UP Manila opens BS Radiologic Technology for 2026 UPCAT passers

MANILA, Philippines — Did you pass the 2026 University of the Philippines College Admission Test (UPCAT) but are waitlisted for a degree program with available slots (DPWAS)?

You may try getting admitted to the first batch of Bachelor of Science in Radiologic Technology (BS RadTech) students at UP Manila.

During its 1408th meeting on Thursday, the UP Board of Regents, the highest governing body of the UP System, approved the four-year BS RadTech program to be offered at UP Manila’s College of Allied Medical Professions (CAMP).

In a statement, UP Manila said the decision addresses the national healthcare shortage while creating immediate openings for students through the 2026 UPCAT DPWAS.

Qualified UPCAT examinees with a University Predicted Grade (UPG) of at least 2.58 may apply for the inaugural batch through the UP admissions portal.

READ: UP: ‘Inclusive’ 2026 UPCAT results with more passers from public schools

UPCAT takers who receive a result of “waitlisted for DPWAS” means they qualified for their chosen campus but not for any of the degree programs they indicated.

They will eventually be asked to select a degree program with available slots through the Diwa portal (https://diwa.up.edu.ph/) for a chance to still be admitted.

By integrating the BS RadTech program into this year’s enrollment cycle, UP Manila said it provides a pathway for UPCAT qualifiers who met admission standards but were limited by quota restrictions in other health sciences programs.

“This new program allows the university to offer students a direct route into a high-demand health profession,” UP President Angelo Jimenez said.

According to UP Manila Chancellor Michael Tee, this move “reflects a comprehensive approach to health sciences education, aiming to close the diagnostic gap and strengthen the Philippine health system.”

The BS RadTech program was developed in response to the Private Sector Advisory Council–Healthcare Sector report on an impending health human resource crisis, citing a national deficit of nearly 19,000 radiologic technologists.

The projected demand for professional radiologic technologists in 2024 was 38,390, twice the number of active radiologic technologists in the country, at only 19,730.

Without intervention, the Commission on Higher Education (Ched) warned it would take 10 years for the country to meet the demand for professional radiologic technologists, based on the current average of 1,700 board passers per year.

“With only 19,732 practicing professionals and five public institutions currently offering the degree, UP Manila’s entry broadens access to affordable training and stabilizes the diagnostic workforce pipeline,” Tee said.

As the country’s premier Health Sciences Center, UP Manila provides direct integration with the Philippine General Hospital (PGH), where students will undergo clinical training using technologies such as digital radiography, MRI, and CT systems.

Clinical training will be supervised by PGH radiologic technologists and a multidisciplinary pool of specialists in radiology and medical physics.

These preceptors will provide the technical proficiency and clinical experience required for modern practice.

A committee led by UP Manila Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Dr. Bernadette Heizel Manapat-Reyes and UP Manila CAMP Dean Esmerita Rotor developed the BS RadTech curriculum.

To meet international standards, the program was benchmarked against leading Southeast Asian institutions, specifically Chulalongkorn University, Chulabhorn Royal Academy, and Mahidol University in Thailand.

The development process was further supported by the Ched Technical Panel for Radiologic Technology Education. /mcm