University of California
Transferring to a UC
For students interested in applying to a University of California (UC), it is important to understand the transfer process. Students transferring from a California Community College are generally expected to complete their freshman and sophomore (lower-division) coursework before transferring.
In addition to general education, UC campuses place strong emphasis on completing
major preparation courses before transfer. Some students may also be eligible for the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program, which offers guaranteed admission to certain UC campuses if specific requirements
are met.
Students are strongly encouraged to meet with a counselor and use tools like ASSIST.org to ensure the correct courses are completed for their major and desired CSU campus.
To be eligible to transfer into a University of California (UC) as an upper-division transfer student, applicants must complete the following minimum requirements:
- General Education (GE) requirements – Courses that cover a broad range of subjects (such as English, math, science, social sciences, and humanities) such as the California General Education Transfer Curriculum (Cal-GETC)
- Major Preparation requirements – Courses required for the intended major. Completing as many of these as possible greatly strengthens admission chances, as UC campuses give priority to students who are well-prepared in their field of study.
- Elective courses – Additional transferable courses taken to help students reach the minimum 60 transferable unit requirement.
Students must complete:
- The following course, each with a grade of "C" or better
- Written Communications (English)
- Critical Thinking
- Communications
- Mathematics
GPA Requirement: A minimum 2.4 GPA in UC-transferable coursework (higher for competitive or impacted campuses/majors).
Major Preparation: Some campuses and programs require specific lower-division major preparation courses in addition to the GE pattern.
Deadlines: All minimum transfer requirements must be completed by the end of the spring term prior to fall admission (or the end of summer for spring admission, if available).
Advising: Students are strongly encouraged to meet regularly with a counselor and use ASSIST.org to verify major requirements for their intended UC campus.
The UC Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) program offers qualifying California Community College students guaranteed admission to one of the following six participating UC campuses:
UC Davis
UC Irvine
UC Merced
UC Riverside
UC Santa Barbara
UC Santa Cruz
Each UC campus has very specific TAG requirements that you can learn more about by visiting the links above.
Applying for TAG:
- Complete the Transfer Admission Planner & TAG application. (Note: The TAG application is submitted within the Transfer Admission Planner)
- Submit your TAG application September 1 - 30 of the year before you will transfer.
- Submit the UC admission application October 1 - November 30 of the year before you will transfer.
The Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan is a University of California financial aid program that helps make a UC education more affordable for California residents by covering UC systemwide tuition and fees for eligible students.
Eligibility:
- California residents who are U.S. Citizens, eligible non-citizens, or meet AB540 eligibility criteria
- Family income below $100,000
- Have financial need, as determined for federal need-based aid
- Submit a FAFSA or California Dream Act Application by the priority deadline
What the Program Covers:
- UC systemwide tuition and fees are covered through a combination of grants and scholarships
- The award applies for up to four years for freshmen and two years for transfer students, as long as eligibility requirements are met
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