University of California

Transfer students will be eligible for admission consideration if they meet the following requirements:

Complete a minimum of 60 UC transferable semester units or 90 transferable quarter units.

• Obtain a minimum 2.4 GPA in your UC transferable coursework (2.8 for California non-residents). The GPA for admission can be significantly higher depending on the major and the applicant pool. 
• Be in good standing (2.0 or higher) at the last institution attended and at any UC campus where the student was enrolled in a regular term.
• Complete the 7-Course Pattern:
  • Two UC-transferable college courses in English composition (3 semester or 4–5 quarter units each) and
  • One transferable college course in mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning (3 semester or 4–5 quarter units).
  • Complete four UC-transferable college courses chosen from at least two of the following subject areas: arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, physical and biological sciences.

The UC gives priority consideration to California Community College students who meet the above requirements and complete major preparation coursework prior to transfer with a strong GPA.

Students who complete the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) pattern prior to transferring to the UC system typically meet the 7-Course Pattern requirement listed above. Students are strongly recommended to meet with a counselor to discuss additional requirements for competitive admissions based on major and campus choice.

Students with less than 60 units have limited transfer options within the UC system.

Many UC campuses, such as UCSD, require that students be admitted at the junior level. Students should review the specific policies of the university they are interested in to confirm their eligibility and meet with a counselor.

Depending on the student's campus choice and major, they may be encouraged to complete a General Education pattern such as the IGETC.

Note: Not all applicants who meet the above minimum UC admission requirements will be offered admission.Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a counselor to discuss requirements for competitive admissions based on major and campus choice.

At minimum, transfer students will need to complete at least 60 transferable units in order to transfer at the junior-level. (Many UC campuses only accept applicants at the junior-level.)

Transfer units generally are made up of:

• General Education courses. Each college and university at every UC campus has its own set of general education (GE) requirements. Students attending California Community Colleges (CCC) can complete most (and in many cases all) of the lower division GE courses at the community college.
  • Students who matriculated at a CCC prior to Fall 2025 can meet the lower division GE requirements by following IGETC, or the new Cal-GETC Pattern.
  • Students starting in Fall 2025 or later may follow the Cal-GETC.

• Major Preparation Courses. Major preparation courses are the courses established by the UC campuses in order for students to effectively prepare for and advance to upper division coursework in the major after transferring.
  • Students are strongly encouraged to complete all articulated major preparation courses to prepare for transfer and to be competitive for admissions.
  • Some colleges will not admit students who are missing major preparation courses for specific majors.

ASSIST.org can help you find the major preparation courses for your major. Students are also encouraged to reference their respective college catalog.

Students who have identified a major but who've not decided on a UC campus, may benefit from following UC Transfer Pathways. UC Transfer Pathways provides a single pathway for a variety of majors so that students can plan their courses efficiently. Speak with your counselor to see if this might be an option for you.

Electives. Students who will not acculumate 60 transferable units through their GE courses and major preparationm, will be required to complete transferable elective courses in order to transfer at the junior-level.

Your transfer coursework may be split into a "pie" similar to this depending upon your major. Some majors will require more prep-for-major courses, leaving no need for electives; others may call for fewer prep-for-major courses, requiring students to take transferable elective units in order to meet minimum admission requirements for transfer. 

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Making Your Course Selections

• Many students begin with math, English, and general education courses, and begin adding major preparation courses by their second semester (sometimes sooner). All UC campuses encourage students to complete math and English courses as early as possible.
• Students planning to transfer into majors with extensive preparation, such as engineering or the biological, physical, and natural sciences, should prioritize completing major-specific coursework first when possible.
• For some students, especially TAG applicants, certain colleges will require that one course in transferable math, and one English Composition course be completed two semesters before transfer. In most cases, UC campuses expect all remaining transfer coursework to be finished by the end of the spring term before a fall transfer.
• Be realistic when planning your courses for the semester. Your schedule of classes should support your goals, and also honor the many life roals that you play.
• Work with your counselor to create an educational plan that will ensure you're taking the right courses, at the right time to match your goals and lifestyle.
  
  
  

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How long does it take to transfer?

Transfer students usually spend 2 or more years completing the necessary coursework and preparing for their intended major. The amount of time required can vary based on factors like whether students attend part-time or full-time, take summer courses or intersession classes, their chosen major, availability of classes, and other personal circumstances.

For example, students going into STEM fields often have more extensive major preparation, which may require additional time to complete.

Note: Your diploma won’t indicate how long it took you to earn your degree! Focus on a pace that fits your needs, balancing academics, personal life, and work commitments. Remember, the most important degree is the one you complete!

The UC Transfer Admission Planner (UC TAP) is an online tool designed to help California Community College students plan and track their coursework for transfer to a UC campus.

Through the UC Planner you may:

• Organize your academic history and see if you're on track
• Receive updates from UC campuses based on your program interests
• Transfer information from UC TAP directly into your UC application
• Complete a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) application

Creating a UC TAP account early can help you stay on track and maximize your transfer opportunities!

Start your UC TAP account today at uctap.universityofcalifornia.edu.

Students are eligible to participate in the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program as long as it is available for their campus and major and they meet TAG requirements.

Quick Facts about the UC TAG:

• Six of the nine UC campuses offer a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) in particular majors to California Community College students who meet specific requirements. 
• The six UC TAG campuses are:  
  • Davis, Irvine, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, and Santa Cruz
• Students may only apply to a TAG agreement with one UC campus.
• Once the TAG is submitted, students can apply for general transfer admission at multiple UC campuses using the UC application and choose to accept admission at any school where they are admitted.
• Students must meet all requirements in order to be admitted through TAG.
• Students must submit the TAG agreement in September for the following fall and May for the following winter/spring term. (Winter/spring TAG options are very limited.)
• UC TAG requires that math and English be completed early on for transfer students; see TAG Matrix below. 

View the TAG Matrix

 

You may be guaranteed admission into UCSD if you meet the requirements of UniversityLink (U-LINK).

You are eligible for UniversityLink if your family income is less than $40,000 per year and you are a high school senior planning to attend one of the UniversityLink local partner community colleges; or your family income is less than $40,000 per year and you are a first-year student at one of the UniversityLink local partner community colleges. Applicants are required to complete a FAFSA to determine income confirmation.

If you are not eligible to file a FAFSA but qualify for AB540, you should submit the California Dream Application. You are not eligible if you have completed college coursework at a non-partner college after graduation from high school or after completion of your GED.

-OR-

You are also eligible for UniversityLink if you are a student veteran, active duty service member or current/former foster youth attending one of the UniversityLink local partner community colleges, regardless of first-time college status. You may participate in UniversityLink at any time.

Students must sign a U-LINK contract within their 1st year of community college (other than the exception noted above).

Review additional U-LINK requirements here.

The Transfer Process to the University of California typically begins one year before students intend to transfer. Fall applicants can begin preparing their application as early as August, a year before their planned transfer.

Winter/Spring applicants should apply between July 1-31, in the summer before planning to transfer. (Winter/Spring options are limited to Merced, Riverside and Santa Cruz. See your counselor for more information.)

UC Dates & Deadlines for Fall Transfer Students*

*Housing: Since campus housing is highly impacted and assigned first-come, first-served, it is recommended that you submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR), housing contract or application, and first housing payment as early as possible.

*This is a general transfer timeline. Some campus timelines may vary. Please check your specific campus for exact deadlines.

UC Transfer Timeline   

The application for admission for all 9 of the University of California campuses is the same and can be found on the UC website.

Note: All campuses require Personal Insight Questions (PIQ) as part of the application process. It's a good idea to begin working on those in the months (or earlier) prior to submitting your application. 

Note: Some programs (i.e., music, dance, film, etc) may require supplemental materials as part of the application process. Please review the college and major website for additional information.

Follow the UC Transfer Application Guide for support in completing your UC transfer application. Find more resources on our UC Application Hub page.

During the fall and winter/spring application cycles, the Transfer Center hosts a variety of workshops and application labs to assist you in completing your application.

Many of the UC campuses will host virtual and in-person application workshops to support students throughout the application process. 

We recommend that you view our events page periodically so that you don't miss out on application support and other helpful events.

The UC places limitations on the amount of credit students may transfer in and earn in specific subjects.

Students may transfer up to 70 semester (105 quarter) units of lower-division coursework from any institution(s). This limit does not apply to units earned at a UC. Additional coursework beyond this limit may still fulfill subject requirements.

Some campuses and programs may not admit students who exceed 80 semester (120 quarter) units when combining lower- and upper-division coursework, including UC units.

*Students completing all lower-division coursework at a community college are not at risk of denial due to excessive units.

Units earned through AP, IB, or A-Level exams are also exempt from unit limitations.

No more than 14 semester units may be taken as Pass/No Pass for credit for the UC.

Students are strongly encouraged to take courses in math and English, and courses that are part of the preparation for major for a letter grade. In most cases a letter grade will be required for those courses.

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Below are some other common limitations:

• PE Activity courses combined are granted up to 4 semester units of credit; PE Theory courses are granted up to 8 semester units of credit
• Students are allowed up to a maximum of 8 semester units of ESL/ESOL courses.
• Students may take one series in Physics.
• Maximum credit for Math 119 and Psych 258 is 1 course.
• PERG 110, 120 and 130 combine for a maximum credit of 1 course.

There are other limitations relating to credit in the sciences and other subjects. It is important that you work with a counselor to plan your courses effectively to maximize your credit.