Maximum Residency Rule

MAXIMUM RESIDENCE (787th BOR Meeting: 29 September 1969) The Maximum Residence Rule (MRR) states that students who fail to finish the requirements of a degree program of any college within a prescribed period of actual residence shall not be allowed to register further in that college. Under meritorious cases, extension of residency may be granted. The faculty of each college shall designate the approving authority for such extensions. Each extension granted shall be reported to the Chancellor through the Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs. 

Undergraduate Students 

The MRR states that students who fail to finish the requirements of a course of any college within a period of actual residence equivalent to 1½ times the normal length of the course concerned shall not be allowed to register further in the university. 

Thus, the prescribed years to finish a degree program for the undergraduate level are as follows: 

Program Number of Years Allowed by MRR

Two-Year Certificate 3 

Four-Year Diploma 6 

Four-Year Bachelor’s 6 

Five-Year Bachelor’s 7½ 

However, Art. 243 of the Revised University Code should be taken into account in implementing the MRR for faculty, officers, and employees of the University which states that “Members of the faculty, officers and employees shall have the privilege of enrolling in the University for not more than nine (9) units at the undergraduate level or six (6) units at the graduate level in a semester at reduced rates in courses that shall be beneficial to their regular work in the University or in their career development, subject to the approval of the Chancellor or his/her authorized representative. In the case of non-teaching personnel, the courses shall be taken after office hours (Revised UP Code: Art. 243 as amemded at 836th BOR Meeting: 30 Aug 1973, 990th BOR Meeting: 28 Aug 1986).” [For graduate students, refer to General Rules for Graduate Programs part, of this Section].