International Admission

The following academic subject requirements must be completed with a minimum average GPA of 3.4:

• Two years of history (in place of U.S. History, history of your country)
• Four years of the language of instruction at your school
• Three years (four years recommended) of college-preparatory mathematics*
  *Math courses taken in the seventh and eighth grades/intermediate school may be used to fulfill part of this requirement. Integrated math courses (e.g. Math I, Math II, etc.) with geometry content may be equated with a standard course in geometry.
• Two years (three years recommended) of college-preparatory science, including or integrating topics that provide fundamental knowledge in two of these three subjects: biology, chemistry, or physics.
• Two years (three years recommended) of a language other than the language of instruction at your school
• One year long course (or 2 semesters) of visual and performing arts (dance, drama/theater, music, visual art, or interdisciplinary arts, etc.)
• One year additional course from any subject areas above
• Additional information on meeting academic subject (A-G) requirements for international and/or mixed records can be found on page 15-16 in the Quick Reference Guide to UC Admissions

As an international student studying in a foreign education system, you may be required to meet additional requirements specific to your secondary school curriculum or country:

International Baccalaureate (IB)

Students enrolled in an IB Diploma Program (IBDP) are encouraged to earn scores of 5 or higher on IB internal grades as well as IB Diploma exams.

UC Irvine does not use predicted scores as the only factor for admission. However, if predicted IB scores are available at the time you submit the application, you should enter the predicted scores on the International Exams page of the application, under the Test Scores tab. 

British System

• Students must complete at least 5 IGCSE/GCSE/GCE O-Levels and at least 3 GCE A-Levels with a C result or better to be considered for admission.
  
  
• Report your subjects and grades (and predicted scores if available) on the International Exams section of the application, under the Test Scores tab.
  
  

Canada

• Quebec: You  must complete the Diplôme d’études secondaires (DES) as well as the 2-year Diplôme d’études collégiales (DEC) offered at Collèges d’enseignement général et professionnel (CEGEPs). UC may award up to one year of transfer credit on a course-by-course basis for coursework completed at a CEGEP.
  

  All other provinces and territories: You must have competitive grades and earn the appropriate high school/secondary school graduation diploma after completing 12 years of education.

China

• You must complete 12 years of education and receive your certificate of graduation. We require that you report all coursework completed in grade 9-12 on the application.
  
  If you are completing both the Chinese national curriculum and an international curriculum (such as AP, IGCSE/A Levels, or IB), you must report all courses and internal grades from grades 9 to 12 under the Academic History section of the application. In addition, any international exams, planned included, must be reported on the International Exams page under the Test Scores tab.

India

• You must complete both Class X and XII State Board or CBSE examinations. Competitive applicants typically achieve high marks, primarily A1 and A2 grades or scores above 80. Report all courses and internal grades from grades 9–12 in the Academic History section. Then, report your board exams, including your planned Class XII exams, and grades on the International Exams page of the application, under the Test Scores tab.

Singapore

• You must complete at least 5 Singapore-Cambridge GCE O-Levels, and at least 3 academic Singapore-Cambridge GCE A-Level H2 exams with C results or better. UC Irvine does not consider H1 level exam results. Report your subjects and grades on the International Exams page of the application, under the Test Scores tab.
  
  
• Report your subjects and grades on the International Exams section of the application, under the Test Scores tab.
  
  

Curriculum not listed above

• You must complete a rigorous college preparatory program that includes the minimum academic subject requirement courses (see above). UC Irvine is aware that many school systems may not offer similar courses, but we do expect students to take challenging courses offered in their schools.

The need for an English proficiency exam is not determined by citizenship, but rather by one’s language of instruction within secondary school.

If you've completed all or some high school or secondary school at an institution where English was not the language of instruction, you will be required to demonstrate English proficiency. If you have had less than three years of instruction in English by the time of high school graduation, then you will be required to demonstrate English proficiency.

You can demonstrate proficiency by meeting any of the following exam benchmarks:

• Score 24 or higher for the ACT English Language Arts (ELA)
• Score 31 or higher on SAT Writing and Language 
• Score of 680 on SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing
• Score 3, 4 or 5 on the AP examination in English Language and Composition, or English Literature and Composition
• Score 6 or 7 on the IB Standard Level examination in English (Language A only) 
• Score 5, 6 or 7 on the IB Higher Level examination in English (Language A only) 
• Score 6.5 or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
• Score 6.5 or higher on the IELTS*
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)* examination:
  • Internet-based test (iBT) or iBT Home Edition: Minimum score of 80 or better
• Duolingo English Test (DET): Minimum score of 115
• Earn a grade of C or better in a UC-transferable college course in English composition (worth 3 semester or 4-5 quarter units)
  
  *Note: UC does not accept IELTS One Skill Retake or MyBest TOEFL; only the highest composite score from a single sitting is allowed.

All transfer applicants, including those studying at international colleges, are reviewed using the same transfer eligibility and major requirements. 

International transfers meet English proficiency by completing two transferable courses in English composition (UC-E) with grade of “C” or better.

Note: English courses taken at a college or university outside the U.S. where English is not the primary language of instruction cannot be used to fulfill the UC-E requirement.

To ensure your English courses will fulfill the UC-E requirement, we recommend taking the required English composition courses at a California Community College.

In addition to meeting the general UC eligibility requirements, your selected major may require additional courses required for admission. Please refer to our Transfer Major Requirements page to see a full list of required coursework. 

Your entire academic history must be reported on your UC application even if you do not intend to utilize the coursework for your current degree. When filling out your UC application, you must report all completed coursework as it appears on your academic records at each school attended. Do NOT convert scores yourself and be sure to include explanations if grades do not fit in the given space and are abbreviated. 

Official transcripts do not need to be submitted when filling out the application. However, you should refer to your academic records as you fill out the application to ensure the information you’re reporting is accurate. 

Exam scores must also be reported on your UC application. If you have taken any AP/IB/A-Level exams, please report them with the proper score received. 

Credit will be awarded for college courses completed at a university recognized by the Ministry of Education (or higher-education authority/appropriate government agency) in another country that offers university-level academic degree program courses comparable to a U.S. associate's or bachelor’s degree. See General Transfer Practices above for additional parameters regarding determining transfer credit. 

Coursework from an international junior/community college program that is technical or vocational, or which does not lead to further academic study at a university in the international country, will not receive transfer credit. 

Please refer to our Transfer Credit Policy page for additional information on how your courses and units can transfer to UC Irvine. 

For application review purposes, all students are evaluated within the context of the educational curriculum they are currently enrolled in, regardless of their citizenship. Your application will be read by counselors who are familiar with the complexities of education outside the US. Your citizenship will have no bearing or impact on your application. 

UC Irvine uses the self-reported English proficiency scores in your UC application to determine if you meet the English proficiency requirement. If admitted, you will be required to send official scores to verify what you reported in your application. 

If you have not taken an English proficiency exam yet, please do so no later than December. UC Irvine must have an actual score (not just a planned exam date) in order to evaluate your eligibility for admission. 

If you would like to send your official English proficiency scores now, you can use the links below: 

• TOEFL
• IELTS
• Duolingo

No. When filling out the application, it is important that you use your full legal name as it appears on your official birth certificate/records or passport. The application asks for other names used on records so you may enter your preferred name or nickname in the designated field.

UC Irvine does not request official transcripts/records until you are admitted and after you submit your Statement of Intent to Register (SIR).

Each transcript/record must list the dates you attended each institution; the titles of courses and examinations you completed; the grades (marks) you received; the credit, hours, or units earned; and any degree or diploma you may have received.

Your transcripts/records also may be referred to by another name in your country, such as mark sheets, leaving certificate, maturity certificate, etc.

UC Irvine does not accept nor consider letters of recommendation for admission to the university.

UC Irvine does not factor your IB predicted scores into your GPA.

Yes, students who earn scores of 3, 4, or 5 on AP exams; scores of 5, 6, or 7 on IB Higher Level (HL) exams; or grades of A, B, or C on GCE and Singapore-Cambridge Advanced Level exams will receive credit toward graduation at UC Irvine. More information is available in the UC Irvine Catalog, and on the UCOP Exam Credits page.

UC awards students who complete the IB diploma with a score of 30 or above with 6 quarter (4 semester) units toward their UC degree, in addition to the units earned for individual Higher Level exams (usually 24 quarter/16 semester units). Students who receive IB certificates with scores of 5, 6 or 7 on Higher Level exams will receive 8 quarter (5.3 semester) units per exam.

Yes, F-1 and J-1 students may work on-campus at UC Irvine. This work is limited to part-time (20 hours per week) during each quarter when classes are in session. Full-time work (anything more than 20 hours a week) is permitted during vacation periods. For more information, visit the International Center.

International undergraduate students are considered non-residents of California and are required to pay non-resident tuition in addition to fees paid by legal residents of California. For the most current fee information, please visit the Office of the Registrar.

UC Irvine does not offer financial assistance for international students. However, you may search for external scholarships for financial assistance.

UC Irvine considers exam scores and predicted results—including but not limited to IB, I/GSCE, and A Levels—as one part of the application, but they are not the only factors used in making an admissions decision.

English proficiency requirements are based on the language of instruction at your secondary school, not your citizenship. If you completed at least three years of secondary school with all courses taught in English, you do not need to prove proficiency.

If your secondary school courses were taught in a language other than English, or a combination of English and another language, you are required to take an exam to prove proficiency.

English proficiency is met only when the language of instruction is only English. If your school teaches in both English and another language, you must take one of the aforementioned exams to demonstrate English proficiency. 

Applicants to the University of California must submit all courses and exams taken, even if it was completed outside of the U.S. and you don’t want to use it towards your UC Irvine degree. Leaving off information in an effort to start over is not an option. If it is discovered that coursework or exams were intentionally left off the application, your application will be cancelled.

The University of California requires you to report all exam scores truthfully, even if you have retaken the exam for a higher result. Falsification will lead to cancellation of an application. 

The University of California does not endorse the use of agents.

With virtual presentations and events, there are plenty of opportunities to get acquainted with life at UC Irvine and connect with our admissions counselors.

Check out our resource guides like the International Student Flyer, along with other publications that provide an overview of UC Irvine and detail important aspects of student life.

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