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Admissions FAQs

N.B. The information provided on this page is only applicable for the 2026-2027 JD Admissions Cycle.

What is the JD admission timeline for Academic Year (AY) 2026–2027?
The application for the Ateneo Law School’s Juris Doctor (JD) Program opens on 17 November 2025. The deadline for submission will be at 11:59 pm, Philippine time, on 28 February 2026.

What are the admission requirements?
Details about requirements and eligibility may be found here: http://go.ateneo.edu/AteneoLaw-JDAdmissions

Does the program take in graduates from foreign universities? Are non-Filipino citizens allowed to apply to the program? Are the application requirements and processes different?
Yes, graduates from foreign universities and non-Filipino citizens are welcome to apply. The application requirements and processes are the same.

Does the program accept working students?
There are working students in Ateneo Law. However, there is no specific program that is designed for working students. Further, please note that Ateneo Law follows the block system in scheduling classes. There is no guarantee that there will be a block schedule that would have classes solely on weeknights and/or weekends.

Does the Ateneo Law School offer online classes?
All Ateneo Law School classes are held fully onsite.

Does the program accept transferees?
No, persons who have enrolled and have been graded in at least one (1) semester in any Philippine law school are not eligible for admission to the JD Program.

Those who enrolled in another Philippine law school but subsequently discontinued studies may apply, subject to the submission of either (1) a transcript of records from the previous law school showing that the applicant withdrew with permission and did not receive any grades or (2) a certification from the previous law school stating that he or she properly withdrew and did not receive any grades.

Are applicants who lack English and/or Rizal units eligible to apply?
Yes. Accepted applicants may enrol. However, they are required to complete their missing English or Rizal units during their First Semester at ALS. Compliance with this requirement is a pre-requisite for enrolment in the Second Semester.

Are college students currently completing their undergraduate studies eligible to apply?
Yes, they may apply. However, please note that the date of graduation reflected on the transcript of records should be before 20 July 2026. The date of the commencement exercises or graduation ceremonies is immaterial.

How much are the tuition and fees for the JD Program?
The rates for tuition and other fees for AY 2026-2027 are not yet available. For reference, current tuition rates amount to approximately Php 145,000.00 per semester.

Are there financial aid grants available?
Yes, details about financial aid may be found here: http://go.ateneo.edu/Law-FinAid

How is Ateneo Law's JD Curriculum structured?
Details about the JD Curriculum, including course offerings, may be found here: https://www.ateneo.edu/law/programs/jd

When and where will the applicant take the ALS Admission Test (ALSAT)?
After completing all the requirements and after the submitted application form, the applicant will be provided their ALSAT schedule. The range of the testing dates, the exam, and other details may found here: http://go.ateneo.edu/AteneoLaw-JDAdmissions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FOR ADMITTED APPLICANTS TO THE JD PROGRAM

What requirements should admitted applicants prepare for submission?
Admitted applicants are required to submit the following documents:
1. Transcript of Records with date of graduation indicated and/or Certificate of Transfer Credentials
2. Birth Certificate issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 
3. For married individuals, Marriage Certificate issued by the PSA

During confirmation, the Registrar’s Office will require the submission of these documents:
1. Letter of Commitment to submit the admissions requirements
2. Declaration and Pledge
3. Data Privacy Terms of Agreement

Details about the requirements, as well as deadlines, will be provided by the Registrar’s Office closer to the confirmation period.

Are there additional requirements that admitted foreign applicants / non-Filipino citizens must submit?
Admitted foreign applicants / non-Filipino citizens are required to submit apostilled copies of their Transcript of Records and/or Certificate of Transfer Credentials, Birth Certificate, and Marriage Certificate, if necessary.

Documents which are not in English must have accompanying translations.

Non-Filipino citizens also need to procure a student visa. Details pertaining to the student visa may be found here: https://global.ateneo.edu/admissions/visa-matters

Please note that while non-Filipino citizens may be admitted to the JD Program, they may not be allowed to take the Philippine Bar Examination. However, they may do so if they are already Philippine citizens at the time of their application to take the Bar Exam.

When do classes for first year students begin?
Introduction to Law (ITL) for first year students begins on 07 July 2026. But take note that there will be a mandatory onsite plenary session and graded activity on 06 July 2026 (Monday). You will have asynchronous (onsite and online) activities from 07-18 July 2026. During this period, your schedule will be different from most of your cohort. The entire cohort will have daily ITL onsite classes from 20 July - 01 August 2026 (Mondays-Saturdays). The time for the daily onsite classes is usually from 4:00 - 9:00pm, but is subject to change. The exact time of the classes will be confirmed closer to the date.

What is Introduction to Law?
Introduction to Law is the mandatory foundational one-unit course for all JD students. It familiarizes you with the Philippine legal system, the sources of law, and the methods of legal reasoning, while also training you in the discipline and habits essential for success in law school.

Is ITL similar to the Orientation Seminar (OrSem)?
No. It would be helpful to note that the professors of Introduction to Law are not involved with OrSem and OrSem organizers do not have any involvement whatsoever in the ITL course.

May I be excused from classes or activities if I have an important (family vacation, trip, course, competition, seminar, conference, wedding, reunion, etc.) that has already been booked and paid for?
No. When you apply to the JD Program, you do so with the intention to comply with all requirements and knowledge of the schedule.

May I reschedule my Introduction to Law activities, quizzes, exams, recitation, etc.?
No.

What happens if I miss Introduction to Law activities, quizzes, exams, recitation, etc.?
There is an impact on your grade and your required contact hours. The cut system is followed and you are permitted one cut during the entirety of ITL. You will receive the appropriate grade for missing the said activity and each absence will be counted as one cut.

The average grade of all asynchronous and onsite activities (other than the Final Exam) will constitute 50% of your final grade in the course. The other 50% is from your Final Exam on 03 August 2026. You must earn a 75 to pass the course.

Concerns not addressed by the JD Admissions Website and these FAQs may be sent to admissions.law@ateneo.edu

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