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Freshman requirements

Applying for admission Transfer requirements

International applicants
As an international student, you may apply to UC as either a freshman or as a transfer
Applying for admission
student, depending on your level of education.
Freshman: Additional information by
country
English language proficiency

Admission requirements for freshman Passports & visas

applicants Living accommodations

Health care & insurance
Freshman applicants are students who have:
AP & Exam credits
Completed their secondary education and have earned a certificate of completion
which enables them to be admitted to a university in their home country
Never been enrolled as a university student

UC has slightly different admission requirements for applicants who are international Good to know
students. If you're applying as a freshman, you must:
In the United States, the academic record is
called a "transcript." In your country it may be
1. Complete 15 year-long academic courses with a 3.4 GPA:
called something else, such as statement of
2 years of history (in place of U.S. History, history of your country) marks, statement of results, relève du notes,
4 years of composition and literature in language in which you are instructed record of learning, or record of achievement.
3 years (four years recommended) of college-preparatory mathematics that include
the topics covered in elementary and advanced algebra and two- and three-
dimensional geometry.* (Approved integrated math courses may be used to fulfill
part or all of this requirement)
2 years of college-preparatory science, including or integrating topics that provide
fundamental knowledge in two of these three subjects: biology, chemistry, or
physics. One year of approved interdisciplinary or earth and space sciences
coursework can meet one year of the requirement. Computer Science, Engineering,
Applied Science courses can be used in area D as an additional science (i.e., third
year or beyond).
2 years of a second language
1 yearlong course (or 2 semesters) of visual and performing arts
1 additional course from any subject areas above

*Math courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades/intermediate school may be used to
fulfill part of this requirement. Integrated math courses (e.g. Math I, Math II, etc.) with
geometry content may be equated with a standard course in geometry.

2. Meet other requirements specific to your country

3. Demonstrate English-language Proficiency

Admission requirements for transfer

students
Transfer applicants are students who:

Are/were enrolled in a regular session (fall, winter or spring) at a college or

university after high school/secondary school

If you're applying as an international transfer student, you must meet UC's admission
requirements for transfer applicants.

Keep in mind: As part of the 7-course pattern, you’re required to take two transferable
college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) in English composition. UC does not
accept English composition courses from international universities where English is not the
language of instruction.

When to apply (freshman and transfer)

Application filing periods
Fall quarter/semester November 1-30
Winter quarter/spring July 1-31
semester
Spring quarter October 1-31

UC Berkeley and UC Merced are on the semester system calendar. All other campuses are on
the quarter system calendar. Not all campuses are open in winter and spring. Check available
majors before applying.

You must pay an $80 application fee for each campus to which you apply.

Academic records

Filling out the application

When you apply to UC, you are required to report your complete academic history within the
UC application. You don't need to submit your academic records to UC at this point, but you
should refer to them as you fill out the application to ensure the information you enter is
accurate.

Freshman applicants

Record all courses and marks/grades earned exactly as reported by the international school
— whether as numbers, letters, percentages or words.

If you sat or will sit for external exams (e.g. IGCSE/GCSE/GCE exams, Year X/XII Board
exams, SPM, etc.), report your subjects and grades/scores on the International Exams page of
the application, under the Test Scores tab (step 6 of 7). If you sat for the same subject more
than once, you must report the grades earned from each sitting.

Transfer applicants

List hours, credits or units for coursework as noted on your academic records if their
coursework is not reported as quarter or semester units, and record the marks/grades earned
exactly as reported by the international school — whether as numbers, letters, percentages
or words.

If you sat for GCE A-level exams, report your subjects and grades on the International Exams
page of the application, under the Test Scores tab (step 6 of 7).

After you apply

Sometimes it takes a significant amount of time for us to receive records from schools
abroad. To help speed consideration of your application, we recommend that you make
legible photocopies of your official academic records. After you submit your undergraduate
application, you may be requested to send your copies to the Office of Undergraduate
Admissions at each campus to which you have applied.

If you are admitted, we must receive an official academic record directly from each
institution you attended, beginning with grade nine for freshman applicants and up to and
including the school or college/university you currently attend for transfer applicants. Each
academic record must list the:

dates you attended the institution;

titles of courses and examinations you completed;
grades (marks) you received;
credit, hours or units earned;
any degree or diploma you may have received. Diplomas or certificates you received
for completing government and university examinations must show the subjects
you passed and the grades received.

Letters of recommendation
You should not submit letters of recommendation for the UC application. However, some
campuses/majors may require letters of recommendation as part of a supplemental
application review. Be sure to check for an email message from a campus.

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