University of California

Required tests for freshman applicants

Students applying for admission as freshmen must submit scores on an approved test of mathematics, language arts and writing — either the ACT Plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test.

While we don't require SAT Subject Tests, some campuses recommend certain exams for specific majors.

These tests must be taken no later than December of the last year of secondary school.

If you are currently residing or attending school in a country where the ACT Plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test is offered, you are required to take one of the tests, self-report your scores on your application and submit official test results to UC by the stated application deadlines.

We are sympathetic to the fact that students living in certain countries where these tests are not offered (e.g., China, the Islamic Republic of Iran) are challenged to fulfill this requirement. However, given the large number of applications we receive from students throughout the world, we very rarely make exceptions to the requirement.

When to apply

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

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

Academic records

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

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

Transfer Applicants: List hours, credits or units for coursework as noted on your transcripts 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.

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 and up to and including the school or college/university you currently attend. 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.

Statement of explanation

Occasionally, prospective students aren't able to provide adequate records, have unexplained absences in their records or have been out of school for a significant length of time. In those instances, we ask that you help us understand your situation by detailing it in a Statement of Explanation.

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 requesting a letter of recommendation, and/or check for specific majors at the campuses to see if your intended major requires an audition, submission of a portfolio or supplemental application, specific prerequisite coursework, test scores or GPA.