Admission Requirements for the First Year Level and Transferees
A. WHO MAY APPLY
Anyone seeking admission to the Xavier Ateneo Law must be a graduate of a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts or Science, or a higher academic degree, from an authorized and recognized university or college.
All applicants must have earned eighteen (18) units of English subject. Applicants who have deficiency for this requirement may still apply and be eligible for admission, but admission will be conditioned on their completion of the deficiency and before they can graduate from law school.
Admission to Xavier Ateneo Law will be based on the applicant’s abilities and possession of good moral character, and will be determined based on the results in the Law Entrance Exam, academic grades, ability to express and communicate in English orally and in writing, letters of recommendations, and online or in-person interview(s).
Please take note that starting AY2023-2024, and barring any public health mandate to the contrary, Xavier Ateneo Law classes and examinations will be conducted ONLY in-person.
Classes may begin early afternoon for full-time students. But generally, classes start at 5.30pm and end by 9.30pm at the latest for weekdays; and 9am to 5pm at the latest for Saturdays. Attendance in classes will be checked, and, pursuant to LEB rules, students who incur absences of more than 20% of the total class hours will receive a failing mark due to absences.
Moreover, midterm and final examinations will be given in-person at Xavier Ateneo Law premises, but using ExamSoft — the same platform used by the Supreme Court in the conduct of the Philippine Bar Examinations. Thus, all Xavier Ateneo Law students will be required to bring a suitable laptop for ExamSoft during examinations. The laptop need not be brand new, may be Windows-based or using Mac-OS, but must comply with the minimum system requirements for the software to run. You may check this link to know more about the minimum systems requirement.
B. HOW TO APPLY
Read and follow the instructions carefully. Your ability to comply will be part of the assessment.
1. TAKE THE LAW ENTRANCE EXAM. REGISTER & PAY FOR THE ENTRANCE EXAM NO LATER THAN MAY 17, 2023.
There are only four (4) scheduled Law entrance exams. Please take note of the dates and the costs, carefully. There will be no other schedule:
| DATE | TYPE | COST | DEADLINE TO PAY AND REGISTER |
| April 15, 2023 | In-person | PhP 930.00 | April 8, 2023 |
| April 29. 2023 | In-person | PhP 930.00 | April 22, 2023 |
| May 13, 2023 | In-person | PhP 930.00 | May 6, 2023 |
| May 27, 2023 | *Online | PhP 1,100.00 | May 17, 2023 (at 5pm) |
*Note:
1. For the applicants of the Online Entrance Exam please ensure to follow the test administration requirements below:
a. Use laptop or desktop with WINDOWS or LINUX v7 or higher and built-in or detachable webcam; testing platform is not compatible with Apple or IOS.
b. Ensure a stable internet connection during the test.
c. Attend the Online Orientation on 24 May 2023 (further details will be indicated in your Test Permit).
2. Essay part of the exam will be administered onsite. Details will be provided in the test permit.
Registration and payment for the Law entrance exam must be done at least one week before the chosen scheduled exam date.
There are 100 slots per test date, and it will be on a first come first serve basis. Registration per test date will close once slots are full. Those who registered first will be prioritized. Please make sure that the testing requirements are complete in order to secure a slot on a particular test date. The Law entrance exam fee is PhP 930.00 for the in-person exam, and PhP 1,100 for the online exam. This fee is entirely separate and distinct from the application processing fee.
Applicants who take the Law Entrance Exam may defer application for one year. But the result of the Law Entrance exam is good only for two years.
Registration Process:
1. Pay the exam fee through these options:
a. Pay at XU Main campus Finance Office during business hours, Mondays to Fridays (dress code and protocols need to be observed for campus access. This may change depending on the IATF guidelines and/or University Finance Office advisory).
b. For bank payment, you may pay over the counter or through online fund transfer via the account details below:
Account No. BPI 9330-0016-55
BPI Account Name: Xavier University
2. Prepare the following requirements before you register for the exam:
a. scanned copy of testing fee receipt/proof of payment (please write your complete name on the receipt)
b. scanned copy of recent photo with white background
c. scanned copy of valid ID
3. Register and reserve a slot for the Law entrance exam through this link https://forms.gle/tFUYSn9xA5Ac35pz9
Please take note that after you have successfully uploaded your Proof of Payment and submitted your Registration Form, XU Finance Office will verify and process your payment within 2-3 working days. Check that your complete name is indicated in your receipt. NO INDICATED COMPLETE NAME ON THE RECEIPT, NO PROCESSING/CLEARING OF PAYMENT.
The results of the Law Entrance Exam will be sent to the applicants via email within 5-10 working days after they took the exam, but there is no need to submit the results to Xavier Ateneo Law as it will also receive the results. The Law entrance exam is a requirement for all applicants, whether as first year students or transferees. Only applicants who have submitted all requirements on or before June 9, 2023, including taking the Law entrance exam, will be considered for admission.
For queries regarding the Law entrance exam, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
2. SUBMIT ALL APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS NO LATER THAN JUNE 9, 2023.
1.1 Application form (to be accomplished no later than June 9, 2023)
Click on the link above and fill this up. This uses Google Forms, so you will need a Gmail address for access.
Note: please copy and save the link for the recommendation forms [within the application form] as you will need this link for your letters of recommendation.
1.2 Three (3) Letters of Recommendation (to be submitted no later than June 9, 2023)
None of the recommenders must be a relative within the 4th degree of consanguinity or affinity.
The applicant should (i) identify the three persons who will make the recommendation based on the criteria below; (ii) get their consent and email addresses, and (iii) send the link of the recommendation form (previously saved from the online application form) to the recommenders to accomplish.
a. Two (2) of the following who know the applicant’s abilities well:
i. Dean of the applicant’s school
ii. former professor(s)
iii. immediate supervisor(s)
b. One (1) person who knows the applicant well enough to provide a true character reference.
Note: It is the applicant's responsibility to check that the online recommendation form is accomplished by each recommender.
1.3 Personal Essay (to be submitted no later than June 9, 2023)
The essay must be at least 300 words, in word format, where the applicant introduces himself/herself, and shares the circumstances that led to his/her application to Xavier Ateneo Law.
Please take time to write and review your essay well for content and grammar. This will be used, among others, to gauge your proficiency in the English language.
Applicants are expected to write their own essays. Essays will be subjected to a plagiarism checker and word count. A plagiarized essay will lead to the denial of the application.
You can upload the personal essay here.
Note: If you want to have your essay checked, you can submit it preliminarily to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. three (3) weeks before the deadline, on or before May 19, 2023. The plagiarism rate should not score beyond 10% to be considered for admission.
1.4 Scanned photos of the following documents (to be submitted no later than June 9, 2023):
You are only allowed to upload the scanned documents in one sitting. Make sure you have all the required documents before you decide to upload them, at this link for first year applicants, and this link for transferees (Law students from another Law school applying to transfer to Xavier Ateneo Law).
a. 2”x2” ID Picture with white background (not more than 6 months old)
b. Birth certificate from PSA
c. Marriage Contract from PSA (for married women only)
d. Transcript of Records (if graduation is not yet reflected in the transcript, a true copy of grades and a certification of candidacy for Graduation). Upload Transcript of Records in one file or upload true copy of grades and certificate of candidacy for graduation in one file.
Please be reminded that the true copy of grades and the certificate of candidacy for graduation are for evaluation purposes only and serve as a substitute for the OFFICIAL TOR requirement. The official TOR where the graduation date is reflected should be submitted to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. once available.
For XU graduates: request for TOR takes 5 -14 working days
Additional Requirements:
e. Transfer Credentials or Honorable Dismissal (for non-XU graduates, or if last school attended is not XU, or transferees). This is the document you need to request from your previous school certifying that you are eligible for transfer to another educational institution. Upload Transcript of Records and Transfer Credentials or Honorable Dismissal in one file.
f. Recommendation Letter from the Director of Student Affairs from last school attended (for transferees only)
Please take note that (for non-XU graduates, or if last school attended is not XU, or transferees), the submission of Transfer Credentials or Honorable Dismissal is needed to proceed with the enrollment.
3. PAYMENT OF PhP900 PROCESSING FEE
After completing all the requirements in #1 & #2, please send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. on or before June 9, 2023, informing that you have (i) completed submission of requirements under #2; and (ii) when you took the Law entrance exam, or when you are scheduled to take the Law entrance exam. The Law Office will verify the same, and then send a confirmation email, with instructions on how to pay the Processing fee (PhP900.00).
The processing fee is non-refundable, but is not a guarantee that you will be admitted. Please think carefully before you make the payment.
4. INTERVIEW: PERSONAL, OR BY VIDEO CALL
Only applicants who have taken the entrance exam, and completed and submitted all requirements and payments will be interviewed.
Once the payment has been verified (within 2-3 working days after payment), and the results of the entrance exam are available, the applicant will receive an email of his/her interview schedule and instructions. Interviews may be waived for applicants who have demonstrated in their submissions the abilities, skills and aptitude necessary for the study of law.
Please note that interviews will be conducted either in-person or online on assigned dates within the interview period. Online interviews will be conducted via Google Meet or through Zoom. Each applicant is responsible for ensuring that he/she is available for the interview as scheduled, and has the necessary internet access and information & communications technology (ICT) device for the online interview. The applicant must also be in business attire during the interview, whether it be in-person or through video call.
Interviewed applicants will receive an email on the results of their application. Successful applicants will receive an email confirming eligibility for enrollment, and instructions on how to enroll.
All first year students are required to attend the orientation and introductory class on July 17-22, 2023.
Regular classes for School Year 2023-2024 begin on August 7, 2023.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Last day to pay for entrance exam: May 17 (for exam scheduled on May 27, 2023)
Entrance Exam dates: April 15, April 29, May 13 and May 27, 2023
Submission of application and admission requirements: March 20 – June 9, 2023
Deadline for submission of application and admission requirements: June 9, 2023
Interview Period: May 25 – June 30, 2023
Enrollment Period for First Years: July 3 – 8, 2023
Delayed Enrollment for First Years: July 10 – 12, 2023
Freshmen Orientation, Introduction to Law & Intro to Law Exam (mandatory for all First Year students)
Freshmen Orientation: July 17 – 18, 2023
Introduction to Law: July 19 – 20, 2023
Intro to Law Exam: July 22, 2023
Class Sessions: August 1 – December 7, 2023
For queries, please email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.