UC Berkeley undergraduate: Basic Admission Requirements

Admission to UC Berkeley is a two-step process: satisfying college and major requirements and selection. All achievement—both academic and nonacademic/personal—is considered in the context of your educational circumstances, with an emphasis on the opportunities or challenges presented to you and your response to them. No single attribute or characteristic guarantees the admission of any applicant to Berkeley.

All UC Berkeley applicants must meet University of California admission requirements:

• UC Requirements l Freshman
• UC Requirements l Transfer Students
• UC Requirements l International Students

Students must refer to their transcript(s) as they fill out the application to ensure the information they enter is accurate. Applicants should not submit transcripts at this point in the process. Please do not submit letters of recommendation or other supporting documentation such as awards, photographs, poetry, etc. with the application. They will not be forwarded, returned, or retained.

Because more students apply to our campus than we can admit, Berkeley’s selection criteria exceed the UC admissions requirements. Applicants to UC Berkeley are selected through an assessment that includes a holistic review of your academic performance:

• Freshman Academic Performance
• Transfer Academic Performance

If you are an international student, you also must meet these requirements:

• Requirements for International Students

• Diversity of personal background and experience
• Qualities such as leadership, motivation, concern for others and for the community
• Nonacademic achievements in the performing arts or athletics, employment or personal responsibilities
• Demonstrated interest in the major

The Personal Statement

How Berkeley Selects Students

Student Profile