The transfer requirements vary by college and by majors, as described below. More information on applying as a transfer student can be found on the Admissions website at admissions.ucsb.edu.
College of Creative Studies
Students will be selected on the basis of:
- Academic and personal achievement, potential, and experience as assessed through a comprehensive review of all information provided on the application. This includes academic and personal information as described in the admission guidelines and,
- Special talent, outstanding achievement, and capacity for excellence in one of the eight academic areas within the College as assessed by faculty review.
All applicants must submit work in evidence of talent or letters of recommendation for faculty review.
Applicants must submit a College of Creative Studies application, available on the College website (www.ccs.ucsb.edu), in addition to the regular UC undergraduate application.
College of Engineering
Students will be selected primarily on the basis of academic preparation and performance, as assessed by review of the following: grades earned in UC-transferable coursework, amount of engineering preparatory coursework completed, and grades earned in preparatory coursework.
Applicants must complete all required units and prerequisites by the end of the spring term preceding enrollment at UCSB.
TAG agreements (see below) do not apply in the College of Engineering. For more information about applying to selective majors, please see admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/selective-majors.
College of Letters and Science
Students will be selected primarily on the basis of academic preparation and performance, as assessed by review of grades earned in UC-transferable coursework and strength of academic preparation for the intended major. Applicants with senior standing will not be admitted.
Some students will be selected on the basis of academic and personal achievement, potential, and experience, as assessed through a comprehensive review of all information provided on the application, including academic performance as described above and academic and personal information, as described in the admission guidelines.
UCSB accepts junior-level transfers and will give priority consideration to those from California community colleges.
UCSB maintains Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) programs with all California community colleges. TAG programs do not apply in all majors. For specific information about the TAG program in your major, please refer to the articulation agreements by major between UCSB and your community college online at www.assist.org. Also visit: admissions.sa.ucsb.edu/tag.
The following programs have required and/or recommended major preparation requirements for admission. Major preparation requirements are subject to change without notice.
Biological sciences: All biological science majors must attain a grade point average of 2.70 or better in science and math preparatory courses, complete one year of general chemistry with laboratory, and complete a sequence (2-3 terms) of major-applicable general biology with laboratory with no individual grades less than “C”. To graduate within two years of transferring, it is strongly recommended that applicants also complete one year of organic chemistry with laboratory, one year of general physics with laboratory, and one year of calculus or calculus with statistics. Any of these courses completed with a grade lower than “C” might not satisfy course prerequisites at UCSB.
For more information, consult the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and the Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology.
Economics: Economics majors (including economics and accounting) must attain a grade point average of 2.75 or better in four required major preparation courses – macroeconomics, microeconomics, and two calculus courses - with no individual grade less than “C.”
For more information, consult with the Department of Economics: www.econ.ucsb.edu.
Mathematics and Mathematical Sciences: To be admitted to the Pre-Applied Mathematics major or the Pre-Mathematics major, all transfer students must complete the following:
- Calculus course articulating with UCSB’s MATH 3A;
- Calculus course articulating with UCSB’s MATH 3B;
- A cumulative GPA of 2.75 or better in the required courses listed above with no individual grade lower than "C." If MATH 3A and/or 3B were satisfied with AP/IB exams or with pass/credit grades in college courses, then grades in additional pre-major math courses will be used so that two letter grades go into the screening.
Physics: NEW ADMISSION SELECTION CRITERIA beginning FALL 2022: Physics, B.A. or Physics, B.S. majors must meet the following requirements:
- Complete the UC Transfer Pathway in Physics.
- Earn at least a 3.4 GPA in the Physics Transfer Pathway courses, with no individual grade lower than C.
Transfer Credit Guidelines
For information on transfer credit after enrolling at UCSB, read the guides for Current UCSB Students (PDF) and Non-UC Study Abroad (PDF).