Transferring to UC Berkeley: your chances, deadlines and credits

Berkeley says California community college applicants get priority over other transfer applicants. It also accepts applicants from outside the California community college system.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page

Letters and Science and Computing, Data Science, and Society no longer require IGETC or Cal-GETC for admission. You complete the UC 7-course pattern instead: two English composition, one math or quantitative reasoning, and four courses from at least two of arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page; UC transfer basic requirements, undated page

Engineering and Haas say IGETC, Cal-GETC and Reciprocity are neither required nor recommended. Natural Resources does not use IGETC as an admissions criterion. Chemistry needs Reading and Composition done before admission.

Source: Berkeley transfer information by college, undated page

No more than 14 semester units of the 60 can be pass or credit grades.

Source: UC transfer basic requirements, undated page

You must report all college coursework, even courses you think will not transfer. Terminal vocational programs are often not transferable, and remedial courses are not.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page

Berkeley's transfer requirements page lists no Transfer Admission Guarantee or other pathway program.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page

Berkeley accepts transfer applications for fall only. The UC application period for fall 2027 is October 1 to November 30.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page; UC applying as a transfer, fall 2027 entry

Applying is not the last step. By January 31 you must finish a Berkeley form in the MAP@Berkeley portal and the UC Transfer Academic Update. Berkeley says an application without these forms will not be reviewed. The Update is required for Letters and Science and for Computing, Data Science, and Society.

Source: Berkeley transfer applicant checklist, undated page

You can still send the Transfer Academic Update after January 31, but Berkeley does not promise it will be reviewed.

Source: Berkeley transfer applicant checklist, undated page

To apply you need at least 60 UC-transferable semester units (90 quarter units) by the end of the spring term before you enroll. You need a 3.0 overall GPA in transferable college work, or 3.5 for the College of Engineering.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page; Berkeley transfer information by college, undated page

Berkeley reads your full record of college coursework, including units, general education and major preparation. Academic indicators carry more weight than the rest of the application. Readers also look at personal qualities, what you would add to campus, and your context, such as hardship or parental education.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page

Lower-division major preparation is required, and each college has its own rules. Chemistry, Engineering, Environmental Design, Natural Resources and Haas applicants fill out a major prerequisite form. Letters and Science and Computing, Data Science, and Society applicants check ASSIST and the Berkeley Catalog instead.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page; Berkeley transfer applicant checklist, undated page

Engineering expects strong math and physical science preparation, and admitted students cannot change majors within the college. Haas prerequisites and exam credit must be no more than five years old, and must be done by the end of spring before you start.

Source: Berkeley transfer information by college, undated page

Letters and Science begins direct major admission in fall 2027.

Source: Berkeley transfer information by college, undated page

UC says your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone.

Source: UC personal insight questions for transfers, undated page

Berkeley grants up to 70 semester units (105 quarter units) of lower-division credit from any one school or combination of schools. Credit beyond that can still count toward requirements.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page

Units from any UC campus, including Extension and summer, are added on top of that limit. A total above 80 semester units (120 quarter units) makes you ineligible. For Engineering the line is 89 semester units (133.5 quarter units).

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page

Berkeley decides transfer credit only after you apply and enroll. ASSIST shows which California community college courses transfer to Berkeley.

Source: Berkeley transfer students, undated page; Berkeley transfer applicant resources, undated page

Berkeley has a Transfer Student Center, and the Transfer Alliance Project advises more than 1,000 underserved students at 31 California community colleges.

Source: Berkeley transfer applicant resources, undated page