Once you have completed the online application, submit it along with a nonrefundable college application fee of $80 for domestic applicants or $95 for international applicants. This fee entitles you to apply to UCI.
How to apply
It's a good idea to have everything prepared before you start your application so you're not trying to track down information at the last minute. Let's figure out the process, together.
Transcripts. Don't submit your transcripts to UCI at this point, but refer to them as you fill out the application to ensure the information you enter is accurate.*
Test scores. UCI will not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes. After enrollment, exams may be used for class placement or some graduation requirements.
Annual income for last year and the current year (your parents' if you're a dependent; your income if you're independent). This is optional unless you're applying for an application fee waiver or for the Educational Opportunity Program.
Social Security number, if you have one. We use this to match your application to things like test score reports, final transcript(s) and, if you're applying for financial aid, your Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Citizenship status. You must enter your country of citizenship (or "No Selection"). If your country of citizenship is outside the United States, you'll need to provide your immigration status and your visa type.
California Statewide Student ID (optional). Each K-12 student in California public schools is assigned an ID number. If it's not printed on your transcript, ask your counselor or registrar.
Credit card. If you prefer to pay by check, you can mail your payment.
* Veterans or active-duty military personnel: If you completed courses offered by a branch of the U.S. military, you may indicate your intention to submit your military transcript by checking the box in the "About You" section of the application. If you are admitted and accept an offer of admission, you can then submit official military transcripts (e.g., ACE, SMAART) to the UC campus.
The application fee is $80 for domestic applicants and $95 for international and non-immigrant applicants. You can make your payment either by credit card or by mail, just be sure follow the instructions in the application.
Once your application has been submitted, you are expected to pay for all your campus choices, even if you cancel your application at a later date. The application fees are non-refundable.
Fee waivers
UC will waive application fees for up to four campuses for qualified students who would otherwise be unable to apply for admission. The fee waiver program is for United States citizens, permanent residents, and applicants eligible for AB540 benefits.
Applying for a fee waiver
You can see if you automatically qualify for a fee waiver within the application. If you enter your family size and income in the “About you” section, you will see if you’ve qualified for an application fee waiver when you select your campuses in the "Campuses & majors" section (a message will appear on that page with real-time feedback about how many campuses you can apply to for free).
Don't send official transcripts when you apply. If you're admitted to UCI, then you will need to submit final transcripts to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions by July 1.
UCI does not accept letters of recommendation.
How to Apply to UCI
Let's tackle some of the most frequently asked questions about the application process.
Name used on application is not the applicant's legal name: It is important that you use your legal name on the application form. It is in your best interest to inform us of any other names you have used as well.
Name used on the application does not match the name used for exams (Advanced Placements): Problems occur when UCI cannot match an applicant's test score results with the application because the names do not match. It's best to use your legal name for both the application form and your exams.
Incorrect College Board code used for school(s) attended: It is important that you list the correct College Board codes on your application for the schools you attended. Often an applicant will list their school's College Board code incorrectly on the school page of the application. Although the school's name is listed beside the code, the College Board code is entered in the application record; if this code is incorrect, the application will not indicate the school listed in the name field and the school in our record will be wrong.
Scores have not been "released" to UCI: Once you are offered admission to UCI and you have returned your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR), official test scores must be submitted. In many cases the testing agency has not been properly authorized to release an individual's test scores to UCI, hence, the final steps in the admission process can be delayed. This can result in a "hold" being placed on your registration until the scores are received or possibly a withdrawal of the admission offer. It may also require that you order and pay for additional/duplicate score reports.
Year of Birth: A common error is that applicants will indicate the current year as the year of birth (i.e., "2021" instead of "1997").
Applicants fail to list ALL schools attended since 9th grade: Even schools outside the USA and even schools where course work may have not been transferable or completed must be included on the School section. This is important information for evaluation purposes and failure to list all schools could result in delay of the admission process and/or cancellation.
Yes. You may apply to multiple UC campuses using a single application form. The fee is $70/$80 per campus.
The UC fee waiver program is incorporated with the online UC application. To qualify, you must provide details regarding your family size and income and meet the fee waiver guidelines.
About four weeks after the university receives your application, you should receive an acknowledgment in the mail from the UC Undergraduate Application Center indicating that your application form and fees were received along with your UC application ID number.
The University of California provides a website where you may check your application status online. The URL is admission.universityofcalifornia.edu.
UCI provides an online Applicant Portal where you may view the status of your UCI application. If you provided a valid email address on your UC application, UCI will send you an email notifying you that your application has been received. This email will include instructions on how to access your UCI application status. This notification process typically begins in mid-December. We strongly advise that you do not change your email address during the application/admissions cycle; however, if you must change your email address, do so by updating your UC Application.
If you are concerned that your application may not have reached us, please telephone our office at (949) 824-6703 during normal business hours.
For first-year applicants, UCI uses the University of California GPA calculation guidelines which are outlined in the UC application, however, UCI limits the number of extra points awarded certified Honors and Advanced Placement courses to a maximum of eight semesters. For transfer students, the GPA is calculated using your transferable course work only.
UCI does not accept applications for the winter or spring quarters.
If you've already submitted your application, do not submit a second application form; it will not be processed. If the UC application filing period is still open, go online to add our campus to your application. If the filing period is closed, then submit an appeal to closure to the following address:
University of California Application Center P.O. Box 1432 Bakersfield, CA 93302
Be sure to note your application ID number, Social Security number, the additional campus(es) to which you wish to apply, major(s), major code(s), and include a check or money order for $70 ($80 for international applicants) for each additional campus you select, payable in U.S. dollars to the "Regents of the University of California." You may not substitute new campus choices for your original choices. Your request will be processed only if the campus(es) you choose has space available. The processing service will notify you about whether your application was accepted.
Not immediately. First, we will evaluate your application based on the information you provided on your application. Then, if you are offered admission to UCI, you will be asked to have official copies of your transcripts sent to us by the deadline date.
Due to COVID-19, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions is primarily accepting transcripts in an electronic format at this time.
Letters of recommendation are not accepted.
First-Year Applicants
UCI does not routinely ask for fall semester grades or work planned for spring semester; however, if this information is needed in order to make an admissions decision, the counselor evaluating your records will request it. If you have earned grades of less than "C," or have changed your schedule for the spring semester, please report your changes through the applicant portal.
Transfer Applicants
After applying, transfer students are required to update their grades and course records through the Transfer Academic Update. Transfer applicants must provide updated grades for fall terms and planned coursework through the summer.
Dance auditions and music auditions are scheduled by the Claire Trevor School of the Arts staff and begin in January. Contact Amy Kim, Director of Student Affairs, at (949) 824-6646 for more information, or e-mail amykim@uci.edu.
UC Application
The UC application opens August 1. See all dates & deadlines here.