University of Santo Tomas (UST)

What does University of Santo Tomas (UST) stand for?

University of Santo Tomas (UST) is a private research university founded in 1611. It was initially named Colegio de Nuestra Señora del Santisimo Rosario and served as a seminary-college to prepare young men for priesthood. In July 1619, the institution started offering degrees in Philosophy and Theology. The school’s name was later changed to Colegio de Santo Tomas after its patron saint, St. Thomas Aquinas. In 1945, Pope Innocent X raised its status into a university.

UST is composed of 9 colleges, 3 institutes, and 8 faculties offering different courses in accountancy, architecture, commerce and business, education, fine arts, nursing, engineering, and tourism, among others. Because of its long tradition of integrity and excellence in its programs and operations, UST has been granted an autonomous status by the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd). The Autonomous status allows UST to develop and offer new courses, open satellite campuses, establish linkages with foreign higher educational institutions (HEIs), and grant honorary degrees to deserving individuals without securing approval from CHEd.

At present, UST has 13 CHEd Centers of Excellence and 11 Centers of Development programs. Throughout the years, the University of Santo Tomas has produced a number of notable alumni who have made remarkable achievements in the society. It boasts of being one of the top universities in the country and around the world. Aside from academic excellence, UST also provides Thomasians a rich campus life experience with its different organizations like the UST Symphony Orchestra, UST Mediatrix, and the Teatro Tomasino, to name a few.


University of Santo Tomas facts:

• UST claims the record as the oldest existing university in Asia
• In the 1800s, UST used to supervise and direct all the other schools in the Philippines under the authorization of Queen Isabella II of Spain
• UST has the Guinness World Record for having the Largest Human Cross composed of 13,266 people in 2011 during its Quadricentenary 

What programs & courses does University of Santo Tomas (UST) offer?

Choosing the right program can help you set your future goals and visualize where you want to be. Whether you want to be an engineer, a teacher, an accountant, or you want to level up in your profession, making yourself informed with the right choices will surely back you up in the future. Are you ready to map your career with University of Santo Tomas (UST)? Make the best decision in choosing the right path for you, click through the list of programs offered by University of Santo Tomas (UST) below:

Senior High School Tracks

College (Undergraduate) Programs

Graduate Studies Programs