Go USTe!
About The University
The University of Santo Tomas (UST) is a private, Catholic research university in Manila, founded in 1611, making it the oldest university in Asia. Managed by the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), it is located in the heart of the University Belt. UST is widely recognized for its consistent excellence in health sciences, architecture, and accountancy, maintaining a strong reputation for producing topnotchers in national licensure exams.
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f you choose UST, prepare yourself for a high-volume, high-pressure system. The academic culture here is less about 'finding yourself' and more about a 'survival of the fittest' mentality. One of the biggest shocks you will face is the block section system. Unlike other universities where you can curate your own schedule, your classes at UST are often rigid. In colleges like Pharmacy or Science, '7-to-7' schedules (7:00 AM to 7:00 PM) are a daily reality. The workload focuses heavily on quantity and endurance. You will likely encounter the 'terror professor' archetype: faculty who use intimidation or massive workloads as pedagogical tools. While the university produces technically competent graduates, it often does so through a 'sink or swim' model. Different colleges have their own flavors of stress: Accountancy is the 'Hunger Games' due to strict debarment; Architecture is 'the college that never sleeps'.
“The 4th C: 'Criticism'. Learning to handle 'terror profs' and arbitrary grading without crumbling.”
Being a Thomasian means navigating a deeply Catholic environment. You will take mandatory Theology classes and hear the Angelus bell daily. The biggest cultural friction is between a modernizing student body and a conservative administration. The Office for Student Affairs (OSA) is frequently villainized for repressive policies, such as the 2024 TomasinoWeb censorship incident, highlighting an admin often perceived as obsessed with its pristine image.
Joining a top-tier student organization like the Varsitarian or the Central Student Council is described as a 'bloodbath'. The application processes are rigorous, often mimicking corporate interviews. However, there are frequent complaints about 'Palakasan' (nepotism), where leadership roles allegedly go to those with the right connections. Despite this, employers view Thomasians as 'resilient' and 'trainable' due to the heavy workload they survive.
UST's food culture is arguably the best and most affordable among the Big 4. Dapitan Side is the place for budget-friendly 'lutong bahay' and the legendary Angkong dimsum. P. Noval Side is home to trendier spots. You can easily survive on a budget of 100 pesos per meal. The cost of living in Sampaloc is lower than Katipunan or Taft, but the trade-off is infrastructure: dense, chaotic, and prone to crime.
The physical campus of UST is a dual experience: it is both a beautiful sanctuary and a legendary flood zone. The grounds are universally adored; walking under centuries-old trees provides a 'dopamine hit'. However, 'flood culture' is a genuine part of the identity. Navigating waist-deep water on España or being stranded during a typhoon is a 'badge of honor'. Safety is a mixed bag: the interior is safe, but the perimeter along España and P. Noval is notorious for snatchers.
You will thrive at UST if you are resilient, socially adaptable, and value community. It is for students okay with a traditional, high-volume academic structure who find strength in 'trauma bonding'. If you enjoy a homey, grounded atmosphere and don't mind strict rules for a high-quality technical education, you will love it.
You might struggle if you are fiercely independent, desire a liberal political environment, or cannot handle high-pressure exam cultures. Students who want a 'chill' experience or find religious/administrative structure stifling often feel 'wrecked' by the system.
UST students pride themselves on being 'social chameleons'. Unlike the perceived elitism of Ateneo or La Salle, UST is a melting pot where wealthy students mix effortlessly with scholars. The mandatory uniform acts as a 'great equalizer'. The social vibe is grounded and 'down-to-earth'. Dating is also major; 'Lovers' Lane' is always bustling. The vibe is less intellectually snobbish and more community-focused, centered around 'trauma bonding' with your block.
“The workload in UST is like being squeezed like a rag until nothing is left. You will be humbled by the 30-unit semesters and zero-based grading.”
“We are 'social chameleons.' We can be 'conyo' when we need to, but we are most at home being 'kanal'. We don't have the intellectual snobbery of other schools.”
You spend 12 hours a day with them. They are your survival net. Don't go it alone.
Obsessively check for floods on España. Know when to bring extra clothes.
The lines for dimsum get long. Strategic lunch timing is a skill.
You will face terror profs and bureaucracy. Learn to handle criticism without crumbling.
ADMISSIONS OPEN FOR SY 2025-2026