UC Admission Requirements for Freshman
To be considered for admission to UC Davis, freshman applicants must earn a high school diploma (or equivalent) and satisfy the following UC admission requirements:
Meeting the UC admission requirements does not guarantee admission to UC Davis. Applicants who are admitted to UC Davis generally well-exceed UC admission requirements.
UC Admission Requirements
Subject Requirement: Courses You Need to Take
The following courses must be completed with a C grade or better and, for California residents, must be on your high school's UC-approved course list. At least 11 of the 15 years shown in the "a-g" requirements below must be completed before your senior year of high school.
"A-G" Subjects Requirement
a. History/social science = Two years
b. English
(or language of instruction) = Four years
c. Mathematics = Three years (Four years recommended)
d. Laboratory science = Two years (Three years recommended)
e. Language other than English
(or other second language) = Two years (Three years recommended)
f. Visual and performing arts = One year
g. College preparatory elective = One year
Scholarship Requirement: Grades You Must Receive
The scholarship requirement is satisfied if you earn a GPA of 3.0 or better in "a-g" courses taken during the tenth and eleventh grades. Applicants who are not California residents must earn a GPA of 3.4 or better.
Examination Requirement:
One Test You Must Take
Freshman applicants are required to take the ACT Assessment plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test* no later than December—official scores must be received by the end of January. When you report your ACT or SAT scores to one campus they will be shared with every UC campus to which you've applied, if authorized on your UC application. Only your highest scores from a single sitting will be considered.
* SAT Subject Tests are not required and UC Davis will consider submitted SAT Subject Test scores only if they benefit the applicant.
English Exam Requirements
Having a strong understanding of the English language is important in your success at UC Davis. If you have been studying in the United States for less than two years and your native language and school language of instruction prior to your study in the United States was not English, you must demonstrate English proficiency. You may do so in one of the following ways:
Achieve a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 213 on the computer-based TOEFL or 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL.
Achieve a minimum score of 7 (academic module) on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Achieve a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Exam in English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition.*
Achieve a score of 5, 6 or 7 on the International Baccalaureate (IB), Higher Level examination in English (Language A).*
Achieve a score of 6 or higher on the International Baccalaureate (IB), Standard Level examination in English (Language A).*
Achieve a score of 560 or higher on the Writing section of the SAT Reasoning Test.
Complete one transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) in English composition with "C" grades or better at an accredited U.S. college or university.*
*Meeting these standards also satisfies the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR).
Transfer Admission Requirements
To be eligible for transfer admission to any University of California campus, you must complete the following specific subject and scholarship requirements. Some majors require additional major-specific preparation as well. If you’re not a California resident, you must meet additional non-resident admission requirements.
Subject Requirement
You must complete the following UC requirements in English and math with grades of C or better:
two transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units) in English composition
one transferable college course (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units) in mathematical concepts or quantitative reasoning
It is strongly recommended that students complete UC transfer requirements in the areas of English composition and mathematics by the end of fall term prior to enrollment, in order to receive priority consideration.
You must also complete four transferable courses with grades of C or better from at least two of the following subject areas:
arts and humanities
social and behavioral sciences
physical and biological sciences
These courses, along with any prerequisite courses for your major, must be completed by the end of the spring term before your transfer to UC Davis for fall enrollment.
Scholarship Requirement
You must earn at least a 2.40 GPA in your UC-transferable classes to meet UC requirements. However, UC Davis requires a minimum 2.80 GPA to be selected for admission, and many of our most popular programs may require a higher GPA. Strive to achieve your highest possible GPA in order to be most competitive. No more than 14 semester (21 quarter) units may be taken Pass/No Pass.
Non-California Residents
Coursework requirements are the same for non-California residents. However, you must earn a 2.80 GPA or higher in all transferable college coursework to be considered eligible for admission.
International Students
If you will require a visa to live or study in the United States, you are considered an international applicant and must follow additional admission procedures for international applicants. You are not considered an international applicant if you are a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, even if you have completed coursework at a school in another country.
Meeting English Composition Coursework Requirements
One of the admission requirements for all transfer students is two transferable courses in English composition with grades of "C" or better. If you are applying to transfer directly from an international college or university where English is not the language of instruction, you are strongly encouraged to take as much English as your curriculum will allow. It is very unlikely that any of your English courses will transfer to UC Davis, but your English preparation will make your application more competitive. You will need to demonstrate your English proficiency with one of the approved examinations.
English Exam Requirements
Having a strong understanding of the English language is important in your success at UC Davis. If you have been studying in the United States for less than two years and your native language and school language of instruction prior to your study in the United States was not English, you must demonstrate English proficiency. You may do so in one of the following ways:
Achieve a minimum score of 550 on the paper-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), 213 on the computer-based TOEFL or 80 on the Internet-based TOEFL.
Achieve a minimum score of 7 (academic module) on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Achieve a score of 3, 4 or 5 on the AP Exam in English Language and Composition or English Literature and Composition.*
Achieve a score of 5, 6 or 7 on the International Baccalaureate (IB), Higher Level examination in English (Language A).*
Achieve a score of 6 or higher on the International Baccalaureate (IB), Standard Level examination in English (Language A).*
Achieve a score of 560 or higher on the Writing section of the SAT Reasoning Test.
Complete one transferable college courses (3 semester or 4-5 quarter units each) in English composition with "C" grades or better at an accredited U.S. college or university.*
*Meeting these standards also satisfies the UC Entry Level Writing Requirement (ELWR).
