Transfer Admissions Information by College

The requirements for admission as a transfer student vary by college. Requirements for all majors are available on assist.org or in the Berkeley Academic Guide. Visit the college websites for more information.

• All colleges require a minimum of 60 semester (90 quarter) UC-transferable units by the end of the spring term prior to fall matriculation.
• The colleges do not accept second bachelor’s degrees with the exception of the College of Chemistry’s Chemistry and Chemical Biology majors only. See college website for more details.
• For colleges that require the Reading and Composition requirement, students with 4-year coursework can review Transfer Courses for Reading and Composition (by Institution)

• Applicants must meet the minimum requirements for admission to their specific major.
• Completion of additional major prerequisites is strongly encouraged (see assist.org).
• Completion of Reading and Composition is required, but applicants do not need to complete all other general education requirements prior to admission.
• More on College of Chemistry requirements for transfer students.

• Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 UC-transferable GPA by the end of the fall term when the application is submitted. General Education requirements must be completed by the end of the spring term immediately preceding enrollment by completing one of the following:
  • The entire IGETC pattern of courses, available only to students transferring directly from a California community college. Consult your community college for details
  • College of Letters and Science requirements (see assist.org for more information):
    • Reading and Composition
    • Foreign Language
    College of Engineering (B.S. Degree)
    • Requires strong preparation in math and physical sciences.
    • Applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and have completed the equivalent of all required core UC Berkeley preparation courses (see assist.org) to be eligible for admission.
    • If a series of courses is required, all courses in the series must be completed to receive credit. No partial credit is given.
    • The Intersegmental Generation Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC) offered at California community colleges is not acceptable as completion of breadth.
    • More on College of Engineering admissions for transfer students.
    College of Environmental Design (B.S. Degree)
    • Required first-year/sophomore core courses must be completed before admission.
    • Completion of IGETC from a California community college will meet breadth requirements.
    • More on College of Environmental Design requirements for transfer students.
    Rausser College of Natural Resources (B.S. Degree)
    • Selection is based upon completion of appropriate major preparation.
    • More on Rausser College of Natural Resources admissions for transfer students.
    Haas School of Business (B.S. Degree)
    • Complete all prerequisite courses with a letter grade of C- or higher, no more than five years before starting the business major.
    • All Haas Business School applicants are required to submit an additional writing sample and resume with the Application Update Form in January.
    • More on Haas School of Business admissions for transfer students.
    College of Letters and Science (B.A. Degree)
    • University of California 7-course pattern,
    • Minimum 60 UC-transferable semester (90 UC-transferable quarter) units
    • Major preparation courses as advised in ASSIST.org
    • Minimum 3.0 UC-transferable GPA by the end of the fall term when the application is submitted.

    Completion of the L&S Essential Skills Requirements: Reading & Composition, Quantitative Reasoning, and Foreign Language; or IGETC/Cal-GETC/UC Reciprocity are no longer required for admissions consideration ; however, choosing courses that complete requirements for both 7-course pattern and any of these curricular programs is permitted and highly recommended. The IGETC, Cal-GETC, or UC Reciprocity program will optimize degree progress for those admitted to L&S.

    • For thosenotcompleting UC IGETC or UC Reciprocity , it is highly recommended that courses selected for 7-course pattern align with transfer courses approved ( as published in ASSIST General Education/Breadth for Berkeley) for the Reading and Composition and Quantitative Reasoning degree requirements. Additionally students are strongly encouraged to complete the college’s Foreign Language degree requirement prior to starting Berkeley. These are the Essential Skills requirements for L&S.
    • For those completing Cal-GETC certification , students are strongly encouraged to complete the college’s Foreign Language requirement prior to starting Berkeley.

    NOTE: Effective fall 2026, completion of a third year of high school foreign language or the third level in high school will no longer satisfy the Foreign Language requirement. Refer to the Foreign Language requirement website for information on other ways this requirement can be satisfied.

    More information:

    • Information about the degree requirements for the College of Letters and Science can be found on the L&S Prospective Transfer Student page .
    • Students are admitted to the College, but not their major. Once enrolled at Berkeley, students are able to declare a major.
    • Fall 2025Direct Admission to Major Pilot: Fall 2025 transfer students who are offered admission to L&S, and have selected one of the (24) pilot majors on their application, will be directly admitted into the major. These students will not have to go through an additional process to apply or officially declare their major once enrolled at Berkeley. Read more about the pilot program and participating majors on the Direct Admission to Major website .

    Learn more about the colleges:

    • College of Chemistry
    • College of Engineering
    • College of Environmental Design
    • Rausser College of Natural Resources
    • Haas School of Business
    • College of Letters and Science

    Resources

    • Transfer requirements
    • Transfer information by college
    • Transfer courses for reading and composition
    • Transfer applicant resources
    • Transfer applicant checklist