CCC to UC
The pathway from a CCC to a University of California Campus
Almost a third of UC students started at a California Community College.
Learn about the CCC to UC Pathway here.
UC-wide Upper Division Transfer Basic Requirements
All upper-division transfer students must fulfill these requirements. These requirements apply to all Transfer Pathways including TAG. More requirements beyond these may apply for certain colleges, majors, and pathways.
Freshman/Sophomore transfers do not need to fulfill these requirements, other requirements apply.
Who is an Upper Division Transfer?
Click here to learn more about which transfers qualify as juniors/upper-division.
Minimum of 60 semester/90 quarter units of UC-transferable coursework completed by admission
- Only 14 semester/21 quarter units of this credit may be taken Pass/No Pass (exceptions apply if your university only offers Pass/No Pass credit)
- These units must be completed with a GPA of at least 2.4 (2.8 for non-CA residents)
Complete the Seven Course Pattern of General Education
These seven courses must be completed by the last regular term (fall, winter, or spring) before transferring.
Detailed information is below.
Be in good standing at the last college you attended before transferring
and
any previous UC campus you attended during a regular term
7-course General Education Pattern
This pattern of general education must be completed by all transfer students before admission to a UC. This general education does not satisfy all requirements at all of the UCs, more general education may have to be completed either before or after transfer, depending on the school you transfer to and the major you choose.
One transferrable course in Mathematical Concepts/Quantitative Reasoning
It is highly advised that students complete this requirement at least two terms before transfer.
Two transferrable courses in English Composition
It is highly advised that students complete this requirement at least two terms before transfer.
Four transferrable courses from at least two of these areas:
- arts and humanities
- social and behavioral sciences
- physical and biological sciences
Each of these courses must be at least 3 semester units/4 quarter units. Each course must be completed with a C or Pass grade (only if a Pass grade is equivalent to a C at the college where the course was taken)
AP scores may be used to satisfy these requirements (except for one of the two courses in English Composition)
Choosing your Major & Completing Major-Specific Requirements
When applying to UCs as an upper-division transfer, you are required to choose primary & alternate majors on the application. Choosing your major will also help you to know what additional requirements you’ll need to fulfill and what courses you need to take.
TAG = Transfer Admission Guarantee
TAG, the Transfer Admission Guarantee, gives transfer students guaranteed admission to 6 of the 9 UC campuses as long as they fulfill certain requirements prior to applying for TAG.
Transfer Pathways/Pathways+
Transfer Pathways/Pathways+ can help you submit a competitive application to multiple UCs as it provides a set of major preparation that is accepted by all UCs. Pathways/Pathways+ are only available for certain majors.
ASSIST & Major Requirements
Most majors at UC campuses require that you complete a certain set of preparatory work before transferring, ASSIST is a website that can help you figure out what coursework you need to complete to successfully transfer.
UC Simple Admission Guide
Have a question about an admission rule? Not sure about a UC’s admission policies? We’ve simplified the UC Official Admission Guide for you to help you find the answers you need.
UC Application and Review Process
The UC Application can sometimes be difficult to navigate and transfer students are often left in the dark about the review process that occurs after they submit their application, we’re happy to help clear some of that confusion up.
How can I increase my UC admission chances?
Taking Honors courses at your community college may help your admissions chances. However, certain UCs have agreements with certain community colleges that give students that complete Honors courses an advantage with admissions. Unfortunately, these programs are only available at a select few community colleges.
UCLA – Transfer Alliance Program (TAP)
UC Riverside & UC Irvine – Honors Transfer Council of California (HTCC)
UC Transfer Pathways is designed for students who want to submit a competitive application to multiple UC campuses. Pathways provides a list of lower-division preparation courses for a variety of majors that will set you up for the highest chance of successful admission to a UC campus. The best part: these courses are the same for that major at all UC campuses – so you don’t need to take additional courses to improve your admission chances.
Reminder: UC Transfer Pathways DOES NOT guarantee admission – only TAG (available for 6 UCs) provides guaranteed admission (read more about it on our TAG page)
Pathways are offered for the following majors:
| Anthropology | Biochemistry | Biology |
| Business Administration | Cell Biology | Chemistry |
| Communication | Computer Science | Economics |
| Electrical Engineering | English | History |
| Mathematics | Mechanical Engineering | Molecular Biology |
| Philosophy | Physics | Political Science |
| Psychology | Sociology |
Click here for more information on Transfer Pathways |
Many community colleges offer ways to re-take courses where a certain grade was not earned. Ask your CCC counselor/consult your CCC website about Academic Renewal policies!
UC Application Timeline for Fall 2024 Admission
| August | Highly recommended to start writing PIQ (Personal Interest Questions/Application Essays) in August. Also prepare information regarding the coursework you have taken and your extracurricular activities. |
| August 1 | Application opens for applicants for fall 2025. |
| Sept. 1-30 | Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) application filing period for fall 2025 term. |
| October 1 | Fall 2025 admission application opens. |
| December 2 | Fall 2025 admission application closes. |
| December 15 | Online transfer application update (TAU) opens for transfer applicants to report final fall grades and in-progress or planned coursework (priority deadline is January 31). |
| December 31 | Filing period for FAFSA and Cal Grant Verification Form opens for applicants to all terms (filing period open through March 2, 2025). |
| March 1 | Notification of fall 2025 admission decisions begins. |
| March 2 | Deadline for applicants for all terms to submit FAFSA and Cal Grant GPA Verification Form. |
| May 1 |
Notification period for fall 2025 admission decisions ends. Deadline for admitted transfer students to submit Statement of Intent to Register (SIR). Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) application for winter/spring 2026 term. |
| July 1 |
For students admitted for fall 2025: Final, official transcripts must be sent to the campus admissions office. Transcripts must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 1. Official AP, IB examination results and other documents (such as IGETC certification) must be sent to the campus admissions office. Test scores and documents must be postmarked or electronically submitted on or before July 15. |
| June to Start of School | In this time period, each campus will ask you to submit official transcripts, complete trainings/orientations, submit additional information for financial aid, etc. Deadlines are highly specific to each UC campus, UCs often provide a checklist for transfer students so they are able to keep track of what they need to complete before the start of school. |
UC Transfer Levels
Most CCC to UC transfer students apply as Juniors (Upper-Division Transfers). However, there are four different types of application levels for UC transfers. Learn more about the rules and restrictions for each below.
Junior (Upper-Division) Transfer
Highly recommended level to transfer at – best chance of admission and success at new school. If you are not yet eligible for Upper-Division status, it is suggested that you wait until you are able to apply as an Upper-Division transfer.
Freshman/Sophomore (Lower-Division) Transfer
Students that do not meet the Upper-Division level are considered Lower-Division transfers. UC transfer opportunities are often limited for these transfers.
Senior/High-Unit Junior
When taking UC units & upper-division courses, it is possible to exceed the junior level – seniors/high-unit juniors have limited admissions opportunities.
Other Transfers (2nd Bachelor's/Limited Status)
Some UCs accept students who have already completed a bachelor’s degree or students seeking to enroll as a non-degree seeking student