How I Enrolled at UP (Yes, You Can Too): My Experience with UP Open University’s Continuing Education Program

For the longest time, “studying at UP” felt like a dream I had quietly placed on a shelf. One of those maybe in another life goals. Life got busy, work got serious, and adulthood had a way of convincing me that formal learning was something I already “missed.”

Until I didn’t.

I recently finished the New Enterprise Planning (NEP) course under the Continuing Education Program (CEP) of UP Open University’s Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) and it completely changed how I see learning, career growth, and accessibility to quality education.

So if you’ve ever asked:

Can I enroll at UP even if I’m working full-time?
Do I need to take UPCAT again?
Is UP Open University legit?
How do I even start?

This is for you.

First Things First: What Is UP Open University (UPOU)?

UP Open University (UPOU) is a fully distance-learning constituent university of the University of the Philippines. That means:

100% online learning
No age limit
No need to quit your job
Designed for working professionals, entrepreneurs, creatives, and lifelong learners.

And the best part? You don’t need to be a traditional college student to start.

What Is the Continuing Education Program (CEP)?

The Continuing Education Program (CEP) offers non-formal, short courses that focus on practical, real-world skills and it is perfect if you want to upskill without committing to a full degree (yet).

These courses are:

Short-term and focused
Fully online
Taught by UP faculty and industry experts
Certificate-based (yes, you get a UP certificate)

I enrolled in New Enterprise Planning (NEP), a course that dives into business ideation, planning, and sustainability. As someone running a business, it felt aligned, grounded, and immediately useful.

How I Enrolled: Step-by-Step (No Gatekeeping)

Here’s the exact process I went through:

1. Visit the UPOU Website

Go to UP Open University’s official website and look for:

Continuing Education Program (CEP)
Or the Faculty of Management and Development Studies (FMDS) page

They regularly post available courses, descriptions, schedules, and fees.

You may also visit this link to see the programs available.

2. Choose a Course That Fits Your Season of Life

Each course listing includes:

Course objectives
Duration
Learning outcomes
Who it’s for

This helped me decide if the course matched what I actually needed right now, not just what sounded impressive.

3. Register Online

Once registration opens:

Fill out the online form
Prepare basic requirements (usually very minimal)
Pay the course fee

No entrance exams, you just have to register. I repeat, no entrance exams!

4. Wait for Confirmation

After payment and registration:

You’ll receive confirmation via email
Along with instructions on accessing the learning platform

And just like that, you’re officially a UP learner.

The Courses I’ve Completed So Far

Over the past few years, I’ve completed the following programs under CEP:

Each one addressed a different side of entrepreneurship, from marketing and numbers to planning and sustainability.

Together, they helped me build a more grounded, systems-based way of running a business.

NEP, in particular, felt like a full-circle moment that connected the strategy, structure, and long-term vision.

How Much Does It Cost?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that UP courses are automatically expensive. For CEP courses, here’s the reality:

₱500 Application Fee
₱5,000 Course Fee (per program)

That’s it.

For a UP-certified course taught by experts, fully online, and designed for working adults, I’d honestly say it’s more accessible than most people expect.

What the Learning Experience Was Like

Honestly? Better than I expected.

The platform was organized and intuitive
Modules were structured but flexible
Discussions felt thoughtful, not performative
Deadlines were reasonable for working adults

It didn’t feel like school-school. It felt like learning with purpose.

I could study between work, life, and rest, without burning out.

Who This Is Perfect For

You should seriously consider UPOU’s CEP if you are:

A working professional who wants to upskill
An entrepreneur or freelancer
Someone considering a master’s degree but not ready yet
A creative who wants structure without pressure
A lifelong learner who misses studying

Why I’m Sharing This

I’m sharing this because I wish someone told me earlier that UP is more accessible than we think.

This experience reminded me that:

Learning doesn’t expire
Growth doesn’t have a deadline
And it’s okay to return to being a student, on your own terms

If you’ve been waiting for a sign to try, this might be it.