The LEAPMed Program is an accelerated medicine program offered by the University of Santo Tomas - Faculty of Medicine and Surgery. It reduces the required years of schooling to become a Philippine Medical Doctor by two years. The program spans six years: a two-year undergraduate degree followed by the traditional four-year medicine proper. Upon completion of the two years, students will be awarded a Bachelor’s Degree in Basic Human Studies.

Graduating Grade 12 students who took the STEM Strand, General Academic-Health Allied Strand (for UST-SHS), or any health allied strand with a General Average of no less than 90.00 in Grade 11 may apply for the LEAPMed program. Graduates of previous school years are not eligible.

The Top 200 examinees from both the USTET and LEAPMed Exams are selected. Both exams are taken on the same day.

USTET Exam Coverage:

• Mental Ability 

• Science

• Math

• English

LEAPMed Exam Coverage:

• Anatomy

• Physiology

• Chemistry

• Physics

• Botany

• Zoology

The Top 200 examinees will then undergo a psychological stress test and interview. From there, 90 applicants will be selected and offered a slot in the LEAPMed program.

Being admitted to LEAPMed offers you a distinct advantage by allowing you to become a medical doctor earlier. It also guarantees you a slot in the Doctor of Medicine program at UST-FMS, provided you take and pass the National Medical Admission Test (NMAT). 

Additionally, throughout the program, you will take various medical courses taught by experienced FMS faculty members, equipping you with both practical and theoretical knowledge in core subjects to help you prepare for the Medicine Proper phase of the program.

Yes. Whether you did not pass the LEAPMed exam or were not accepted after the interview, the University will consider your programs of choice in your USTET application.

The path after LEAPMed is as follows:

1. LEAPMed (2 years) – Completion of the LEAPMed program.

2. Medical School (4 years) – Enrollment in UST’s Medical School.

3. PGI (1 year) – Post-Graduate Internship. This depends on where you match, based on your applications.

4. PLE (Physician Licensure Exam) – After PGI, you will take the Physician Licensure Exam (PLE).

5. Residency – Choose a specialty depending on your interests (based on the specialty you want to pursue).

6. Subspecialty – If you wish to specialize further, you can continue to a subspecialty (depending on the field you want to focus on).

Note: 4th Year of Medicine (Clerkship Year) – In USTH, the 4th year is the Clerkship Year, where you work in hospitals as part of your clinical training.

For first year LEAPMed Students:

• Summer Term: Around PHP 26,000-29,000. 

• Regular Term: PHP 75,000-80,000 per term (up to PHP 170,000 annually). 

For second year LEAPMed Students:

• Summer Term: Around PHP 34,000. 

• Regular Term: PHP 87,000-90,000 per term (up to PHP 190,000 annually). 

NOTE: ALL GIVEN FEES ARE ESTIMATES; THESE ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE AND VARY PER ACADEMIC YEAR.

Kindly view the program's curriculum here: https://www.ust.edu.ph/academics/programs/bachelor-of-science-in-basic-human-studies/ 

Yes, LEAPMed students are still required to take the NMAT as part of the enrollment requirements for 1st Year Med Proper. This is required by the APMC (Association of Philippine Medical Colleges) and the PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) for taking the Physician Licensure Exam (PLE).

NMAT Score Requirements: Your NMAT score should meet UST’s cutoff score, an 85+ PR, as stipulated in the FMS’s admission policies.

Additional Details:

• You must take and pass the NMAT exam before the deadline for enrollment into the 1st Year of Med Proper.

• The date for taking your NMAT exam is flexible; you can take it at your convenience as long as you submit all your requirements on time.