Transfer Planning


University of California

California State University

Independent/Out-of-State Universities

Transfer Admission Agreement/Guarantee

University of California

Minimum Eligibility Requirements* for Admission as Transfer Student

Click on any of the questions below for more information.

What is a transfer student to the UC?
What is a California community college transfer student to the UC?
Do California community college transfer students have priority for admission over other transfer applicants?
What are the minimum eligibility requirements for transfer admission to UC from a California community college?
If I fulfill the minimum requirements listed will I be guaranteed admission to the UC campus of my choice?
Does the UC require a language other than English for transfer admission as a junior?
What about the UC commitment to accommodate all students who meet minimum eligibility requirements?
What general advice can you give me regarding planning for transfer to the UC?
Where can I find application, transfer and financial information for the UC?
Application Filing Periods

What is a transfer student to the UC?

• Any student who graduates from high school and has been enrolled in a regular session at another college or university after the summer of his/her high school graduation.

• A student who meets this definition cannot disregard his or her college record and apply as a freshman to the UC.

What is a California community college transfer student to the UC?

• Must have been enrolled at one or more California community colleges for at least two terms (excluding summer sessions), and

• The last college before admission to a UC campus must be a California community college (excluding summer sessions), and

• Must complete at least 45 quarter (30 semester) UC-transferable units at one or more California community colleges

Do California community college transfer students have priority for admission over other transfer applicants?

Yes, the University gives junior-level community college students first priority over other transfer applicants including those from four-year institutions and UC's own intercampus transfer students.

What are the minimum eligibility requirements for transfer admission to UC from a California community college?

The following are the minimum eligibility criteria for admission to UC as a transfer* student:

• Complete 90 UC transferable quarter units with a 2.4 GPA (2.8 for California nonresidents) or better. No more than 14 semester/21 quarter units may be taken as "Pass/Not Pass".

NOTE: Although De Anza courses numbered 1-49 are generally transferable to the UC, there are exceptions and limitations. Check ASSIST for a listing of all UC transferable courses and limitations. Go to www.assist.org; select the "Academic Year" that you completed the course; select "UC Transferable Courses"; select appropriate "Department" or "All Departments"; view report - pay close attention to any symbol/s appearing on the left side of the course in question and the footnote/s appearing at the end of the page.

• Complete the course pattern requirements listed below, with a grade of "C" or better in each course. Check ASSIST for a list of approved courses. Go to www.assist.org; select the "Academic Year" that you completed the course; select "UC Transfer Admission Eligibility Courses."
  
  • Two UC transferable English Composition courses (3 sem, 4-5 qtr units each)**
    • Do not include English as a Second Language (ESL) courses
  
  
• One UC transferable college math course

• Four UC transferable courses (3 sem/4-5 qtr units each) from at least two of the following subject areas:
  • Arts and Humanities
  • Behavioral and Social Sciences
  • Physical and Biological Sciences
    

A student who completes the Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) prior to transferring to the UC, will meet the seven-course pattern outlined above. It is important to note, that completion of IGETC is not a minimum eligibility requirement for admission to the UC system. For more information, visit www.assist.org.

*If you plan to transfer based on eligibility to the UC out of high school, additional guidelines and limitations are available at:
Minimum Admission Requirements for Transfer Students (Lower-Division Transfer)

**Completing English Proficiency requirements for students with international records, click on the link below:
English Proficiency for Students from other Countries

Does the UC require a language other than English for transfer admission as a junior?

The UC does not require completion of a language other than English for admission (i.e., to fulfill the minimum eligibility requirements for admission) as an upper division transfer student from the community college. However, specific colleges or programs at UC campuses may require a language other than English as part of their breadth or major requirements. Students who plan to complete IGETC to fulfill lower division GE requirements must complete a language other than English. See UC General Education.

If I fulfill the minimum requirements listed will I be guaranteed admission to the UC campus of my choice?

Unfortunately, no. The University makes every effort to find a place on one of its campuses for all California residents who meet the minimum admission requirements and apply on time. In recent years, however, the number of applicants to many campuses and majors has greatly exceeded the spaces available. Consequently, students may not be accommodated at their first choice campus or major. Admitted students are generally the most competitive in the applicant pool. Students make themselves more competitive by being well prepared, completing as many lower division course requirements as possible and earning the highest grades possible.

What about the UC commitment to accommodate all students who meet minimum eligibility requirements?

Mindful of its mission as a public institution, UC guarantees a place on one of its campuses to all eligible California residents who apply on time. Keep in mind, though, that competitive campuses and programs look for applicants who exceed the minimum requirements when they select their students. When campuses receive applications from more students than they can admit, they use a process called comprehensive review to make their selections.

When a campus has to choose among qualified students, it applies standards that are more demanding than the minimum requirements. Using the comprehensive review process, admissions officers look beyond the required test scores and grades to evaluate applicants' academic achievements in light of the opportunities available to them and the capacity each student demonstrates to contribute to the intellectual life of the campus. Because the applicant pool is different every year, the level of academic performance necessary will vary.

What general advice can you give me regarding planning for transfer to the UC?

• Complete English and Math requirements as early as possible. If at all possible, complete these courses prior to applying.

• While completing minimum admission requirements, focus on completing major preparation course work whenever possible.
  
  
• For fall transfers, complete all courses by end of spring quarter prior to transfer.
  
  
• Apply to several UC campuses (the filing fee is $60.00 per campus; fee waivers are available to those who qualify). The rate of acceptance increases significantly for students who apply to several UC campuses. More than 90 percent of students who apply to four or more campuses are admitted to one of their choices!

Which UC campuses offer Guaranteed Admission to De Anza students?

UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara^ & UC Santa Cruz. Go to Guaranteed Admission for guidelines, timelines and procedures to submit a Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) contract.

^De Anza College students do not need to sign a formal TAG contract for UC Santa Barbara. All De Anza College applicants will be automatically screened for TAG criteria by UCSB. TAG criteria is available on-line at www.assist.org (Select De Anza-UCSB and look under "By Major".)

Where can I find application, transfer and financial information for the UC?

* To determine whether a campus and/or program is accepting applications for winter or spring, go to:
UC - Open/Closed Majors by Campus

Applications are available in Counseling and Transfer Centers or apply online at: Apply to UC
Additional guidelines and suggestions regarding the application available at the links below:

UC Application for Transfer Students
Personal Statement Prompt

Caution: The final responsibility for a successful transfer program rests with the student. Resources online and at De Anza College are designed to assist you in getting as accurate information as possible. This information changes frequently, however, and can impact your admission to the university. It is highly advised that you meet periodically with advisors at both De Anza College and at the prospective university to confirm your choice of classes and develop an educational plan.

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