Student Resource Guides
Check out our International Student Resource Guide and other publications that provide an overview of UCI and detail important aspects of student life.
Everything you wanted to know about applying to UCI as an international student.
COVID-19 Updates: For commonly asked questions and more detailed information regarding changes to admission requirements for fall 2021, visit our COVID-19 FAQ page here.
To be considered for freshman admission, international applicants must meet the same subject requirements as all other applicants.
You must have completed secondary school with excellent grades/marks in academic subjects and have earned a certificate of completion that enables you to be admitted to a university in your home country and is equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma. You also must have never been enrolled as a university student.
The following academic subject requirements must be completed with a minimum average GPA of 3.4:
The following faculty-approved selection criteria are taken into consideration:
Academic grade point average in all completed "A-G" courses, including additional points for completed UC-certified honors courses
Number of, content of and performance in academic courses beyond the minimum "A-G" requirements
Number of and performance in UC-approved honors, Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate Higher Level and transferable college courses
Identification by UC as being ranked in the top 9 percent of your high school class at the end of your junior year (Eligible in the Local Context, or ELC)
Quality of your senior year program, as measured by the type and number of academic courses in progress or planned
Quality of academic performance relative to the educational opportunities available at your high school
Outstanding performance in one or more academic subject areas
Outstanding work in one or more special projects in any academic field of study
Recent, marked improvement in academic performance as demonstrated by academic GPA and the quality of coursework completed or in progress
Special talents, achievements, and awards in a particular field, such as visual and performing arts, communication or athletic endeavors; special skills, such as demonstrated written and oral proficiency in other languages; special interests, such as intensive study and exploration of other cultures; experiences that demonstrate unusual promise for leadership, such as significant community service or significant participation in student government; or other significant experiences or achievements that demonstrate your promise for contributing to the intellectual vitality of the campus
Completion of special projects undertaken in the context of the high school curriculum or in conjunction with special school events, projects or programs
Academic accomplishments in light of your experiences and special circumstances, including but not limited to: disabilities, low family income, first generation to attend college, need to work, disadvantaged social or educational environment, difficult personal and family situations or circumstances, refugee status or veteran status
Location of your secondary school and residence
Your personal insight questions should be exactly that – personal. This is your opportunity to tell us about yourself, what matters to you, your hopes, ambitions, life experiences, and inspirations. Key points about the personal insight questions include:
Freshman applicants choose four out of eight questions to answer.
Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
We encourage you to take your time. Be open, be reflective, and be honest. Your personal insight questions provide context for the rest of your application.
Learn more about the personal insight questions.
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:
If you’ve completed all your secondary school/high school in a country where English is not the language of instruction, you can demonstrate proficiency by taking one of these exams and earning the required scores:
International transfer applicants must meet the same transfer requirements for admission as any other applicant.
When you apply to UCI, your academic record must be reported within the UC application. You do not need to send in your transcripts/academic records to UCI at this point, but you should refer to them as you fill out the application to ensure the information you entered is accurate.
Report all completed coursework as it appears on your academic records at each school. Do NOT convert scores yourself and be sure to include explanations if grades do not fit in the given space and are abbreviated.
If you have taken or will take external exams (e.g. IGCSE/GCSE/GCE exams, Year X/XII Board exams, SPM, etc.), report your subjects and grades/scores on the International External Exams page of the application.
If you reported external exams such as AP/IB/GCSEs/A Levels, you will be expected to complete all exams listed on your application.
Check out our International Student Resource Guide and other publications that provide an overview of UCI and detail important aspects of student life.
Unfiltered Life at UCI is a student-run blog aiming to give an authentic snapshot of what life is like at UCI.
Set up a time to speak with one of our international admissions counselors.
Do you have what it takes to be an Anteater? Begin the process by sending us your information.
Why UCI?
Aldrich Park, which was modeled after Central Park in NYC, offers a tranquil getaway for students in the center of campus with more than 10,000 trees.
Step into the park