The Faculty of Canon Law is primarily open to future members of the diocesan clergy. However, they are also open to religious men and women and lay persons, provided they meet the required qualifications (Sapientia Christiana, art. 31 and UST-Ecclesiastical Faculties’ Statutes, art. 21).

To be admitted to the Faculty, clerics and religious must present a written permission from their respective Ordinary or Superior. Laypersons seeking admission to the Faculty should present a certificate of good moral character and a letter of recommendation from their respective Local Ordinary (Statutes, art. 18, n. 2).

The regulations for admission in the Faculty of Canon Law, in accordance with the latest provisions of Sapientia Christiana are the following:

1. Those who have no previous training in philosophy or theology, including those who already hold an academic degree in civil law, must complete the first cycle, lasting for four semesters or two years (cf. Norms, art. 76). “Students who prove they have studied some of the subjects of the first cycle at an appropriate faculty or university institute may be dispensed from them” (cf. Norms, art. 57, 1).
2.  “Students who successfully completed the philosophical-theological curriculum in a seminary or in a theological faculty can be admitted immediately into the second cycle, unless the Dean deems it necessary or opportune, prior to their admittance, to require that they take a preliminary course in Latin or in the fundamental concepts of Canon Law” (cf. Norms, art. 57, 1).
3. “Students who hold an academic degree in civil law may be dispensed from some courses of the second cycle (such as Roman Law and Civil Law), but may not be exempt from the three-year curriculum of studies for the Licentiate” (cf. Norms, 57, 2).

It is a requirement for admission that the applicant has a good command of the English language and a suitable knowledge of the Latin language.

All applicants must present valid credentials testifying their previous studies including their training in philosophy and theology. All new students must submit upon admission, other than the written recommendation of the Major Superior or Ordinary, the following documents: a) Certificate of Good Moral Character and/or Honorable Dismissal from the previous school; b) Official Transcript of Records.

All applicants to the Faculty of Canon Law, unless they have already earned a degree from the other two Ecclesiastical Faculties, must take and pass the entrance examination. The entrance examination is normally composed of the Mental Ability Test, English Test, Latin Test, and Essay Test (two theses on Theology). Other items may be added depending on the recommendation of the Admission Committee.

No student may be admitted into the Faculty of Canon Law to work for a degree simultaneously with another academic degree from another faculty (General Statutes, University of Santo Tomas, 2000, art. 63, no. 4).

The admission of students to the Faculty is processed by the Admission Committee, whose functions are the following (Statutes, art. 18, no. 3):

1. To evaluate the academic records and other pertinent credentials of applicants;
2. To administer the entrance examination when deemed opportune;
3. To propose to the Dean who, among the applicants, may be admitted after due verification of their qualifications.

The Admission Committee is composed of the Dean of the Faculty as Chair, and one Faculty member elected by the Faculty Council, and the Secretary of the Ecclesiastical Faculties as members. In the admission of diocesan resident seminarians, the Rector of the Central Seminary should also be a member of this Committee.

A. First Cycle: Preparatory Program

This cycle is preparatory for admission to the Licentiate program in Canon Law, since it is intended for those who have no previous training in philosophy or theology. The cycle lasts for four (4) semesters or two (2) years.

• Written permission from their respective Ordinary or delegate. Laypersons seeking admission to the Faculty shall present a letter of recommendation or a certificate of good moral character from their respective local Ordinary;
• Must have a working knowledge in Latin or must at least be willing to learn Latin;
• International students must accomplish all the legal requirements to pursue their studies in the University;
• Must take and pass the entrance examination.

B. Second Cycle: Bachelor/Licentiate in Canon Law

The second cycle provides an in-depth study of the books of the Code of Canon Law and related disciplines, an introduction to the Code of Canons of Eastern Churches, Latin and other optional courses or exercises required by the Faculty (cf. Norms, 56, 2). Likewise, students are required to learn the methods of scientific research in the preparation of a written dissertation. The duration of this cycle is six semesters or three years, and ends with the conferment of the degree of Licentiate in Canon Law.

• Applicants who successfully completed the philosophical-theological curriculum in a seminary or in a theological faculty can be admitted immediately into the second cycle, unless the Dean deems it necessary or opportune, prior to their admittance, to require that they take a preliminary course in Latin or in the fundamental concepts of canon law (Norms of Application, art.57, no. 1);
• International students must accomplish all the legal requirements to pursue their studies in the University;
• No applicant will be admitted unless s/he takes and passes the entrance examination.
• All applicants must submit a written permission from the respective Ordinary or delegate. Laypersons seeking admission to the Faculty shall present a letter of recommendation or a good moral character from their respective local Ordinary;
• Only the applicants who have a good command of the English language and a suitable knowledge of the Latin language may be admitted;

C. Third Cycle: Doctorate in Canon Law (J.C.D)

Lasting for at least two (2) semesters or one (1) year, this cycle aims to bring students to perfect the canon law training necessary for scholarly research in view of preparing a doctoral dissertation and to interpret correctly the sources of law. In addition to Canonical Latin, students are required to take at least two (2) additional special courses or seminars and the corresponding units in thesis writing, complemented by a relevant and well-elaborated thesis, which must be the product of scholarly work and a contribution to the progress of the science of Canon Law (cf. Sapientia Christiana, 76c, Norms 56, 3).

• Only those who have obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law in an Ecclesiastical Faculty with a grade of above average will be accepted for the third cycle;
• International students must accomplish all the legal requirements to pursue their studies in the University;
• Must take and pass the entrance examination unless the applicant has already graduated from any degree conferred by any of the three Ecclesiastical Faculties of the University.
• Written Recommendation/Permission from the Ordinary or Major Superior;
• Must have a command of the English language and a suitable knowledge of the Latin language;

Students are given appropriate scholarship for their studies. All are however required to pay miscellaneous fees.

• For students residing in the Central Seminary, 100% discount on tuition fees.
• For ordinary students who are seminarians, religious members or clerics with full load, 50% discount on tuition fees.
• For other students, 20% on tuition fees.

Students will also be required to pay other fees which include examination fees, thesis defense fee, adviser’s fee, and others.

Tuition, miscellaneous, examination and other fees vary from year to year and are based on the University’s computation of the charges.

Tuition, miscellaneous, examination and other fees vary from year to year and are based on the University’s computation of the charges.

As a matter of general policy, the Faculty of Canon Law does not accept transferees. In meritorious cases, however, the matter will be referred to the Admission Committee.