Everything You Need to Know About the University of California (UC)

With 150 years of academic history behind it, the University of California (UC) system has established itself as an educational and research institution known for its academic excellence and diverse student profile. The UC network was founded in 1869 with ten faculty members and 38 students. Today, it includes over 280,000 students, 227,000 faculty members, and more than 2 million alumni worldwide. It spans ten unique scenic campuses across the state, from the Bay Area to San Diego, offering over 800 degree majors. Today, around 3 million students apply to UC schools every year for their undergraduate education.

California’s three-tier public education system

Before you apply, it is important to know more about California’s three-tiered higher public education system and what each represents before reviewing their resources to find the one that best fits your needs. 

The State of California’s Higher Education System has three primary public segments: the University of California (UC), the California State University (CSU) and the California Community Colleges. The UCs, 10 in all, make up the most selective tier of public colleges in the state and are highly competitive. Nine of the UCs grant degrees from Bachelor’s to PhD, while one offers only graduate and doctoral degrees. The second tier comprises 31 Cal State Schools or CSUs offering over 4,100 master’s and bachelor’s degree programmes. CSUs don’t grant PhDs. Finally, there are the Community Colleges where high school students can get an associate degree before moving directly into the workforce or enrolling in the UCs or CSUs to complete their final two years of a bachelor’s degree programme. 

New majors for Fall 2025

The University of California continues to adapt to the changing demands of the global job market by launching new programs and majors for Fall 2025. These additions offer students cutting-edge academic opportunities to explore emerging fields.

• UC Berkeley: Neuroscience major, Israel Studies minor
• UC Davis: Business major*
• UC Irvine: Applied and Computational Mathematics major
• UC Merced: Aerospace Engineering major, Biochemical and Biomolecular Engineering major*, Biochemistry major, Biological Sciences BA major, Communication and Media major^, Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation Biology major, Management of Innovation Sustainability and Technology major*, Neuroscience major*, Science, Technology, and Ethics major*
• UC Riverside: Black Studies major, Business Analytics major^, Environmental Studies major, Global and Community Health major, Religious Studies/Admin Studies major
• UC San Diego: Artificial Intelligence major, Cinematic Arts major, Literary Arts major, Media Industries and Communication major, Four new emphases in Structural Engineering

(^ Majors open to first-year applicants in Fall 2025. Open to transfer applicants in Fall 2026.)
(* Majors open to first-year applicants in Fall 2025. Open to transfer applicants in Fall 2027.)

Why choose a UC college?

Picking the right college from a network of public research universities that rank amongst the finest in the world isn’t easy. While each UC campus has unique elements, the common thread that binds them all is intellectual thirst, innovation and expert faculty. All UCs offer students the best of both worlds, giving them access to a wealth of public university research resources while incorporating general education based on liberal arts. 

California residents can enrol for undergraduate study at any UC campus at a subsidised cost. International and out-of-state students pay a premium to attend these world-class public institutions. Majors offered cover the entire spectrum from natural, social sciences and computer sciences to arts and humanities, supported by vibrant research libraries and varied extracurricular activities. Over and above this, each of these schools has created a niche that differentiates it from the others and its personality. Read on to learn more about the unique aspects of each campus. 

UC application tips

All UC campuses have a common online application portal. The undergraduate programmes in nine UC schools share the same application format, while the University of San Francisco, which offers only graduate programmes, has a different application format. The UC application deadlines are relatively early compared to many US colleges. Applications are accepted from November 1 through November 30, but they open as early as August 1, so make sure to track the timelines closely. Due to the large student body, the UCs follow a policy of restricted majors. With several thousand enrolments in every course, the university is forced to put a cap on specific majors. So, if you plan to apply to the UCs, check for closed majors or additional requirements for your preferred major.  

UC Berkeley

The University of Berkeley was established in 1868. The birthplace of the Free Speech Movement, Berkeley was founded on a vision “to contribute even more than California’s gold to the glory and happiness of advancing generations.” Today, it’s referred to as the Harvard of the West Coast, an academic powerhouse and the premier public university in the world. While the university is known for its close association with USA’s three leading national laboratories and breakthrough advances in genomics and computer sciences, it has acquired an equally formidable reputation in humanities, sports and social justice. It offers students over 350 degree programmes to choose from. The alumni roster includes 32 Nobel Prize winners, 4 Pulitzer winners, 200 Olympic athletes and 98 national championship-winning athletes. A top-ranking university, UC Berkeley has students from diverse backgrounds and nationalities. A perfect amalgamation of academics, sports and a progressive community, UC Berkeley heads most university ranking lists.  

Why choose UC Berkeley?

If you have an outstanding academic profile and want to fuel your love of learning and social life, UC Berkeley is the right place. You could go from an intense research study to a political rally to a football game and end the day with a frat party. 

UC Los Angeles (UCLA)

Based in Los Angeles, the cultural capital of the US, UCLA is globally renowned for its prestigious theatre, film and television programmes. Its prime location in Southern California and proximity to Hollywood are just two reasons that draw 33,000 undergraduate students to campus annually. The school is also known for its quality pre-med and dentistry programmes and offers hands-on learning or research opportunities through its many on-campus teaching and research hospitals. With an offering of 130 undergraduate majors, the most popular ones after film and television and pre-med/dentistry are biology, business economics, psychology and political science. 

Like every UC college, this one also carries a rich legacy of driving political reform in America, including gender diversity in sports and academia, as far back as 1973. Having won 129 National Sports Championships, UCLA is second only to Stanford University. The school is set to host two sports in the 2028 Olympic Games and will be the location of the Olympic Village. Over 1,000 student clubs and activities and a string of celebrity-studded Alumni Association gatherings ensure that UCLA students have ways to build their networks and achieve meaningful work-life balance.

Why choose UCLA?

UCLA operates many teaching and research hospitals, with several located directly on campus. This makes it an excellent pick for students who seek experiences in biomedical fields or would like to explore medicine before committing to medicine as a career path. Overall, we recommend UCLA if you have a solid academic profile and a desire to take advantage of living in Los Angeles.

UC San Diego (UCSD)

Amongst the top five public universities in the world, UCSD is a vast research university sprawling across 761 buildings spread over a thousand acres of natural reserves. Modelled on the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford, students are segregated into smaller interconnected residential and educational communities. UCSD is organised into seven undergraduate residential colleges with five academic divisions that span the arts and humanities, biological sciences, engineering, physical sciences and social sciences. Besides, UCSD has five graduate and professional schools specialising in management, medicine, pharmacy and pharmaceutical sciences, oceanography and global policy and strategy. 

Originally named the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, the world’s largest geological and marine science institute, UCSD continues to pioneer marine biology research and climate studies. Its marine biology research initiatives and location in the spectacular woodland Pacific coastal region called La Jolla have resulted in a robust community outreach programme. The school offers 140+ undergraduate majors, the most popular being economics, computer science, molecular biology and biochemistry. It is also home to the country’s first cognitive science department and top surfing team.

Why choose UCSD?

You can pick from seven colleges at UCSD while applying to only one. It is vast yet connected due to its Oxford/Cambridge-like communities that perfectly combine social and academic life. Its community outreach and marine preservation programmes are also a colossal magnet for students who like to engage with and contribute to their local environment and the planet.

UC Santa Barbara (UCSB)

UCSB is the third oldest graduate campus after Berkeley and UCLA, located on Isla Vista Beach. Although sometimes called a “party school,” it offers students a comprehensive liberal arts learning experience alongside some of the world’s leading research labs. The acceptance rate at UCSB is 27.7 percent, and it gets even more selective when reviewing applicants for the prestigious undergraduate College of Creative Studies (CCS), which requires an additional essay as part of the application process. CCS is a small intellectual community with tailor-made programmes based on specialised interests in the arts and sciences. The College of Letters and Science pushes an interdisciplinary agenda across 90 majors in the humanities, fine arts, sciences and social sciences, with one mandatory course each. UCSB’s College of Engineering ranks globally and offers five undergraduate majors in chemical, computer, electrical and mechanical engineering and computer science. 

Why choose UCSB?

This school is an excellent choice if you desire world-class education and interaction with top scholars from various fields while remaining secluded from urban life within a supportive community that cares about your academic well-being. 

UC Irvine (UCI)

UCI ranks 4th on the list of USA’s best public universities and is the first-choice campus for many of its 2,00,000 alumni across the globe. With over 85 undergraduate degree programmes, the school is respected for its excellent academic programmes and groundbreaking work conducted by internationally renowned faculty. Popular majors include aerospace engineering, business administration, health sciences and pharmaceutical science. Double majors and dual degrees are offered. Note: The Honors Program at UCI is among the most difficult in the UC system.

Located in Southern California’s suburban Orange County, UCI boasts a vibrant student community and a modern, well-planned campus with a ring of buildings around a large central park. It was designed to create a collaborative and accessible environment. Only five miles away is Southern California’s famous Newport Beach, which offers a refuge for relaxation and recreation.

Why choose UCI?

UCI offers the only literary journalism major in the country and is home to one of the only e-sports arenas on a college campus. These are but two of the niche experiences to explore at UCI, a campus that is unafraid of experimentation and encourages its students to dive into the unknown. If being taught by global subject experts is important, UCI will meet your expectations. Additionally, the nearby community of Irvine hosts an impressive roster of Fortune 500 companies, providing excellent opportunities for internships.

UC Davis

UC Davis is the northernmost of the 10 UC campuses, enrolling nearly 39,000 students every year. Conceived initially as an agricultural school, UC Davis still offers opportunities for immersive experiences in sustainable living through its student-driven initiatives. While areas of study include the entire spectrum of fine arts, humanities, social sciences and physical sciences, its engineering, agricultural, environmental, biological and animal sciences programmes are acclaimed worldwide. The campus has 65 fraternity and sorority chapters, over 800 student clubs and every recreation option imaginable to ensure a lively community. The natural landscape presents various outdoor extracurricular options and a beautiful backdrop to college life. 

Why Choose Davis?

Students who thrive in a small-town informal environment will feel at home in the agricultural backdrop of UC Davis while still within a few hours of the culturally rich San Francisco Bay Area and the world-class ski slopes of Lake Tahoe. UC Davis has also acquired a reputation for being the leading college in the ‘Women in Stem’ category, with female enrolments outnumbering their male counterparts. 

UC Santa Cruz (UCSC)

UCSC was founded in 1965 to showcase progressive, cross-disciplinary undergraduate education, innovative teaching methods and contemporary architecture. UCSC has a residential college system comprising ten small colleges, established as a variation of the Oxbridge collegiate university system. Located on the northern edge of Monterey Bay, it is a top-tier research university with much to offer its students, including research opportunities, internships, honours and academic opportunities such as the College Scholars Program (CSP). The CSP provides a stimulating home for highly motivated students to live in a community with like-minded peers during their first and second years as they explore research opportunities. Each year, they recruit and support a diverse cohort of College Scholars across all five academic divisions and all ten colleges, showcasing the potential to cultivate academic and non-academic strengths in a learning community. The school also has two satellite locations in Silicon Valley and Santa Clara. With 66 undergraduate majors and 64 graduate programmes, the most popular majors at UCSC are computer science, electrical engineering, molecular and marine biology, astronomy and space sciences.  

Why choose UCSC?

UCSC’s host of internships, undergraduate honours programmes, research opportunities and the prestigious College Scholars Program makes it attractive to those who thrive on intellectual challenges and seek to solve big problems creatively.

UC Riverside (UCR)

UCR features among the Top 10 US university options for international students. The International Students Centre, 300 student organisations, 40 fraternities and sororities lend support and colour to the student community. The university also offers robust support and advising systems, unique first-year learning communities, eight ethnic and gender centres and a well-resourced career centre. Plus, it invests in student well-being and impact, organising quarterly music festivals (featuring top artists like Kendrick Lamar and Post Malone) and opportunities for community service through programmes which put UCR alumni at the top of the rankings for doing good in the world.  

Academically, UCR offers a slew of graduate, undergraduate and professional degree programmes across three colleges and four professional schools. This includes the largest undergraduate business programme in the UC system and 80 other undergraduate majors, some of which provide options for 5-year bachelor’s and master’s programmes. 

Why choose UCR?

UCR is a choice for students interested in comprehensive undergraduate business education in California. Its commitment to student success ensures a coherent and well-structured college experience that helps individuals develop holistically. 

UC Merced (UCM)

Located in the San Joaquin Valley, UC Merced is the newest addition to the UC liberal arts and research learning system. Despite being a relatively smaller community of students and faculty, UC Merced has three schools offering 23 undergraduate majors and 25 minors. It is the smallest UC school, providing an excellent environment for students looking for a close-knit community recognised for its quality, affordability and alumni outcome. Popular majors include biological and biomedical sciences, engineering, applied mathematics, social sciences, psychology and business management.

UCM students are engaged in cutting-edge research in areas like stem cell development, AI and renewable energy, and the university itself is striving for triple net zero energy goals: “a set of goals for the campus to ultimately produce as much power as it uses, create zero landfill waste and achieve climate neutrality.” More than 30 clubs are in operation, and students can start their organisations while shaping new extracurricular initiatives. Interestingly, 849 of the school’s approximately 7,000 students are from outside the US. Its proximity to the Sierra Nevada Mountains allows faculty and students to conduct environmental research at the university’s facility in Yosemite National Park.

Why choose UCM?

UCM’s small size, newer programmes and innovative faculty make it a great learning environment for those who want to look beyond the status quo and create new experiences.  A chance to set up new clubs, activities and research groups in a school that is still growing gives students a terrific opportunity to build not only their CVs but also leave their footprint on the school’s cultural canvas and develop close, lasting relations with faculty and peers. 

UC San Francisco (UCSF)

The only UC dedicated to graduate professional education, UCSF is one of the world’s premier medical and life sciences universities where research, teaching and patient care converge. The university encompasses renowned schools of dentistry, medicine, nursing, and pharmacy, as well as additional physical therapy, basic sciences, and social and population sciences programmes. UCSF is known for its innovation in medical research, public service, and patient care. The faculty comprises five Nobel Laureates, 31 members of the ‘Institute of Medicine’ and 30 members of the ‘Academy of Arts and Sciences’. 

Why choose UCSF?

This health-sciences-focused school is the Mecca for graduate and postgraduate research students, as it has research partnerships with mega pharma companies and medical institutions and more research funding than any other public university. Postgraduate students who like the intimacy of small classes taught in an atmosphere of academic excellence, close to San Francisco’s hub of innovation, culture, internships and employment, will find UCSF tailor-made for them.

These are just a few factors that make the University of California stand out from other institutions in the US. If you need guidance on your application to any of the UC campuses, please get in touch. Our undergraduate admissions team looks forward to assisting you. Meanwhile, please read our blog: UC Application Made Easy: A Guide for International Students.