Visitor Policies

Viewing Schedules / Policies

The Museum gallery, located at the mezzanine floor of the UST Main building, is used for temporary thematic exhibit, lectures and performances on culture and the arts. Museum gallery is open from Tuesday to Saturday 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Performances and opening ceremonies for events may be extended up to 10:00 P.M. The gallery is closed on national and university holidays, reservation must be made at least one week before extended tour date.

Photography and Video Recording

Souvenir shots for personal, non -commercial use only and without flash and tripod  is allowed. Permission to take video recording must be secured in advance and in writing from the office of the Museum Director.

Photo/Video Documentation by Non-UST Museum Individual

Concerned with its role in the more effective dissemination of cultural and artistic information, the UST Museum may allow photo documentation by interested party under certain guidelines and conditions.

They are the following:

1. A Letter of Request addressed to the Director or Assistant Director must be submitted to the Office of the Museum.
2. Letter of Request should contain or specify the collection to be documented/photographed, the purpose of the documentation and the proposed date of visit for the documentation.
3. The photo-documentation session should be scheduled in such a way that it does not disrupt any activity of the Museum.
4. For Painting and other objects that are very sensitive to light, the use of flash is not allowed. Should other lighting system be used, it should be measured first by proper light meter not exceeding the optimum allowable lux and time exposure.
5. The UST Museum should be acknowledged in all forms of publicities, printed and electronic source.
6. Pictures or video clips should not be used commercially.
7. For the sake of maintenance, the museum charges Five Hundred Pesos (P 500.00) per object, limited only within the duration of one day’s working hours.
8. The Museum reserves the right to disapprove any request, especially when the object requested is in bad condition, or any reason that may antagonize its interest.
9. After having read the guidelines, the interested party may append his/her signature to signify his/her agreement. This will be submitted together with the letter mentioned in Number 1.

Research

The UST Museum, aware of being a University Museum gives premium to the value of research. When research involves the museum, it is classified, with regard to materials, into the following:

1. interview
2. library materials, such as books, and other printed publications
3. primary records and documents, such as letters, inventories, catalogues, etc.
4. laboratory materials
5. objects

The UST Museum prefers to give priority to researcher who is a bona fide member of the University of Santo Tomas, but it is also open to others who are non-members for the interest of valuing the cultural heritage of humanity. Thus, researchers are categorized into the following levels.

1. Undergraduate Student – UST
2. Graduate Student – UST
3. Professional – UST
4. Undergraduate Student – Non-UST
5. Graduate Student – Non-UST
6. Professional – Non-UST

All types of researchers must secure the research form from the Office of the Director, where he will specify the title, the objective, the scope, the length, the materials of research, and the proposed dates.
The recommendation and endorsement required are the following:

1. Undergraduate student of UST – must be duly recommended and endorsed by the Adviser
2. Graduate Student of UST must be recommended and endorsed by his/her Adviser
3. Employee/Professional of UST must be recommended by his/her Department Head
4. Undergraduate non-UST Student must be recommended by his/her Dean
5. Graduate non-UST Student must be recommended by his/her Dean
6. Professional outside UST must be recommended by the head of his present institution and by a bonafide member of UST.

Accessibility to the materials solely depends on the discretion of the Director, but normally the following procedures apply:

1. For interview, the Director directs the researcher to the person concerned based on previous appointment.
2. Undergraduate students are allowed access only to interview and library materials, subject to existing policy.
3. Other groups of researchers may be allowed access to the other materials, but only with the close assistance of a museum staff member duly nominated by the Director.
4. No one is allowed to bring any material outside the Museum’s legitimate area.
5. Copying of any document must have the explicit approval of the Director.
6. It is the obligation of any researcher to comply with the existing policies of the museum, including financial responsibility.
7. Members of the UST are free to use the facilities, but must pay the cost of copying of printed materials, use of laboratory materials and overtime pay, if there is a need, of the assisting staff member. Re-application is required after six (6) months.
8. Non-UST members, except interview, must pay a research fee of P100.00 for students and P500.00 for professionals. They must also pay the cost of copying of printed materials, use of laboratory materials and overtime pay, if there is a need, of the assisting staff. Payment will be valid only within six continuous months, which will be indicated in the receipt and research form.

Admission Charges

Thomasians (Administrative officials, Central Seminary, Center for Campus Ministry, Department Units, Non-Academic Units, Students, University Guests and Alumni) are free of admission charges upon presentation of UST I. D. or Alumni Card.

For Non-Thomasian, the fees are as follows:

Professional: PhP. 50.00
Student: Php. 30.00

SUPPORT THE MUSEUM The preservation of the UST Museum’s collections from the ravages of time can only be made possible with the help of our generous friends and benefactors who share our vision and concern for our national treasures.