UC Admissions Requirements

We recommend that you visit the UC’s Admissions Web site for complete and up-to-date admission information. Two publications available from your school counselor or UC admission counselor, Introducing the University and Application for Undergraduate Admission & Scholarships, also contain complete and up-to-date admission information.

If you fulfill the three requirements described below, you will become “eligible in the statewide context.” The UC provides you with two additional ways in which to become eligible for admission, namely, by becoming “eligible in the local context” or “eligible by examination alone.”

Step 1 — Complete the Required “a—g” Courses

You must complete necessary coursework in high school with grades of C or better in specific subject areas. The “a–g” subject requirements are listed on UCSB’s Admissions Web site and on the UC’s Admissions Web site. Make sure that the courses you complete are on your school’s UC certified course list. Your course list is available from your school counselor, UC admission counselor.

The higher your grades in these courses, the greater your chances of gaining admission to the UC campus of your choice (see below).

Step 2 — Take the Required Tests

Take the following examinations by December of your senior year:
1. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Reasoning Exam or or the American College Test (ACT) Assessment
plus Writing.
2. Two Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) Subject Tests must be taken. These must be in two different areas, chosen from the following: English, history and social studies, mathematics (Level 2 only), science or language other than English.

For more information, please see the UC Admissions Web site and UCSB’s Admissions brochure.

In addition to taking these examinations, the scores you earn on them, combined with the grade point average you earn in your “a–g” courses, must qualify you for admission via the next step described below.

Step 3 — Earn the Required Grades / Test Scores

The scores you earn on the required examinations, combined with the grade point average (gpa) you earn in “a–g” courses, must meet the minimums noted in the UC Eligibility Index. You can see where you fall on the eligibility index by visiting the UC Admissions Web site.

» Use only grades earned in your sophomore and junior years

» Add an additional grade point for each A, B, or C earned in UC-approved honors, Advanced Placement (AP), Higher Level International Baccalaureate (IB), or transferable community college classes—you can count additional grade points for up to 8 semester courses taken in your sophomore and junior years. Refer to the UC course lists to learn about which courses receive honors credit.

» Courses in which you earn Ds cannot satisfy the Subject Requirement

» Ds or Fs earned in UC-approved courses must be reported on your UC admission application (talk with your school counselor or UC admission counselor about how to improve D or F grades)

Any grade below C earned in the senior year must be reported (grades below C earned in the senior year can jeopardize your admission to the UC)