A quota course refers to a degree program with limited slots, while a non-quota course has no limited slots. There is a popular belief that choosing a non-quota course will increase your chances of entering UP. This is false because before you are considered for a degree program slot, you must pass the cut-off UPG (University Predicted Grade) for each campus. Here are the cut-off grades for each UP campus based on the UPCAT 2019: Note: The cut-off grades for each campus differ every year. Be sure to contact the local offices of the constituent university for more information. When applying for the UPCAT, you must indicate your first and second choices for a degree program and campus. There is no sense in choosing a non-quota course as your first choice if you don’t meet the campus cut-off grade. Therefore, you should plan out and choose your campus wisely.  If you pass the campus cut-off grade but do not get a slot in your desired course, your status will be Degree Program With Available Slot (DPWAS). This means you qualify for that campus, but you will need to find a degree program with available slots. Related: How to Choose a Course in UP: A Guide to Quota and Non-Quota Courses