Quick Reference Guide to UC Admissions - August 2026

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver

Quick Reference Guide to UC Admissions presents a structured overview of the University of California’s admission requirements and selection policies, including how information may be updated during the year through the UC admissions website. It introduces the UC system’s mission and scale, then points readers to campus general catalogs for course and major emphasis details. The guide outlines first-year eligibility, minimum requirements, A-G subject requirements, international or mixed records, and language proficiency documentation.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages77

Reading Time3 h 14 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Resources for counselors

First-year admission

Who is a first-year applicant?

Minimum admission requirements

Subject requirement

Options for meeting UC’s A-G subject requirements

International or mixed records: Meeting A-G subject requirements

Documenting proficiency in a language other than English

Seventh and eighth grade courses

Honors-level high school courses

Summer courses

College courses

Dual enrollment coursework

Principal certification

Pass-along credit

Repeated courses

D and F grades, Pass, Credit and Incompletes

Grade point average requirement

Calculating the UC GPA

INTRODUCTION The University of California opened its doors in 1869 with just 10 faculty members and 40 students. Today, the UC system has more than 300,000 students and 266,000 faculty and staff, with 2.5 million alumni living and working around the world. UC has built an international reputation of academic excellence while staying true to its mission of research, education and public service. California students remain our top priority, with the state’s residents making up more than 84 percent of our undergraduatesand nearly one-third transferring from a California community college. Almost 40 percent are the first in their families to attend college, and over half of California undergraduates have their tuition fully covered with grants and scholarships. And our students earn their degrees in a timely fashion, averaging just over four years for first-years and two years for transfers. While each of our campuses is unique, students can be assured of a vibrant intellectual community at any UC campus, whether they study the arts, engineering, humanities, math, science or social science. Our faculty are the drivers behind innovations in their fields, and they bring that knowledge and the thirst for breaking the boundaries of what we know about ourselves and the universe into their classrooms . This booklet offers an overview of our admission requirements and selection policies and addresses some of the areas about which we receive the most questions . When information changes during the year, it is updated on the UC admissions website. QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO UC ADMISSIONS AUGUST 2026 2 INTRODUCTION In addition, each UC campus’s general catalog is an excellent source of information. The catalogs provide detailed descriptions of required courses and the emphasis of each major (e.g. , preparation for graduate study or for entry into a career or profession), along with information about how admission policies, such as comprehensive review, are applied at each campus . Catalogs are available online: UC Berkeley UC Davis UC Irvine UCLA UC Merced UC Riverside UC San Diego UC Santa Barbara UC Santa Cruz QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO UC ADMISSIONS AUGUST 2026 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction..................................................................................................... 2 Resources for counselors......................................................................... 8 First-year admission................................................................................. 10 Who is a first-year applicant?.................................................................. 10 Minimum admission requirements...................................................... 10 Subject requirement.............................................................................. 10 Options for meeting UC’s A-G subject requirements ................................................................ 11 International or mixed records: Meeting A-G subject requirements ................................................................ 14 Documenting proficiency in a language other than English .................................................................................... 15 Seventh and eighth grade courses........................................... 16 Honors-level high school courses ............................................ 16 Summer courses ................................................................................ 16 College courses .................................................................................. 16 Dual enrollment coursework....................................................... 16 Meeting A-G subject requirements with [U.S. college/university courses](U.S. college/university courses ........................................... 18)[ ...........................................](U.S. college/university courses ........................................... 18)[ 18

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Quick Reference Guide to UC Admissions?

It provides an overview of UC admission requirements and selection policies, and highlights topics that commonly generate questions. Updated details during the year are shared through the UC admissions website.

How does UC describe California students’ priorities in admissions?

California residents are a top priority, with state residents making up most undergraduates and a significant portion transferring from California community colleges. The guide also notes support through grants and scholarships and emphasizes timely degree completion.

Where can students find detailed course and major information for each UC campus?

Each campus’s general catalog offers detailed descriptions of required courses and major emphasis. The guide lists catalogs for UC Berkeley, UC Davis, UC Irvine, UCLA, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC San Diego, UC Santa Barbara, and UC Santa Cruz.

Sep 14, 2026

Uploaded by Oliver