the capacity to hurdle the rigors of an excellent yet exacting university scholarship at PLM.

10. When is the tentative date of release of PLMAT results?
Subject to a relevant announcement, the PLMAT results will be posted in PLM grounds on 19 February 2010. Releasing the results thru the website may be subsequently authorized by the University President.

11. Is the "General Information on Freshman Admission" freely available? Is it downloadable?
Yes. Just like the PLMAT Application Form, it is FREE. You may also download an advance copy of the upcoming printed copies thru this website. Download

REGISTRATION AND SIMILAR CONCERNS

1. Upon admission to my undergraduate course, will my education at PLM be on the basis of scholarship?
Yes. Education at PLM is basically on the basis of scholarship since PLM is a scholars' university. Full scholarship is conferred to all Manila residents, regardless of whether they graduated from a public or private high school. A highly-subsidized scholarship is given to privileged non-Manila residents like valedictorians and salutatorians from outside of Manila. The latter pay a very minimal fee for the privilege of getting high quality tertiary education that used to be exclusive to Manila's intellectually-gifted youth who are products of DCS-Manila.

2. Does PLM accept transferees from other schools?
PLM does not accept transferees for the undergraduate level. Scholars are admitted only as freshmen after passing the required PLMAT; Provided, however, that the applicant has not previously taken the same and has not yet enrolled in any higher education institution.
For the graduate level, subjects may be accredited based on the evaluation by the school authorities. For specific details and requirements, applicants are advised to confer with the respective graduate schools they intend to apply for. See contacts here.