Overview
The University of Perpetual Help System DALTA (UPHSD) is a private university with its main campus on Alabang–Zapote Road in Las Piñas City, in the south of Metro Manila. It also has campuses in Molino (Cavite) and Calamba (Laguna). Its medical school is the JONELTA Foundation School of Medicine, which began in June 1996 and gained autonomous status from CHED in 1997. The university's own medical centre stands next to the campus.
UPHSD has one of the larger groups of Indian students in the Philippines. Like every Philippine medical school, it admits only graduates to the MD. An Indian student who has just passed Class 12 therefore studies a pre-medical bachelor's degree (BS) first, sits the NMAT, and then joins the MD.
This structure matters for India. The NMC has said the BS cannot be counted as part of medical training, so the MD on its own must meet every condition of the FMGL Regulations 2021, including a licence to practise in the Philippines. That licence question is not settled for Indian graduates as of October 2026. Read the section on recognition before you decide.
| Quick facts | |
|---|---|
| Established | University 1975; JONELTA Foundation School of Medicine opened in June 1996 |
| Type | Private university |
| City | Las Piñas City, southern Metro Manila (main campus) |
| Degree awarded | Doctor of Medicine (MD), after a separate pre-medical bachelor's degree (BS) |
| Duration from Class 12 | About 6 years or more: a BS of about 2 years, then the MD and a 12-month internship. Ask for the MD length in writing |
| Medium | English |
| Intakes | Usually once a year, with the Philippine school year starting around June to August; confirm dates with the university |
| NEET-UG | Must be qualified before admission (NMC rule for Indian students) |
| Entry test for MD | NMAT, plus the CHED Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to Medicine |
| WDOMS listing | Listed as F0001278 (University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Jonelta Foundation School of Medicine) |
| Tuition / year (indicative) | About USD 5,000 (not published by the university for foreign students) |
| Hostel / year (indicative) | About USD 1,500 (private boarding houses near campus) |
Address: Alabang–Zapote Road, Pamplona 3, Las Piñas City 1740, Metro Manila, Philippines
Highlights
- Medical school founded in 1996, listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools (F0001278)
- University medical centre next to the Las Piñas campus for clinical training and internship
- Teaching in English in a large city where English is widely spoken
- FMGE 2025: 441 of 2,310 graduates passed (19.1%), close to the Philippine average (SchoolFinderPH, citing NBEMS)
- Large Indian student community in Las Piñas, with Indian food and housing nearby
- Fees for foreign students are not published, so a written fee schedule is essential
Courses offered
- Doctor of Medicine (MD), JONELTA Foundation School of Medicine
- Doctor of Dental Medicine
- Nursing, Pharmacy, Medical Technology and Midwifery
- Physical therapy, occupational therapy, respiratory therapy and radiologic technology
- Arts and Sciences bachelor's programmes (ask which BS the university recommends as the pre-medical stage)
- Graduate School programmes, including nursing and public administration
For Indian students the main programme is the Doctor of Medicine (MD), after a pre-medical BS, taught in English over 6 years.
Facilities
University medical centre
The University of Perpetual Help DALTA Medical Center is next to the campus. The college names it as the place for internship.
Board review support
The college says it runs review classes for the Philippine medical board exam and a mentoring programme for all students.
Research
Students can take part in research through the medical centre's Research Coordinating Council, according to the college.
Library and online learning
The university runs a central library and online learning services. Ask how many medical journals and e-books students can use.
Housing near campus
Most Indian students live in private boarding houses or flats near Alabang–Zapote Road, often with an Indian mess. Check who owns and manages each building.
Why choose University of Perpetual Help System DALTA?
- The medical school has run for about 30 years and is listed in WDOMS.
- The teaching hospital is on the doorstep, so clinical exposure starts close to where students live.
- Everything is taught in English, and English is used widely in Metro Manila.
- The FMGE pass rate in 2025 (19.1%) was in line with the Philippine average.
- There is a well-established Indian student community in Las Piñas.
- Metro Manila has a non-stop flight to Delhi, which helps with travel home.
Eligibility criteria
- NEET-UG qualified before taking admission, as the NMC requires.
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English; at least 50% in PCB for general category (40% for SC/ST/OBC).
- At least 17 years old by 31 December of the admission year.
- For the MD: a completed bachelor's degree, an NMAT result and the CHED Certificate of Eligibility for Admission to Medicine.
- A valid passport and a 9(f) student visa, arranged with the university's help.
Admission process
- Qualify NEET-UG and read the latest NMC notices and the Embassy of India, Manila advisory on the Philippines.
- Write to the university for the length of its BS and MD, how the 12-month internship works, and a fee schedule for every year.
- Apply for the pre-medical BS and get an official acceptance letter with the university's seal.
- Have your documents notarised and apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs.
- Pay the first semester only to the university's own account and keep the official receipt.
- Apply for the student visa, travel, and register with the Bureau of Immigration for the ACR I-Card.
- In the final BS year, sit the NMAT and apply to CHED for the eligibility certificate.
- Apply to the MD at the JONELTA Foundation School of Medicine.
Fee structure
| Tuition (USD) | Hostel (USD) | Approx. in rupees | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-medical BS (about 2 years), per yearIndicative. The university does not publish a BS fee for foreign students; BS tuition is often lower than MD tuition. | US$5,000 | US$1,500 | ≈ ₹6 lakh |
| MD years 1–4, per yearIndicative. Not published by the university for foreign students; ask for a written schedule. | US$5,000 | US$1,500 | ≈ ₹6 lakh |
| Estimated total (6 years) | US$39,000 | ≈ ₹35.9 lakh | |
UPHSD does not publish fees for international students on its website. The figures above are our indicative estimates. An agent site (Moksh16, updated September 2026) quotes about ₹4 lakh a year for tuition (roughly USD 4,500) and about ₹0.9 lakh a year for housing, with a six-year total of about ₹24–28 lakh. Ask the university for a written fee schedule that covers every year of the BS and the MD, the 12-month internship, laboratory and graduation charges, and any one-time foreign student fee. Pay only to the university's own account against an official receipt. Approximate exchange rates (based on ECB reference rates, March 2026). Actual rates on your payment date will differ.
Want the official fee letter?Our counsellor will share the current fee schedule for University of Perpetual Help System DALTA and a budget in rupees.
Recognition and accreditation
- World Directory of Medical Schools (WDOMS)Listed as F0001278 (University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Jonelta Foundation School of Medicine), instruction from 1996. The listing carries an ECFMG note for graduates from 1996 onwards. WDOMS says a listing is not accreditation.
- Commission on Higher Education (CHED), PhilippinesThe medical school was authorised by CHED and given autonomous status in November 1997, according to the college's history page.
- National Medical Commission (NMC), IndiaThe NMC does not approve foreign universities. It does not count the Philippine BS, so the MD alone must meet every FMGL 2021 condition. We found no NMC notice naming this university.
- Licence to practise in the Philippines (PRC)Foreigners can sit the Physician Licensure Examination only where reciprocity applies. The Embassy of India, Manila said in June 2026 that Indian guidance on this is awaited. This affects the FMGL licence condition.
- Medical Council of Canada (via WDOMS)The WDOMS sponsor note says degrees from this school are generally acceptable to Canadian medical regulators.
NMC eligibility depends on you, not only the university
Teaching hospitals
- University of Perpetual Help DALTA Medical Center, Las Piñas (next to campus; named by the college for internship)
- Other affiliated hospitals for clerkship rotations: the college does not publish a list, so ask for it in writing
Hostel and campus life
Las Piñas is a busy residential city in southern Metro Manila. Most Indian students live in private boarding houses, shared flats or condominium units within walking distance of the campus, often two to four to a room. Indian messes and grocery shops are easy to find. The MD timetable is heavy, with frequent quizzes and long hospital hours in the clerkship years. Traffic on Alabang–Zapote Road is slow at peak times, so living close to campus saves a lot of time. Typhoons and flooding can disrupt classes in the rainy season.
Cost of living in Las Piñas, Metro Manila
| Per month | In USD | Approx. in rupees |
|---|---|---|
| Shared room in a boarding house or flatA one-bedroom flat outside the centre in Manila is about ₱14,700 (about USD 250) on Numbeo | US$100–200per month | ≈ ₹9,200 – ₹18,400 |
| Food (Indian mess or self-cooking)An inexpensive restaurant meal is about ₱350 (Numbeo) | US$100–180per month | ≈ ₹9,200 – ₹16,560 |
| Electricity, water and internet (shared)Basic utilities for a flat are about ₱8,000 a month before sharing (Numbeo) | US$30–60per month | ≈ ₹2,760 – ₹5,520 |
| Local transport | US$15–40per month | ≈ ₹1,380 – ₹3,680 |
| Mobile phone and data | US$10–20per month | ≈ ₹920 – ₹1,840 |
| Rough monthly total | US$255–500 | ≈ ₹23,460 – ₹46,000 |
About Las Piñas, Metro Manila
Las Piñas is one of the cities that make up Metro Manila, on the southern edge of the capital region near Manila Bay. It is mostly residential, with malls, hospitals and schools along Alabang–Zapote Road, and it is close to the Alabang business district. Ninoy Aquino International Airport is roughly 30 to 60 minutes away depending on traffic. The climate is hot and humid all year, with a rainy season from about June to November.
Ranking
UPHSD is not in the major global rankings. It does not appear in the QS Asia University Rankings 2026, which included 35 Philippine universities. The university shows QS Stars, WURI and AppliedHE badges on its website; these are ratings, not QS or THE rankings.
Scholarships
The university lists scholarships on its admissions pages, but we found no scholarship for international medical students. Treat any discount as a bonus and get it in writing from the university, not from an agent.
Documents required
- Passport valid for the full course where possible
- Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and passing certificates
- NEET-UG scorecard
- Birth certificate
- Passport-size photographs with a white background
- Acceptance letter from the university with its seal and a full fee schedule
- Proof of first-semester payment made to the university's own account
- Parents' affidavit of support, apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs
- Parents' bank statements and income proof
- Police clearance certificate
- Medical report with chest X-ray
- For the MD: BS transcript and diploma, NMAT result and CHED eligibility certificate
Ready to apply?Our counsellor will check your documents and NEET score and guide you through the admission letter and visa.
Other medical universities in Philippines
| University | City | Tuition / year |
|---|---|---|
| Our Lady of Fatima University | Valenzuela City, Metro Manila | US$7,000 |
| Davao Medical School Foundation | Davao City | US$4,000 |
| AMA School of Medicine | Makati, Metro Manila | US$4,000 |
| Lyceum-Northwestern University (Dr. Francisco Q. Duque Medical Foundation) | Dagupan City, Pangasinan | US$4,600 |
FAQs
Is the MD from UPHSD valid in India?
Not automatically. The NMC does not count the BS, so the MD on its own must meet every FMGL 2021 condition, including at least 54 months of study, a 12-month internship at the same institution and eligibility for a licence in the Philippines. The licence condition is unresolved for Indian graduates as of October 2026. Check the newest NMC notices before you enrol.
Why must my child study a BS first?
Philippine medical schools admit only graduates who have passed the NMAT. A Class 12 student therefore takes a pre-medical BS first. The NMC does not count it, and a place in the MD is not guaranteed after it.
How long is the full route?
Plan for about six years or more from Class 12: roughly two years of BS, then the MD with a 12-month internship. Ask the university in writing how many months the MD itself lasts, because the NMC needs at least 54 months excluding the BS.
What are the fees?
The university does not publish fees for foreign students. Agent sites quote about ₹4 lakh a year for tuition. Ask the university for a written schedule for every year and pay only into its own account.
How do UPHSD graduates do in the FMGE?
In 2025, 441 of 2,310 candidates from this school passed (19.1%), according to SchoolFinderPH's summary of NBEMS data. Most of them began before the 2021 rules, so this does not show how today's students will fare.
Is there a hostel on campus?
Most Indian students live in private boarding houses or flats near the campus. Ask the university whether it runs or approves any housing, and get a receipt for every payment.
Sources
- UPHSD: JONELTA Foundation School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine (opens in a new tab)
- UPHSD: College of Medicine history and contacts (opens in a new tab)
- UPHSD: programmes and campus addresses (opens in a new tab)
- WDOMS: University of Perpetual Help System Dalta Jonelta Foundation School of Medicine (F0001278) (opens in a new tab)
- Embassy of India, Manila: Advisory on Medical Education in the Philippines, 17 Jun 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- NMC public notice, 22 Nov 2023, on FMGs from the Philippines (copy hosted by Medical Dialogues) (opens in a new tab)
- Professional Regulation Commission: advisory on foreign nationals taking licensure exams (opens in a new tab)
- SchoolFinderPH, Sep 2026: FMGE pass rates for Philippine medical schools (citing NBEMS) (opens in a new tab)
- APMC directory of medical schools, March 2025 (via CEM) (opens in a new tab)
- Moksh16 (agent site), Sep 2026: indicative fees for Philippine medical colleges (opens in a new tab)
- The POST: Philippine universities in QS Asia University Rankings 2026 (opens in a new tab)
- Numbeo: cost of living in Manila (opens in a new tab)
Official website: www.perpetualdalta.edu.ph (opens in a new tab)
Fees and rules change