UC Application Timeline
Application OpensAugust 1
Submission BeginsOctober 1
Submission DeadlineNovember 30
The UC Application is open starting Aug. 1st. You can submit your UC application starting Oct. 1st. The deadline to submit is Nov. 30th.
To begin your UC Application, use your
CaliforniaColleges.edu account (opens in a new tab), which can import your courses and grades onto your UC application.
To be eligible to apply, students must complete their A-G requirements and have a minimum GPA of 3.0. Review the information below to learn more about each UC campus admission data.
IMPORTANT NOTE: UC's are now "test blind", meaning that they will not use the SAT/ACT for admission decisions.
Helpful UC Application Resources
UC First-Year Selection: Selective Majors and Admissions Policies
Accessible remediated version of the August 2026 Quick Reference Guide section. Content has been structured with headings and lists for screen reader navigation.
Does applying Undeclared have any bearing on an applicant's chances of admission?
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Berkeley: Applying Undeclared in the College of Letters and Science does not affect admission.
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Davis: Applying Undeclared or Exploratory does not affect admission.
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Irvine: Applying Undeclared does not negatively affect admission.
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Los Angeles: Undeclared in Letters and Science does not affect admission; Undeclared-Engineering is impacted by space limits.
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Merced: Does not affect admission.
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Riverside: Does not affect admission; not available for certain professional schools.
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San Diego: Does not affect admission, but selective-major applicants should apply directly to the major.
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Santa Barbara: Available only in Letters and Science.
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Santa Cruz: Does not affect admission; Computer Science applicants must apply directly to the major.
For which programs is the intended major a factor in admission?
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Berkeley: Chemistry, Computing/Data Science/Society, Engineering, Environmental Design, Haas Business.
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Davis: Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Engineering, Letters and Science.
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Irvine: All majors.
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Los Angeles: Arts and Architecture, Engineering, Music, Nursing, Theater/Film/Television.
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Merced: None.
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Riverside: Admission based on selected major.
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San Diego: Reviewed for first-choice major; some engineering majors are high demand.
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Santa Barbara: Creative Studies and Engineering admit by specific major.
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Santa Cruz: Review same regardless of major, though some majors are high demand.
Does the campus consider students for an alternate major?
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Berkeley: No.
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Davis: Yes.
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Irvine: Yes, space permitting.
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Los Angeles: Only first-choice review guaranteed.
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Merced: Yes.
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Riverside: Yes.
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San Diego: Yes.
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Santa Barbara: Yes, if space available.
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Santa Cruz: Yes.
Majors requiring auditions or supplemental materials
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Berkeley: Certain Haas School programs require supplemental materials.
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Davis: Landscape Architecture requires later departmental application.
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Irvine: Dance and Music auditions; Art portfolio.
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Los Angeles: Professional schools require supplemental materials.
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San Diego: Optional portfolio/audition for arts programs.
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Santa Barbara: Creative Studies application; some arts auditions/portfolios.
Most selective majors
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Berkeley: Chemistry, Engineering, Haas Business, high-demand L&S majors.
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Davis: Animal Science, Business, Design, Psychology, Engineering.
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Irvine: Business, Nursing, ICS, Engineering.
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Los Angeles: Professional school majors.
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Merced: Natural Sciences and Engineering.
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Riverside: Engineering and Natural/Agricultural Sciences.
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San Diego: Bioengineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Public Health and others.
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Santa Barbara: Engineering and Creative Studies.
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Santa Cruz: Computer Science.
Comprehensive review method
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Berkeley: Holistic review.
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Davis: Holistic review.
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Irvine: Holistic review.
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Los Angeles: Holistic review.
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Merced: Fixed-weight review 70% academic, 30% nonacademic.
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Riverside: Fixed-weight Academic Index.
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San Diego: Holistic review.
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Santa Barbara: Holistic review.
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Santa Cruz: Holistic review.
