UC Berkeley Transfer Acceptance Rate: Requirements and Tips

Didn’t get into the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley) as a freshman? Or did you suddenly realize it might be the right school for you? Either way, you might be curious about the UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate and whether you’ll stand a chance.

In this article, we’ll talk about the UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate, the transfer requirements, and some tips on how to improve your chances of being accepted.

• What Is the Transfer Acceptance Rate for UC Berkeley?
• UC Berkeley Transfer Application Requirements
• UC Berkeley Transfer Application Timeline and Deadlines
• Tips to Increase Your Chances of Transferring to UC Berkeley
• UC Berkeley Transfer Acceptance Rate by Major
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Takeaways

What Is the Transfer Acceptance Rate for UC Berkeley?

The UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2025 is 24%, with 5,603 students admitted out of 23,322 applicants. Of those admitted, 91.5% transferred from California community colleges. The UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate is quite higher than the freshman acceptance rate, which is around 11%.

UC Berkeley transfer statistics

Here’s an overview of UC Berkeley’s transfer acceptance rates in the past five years:

UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rates fluctuate yearly, though the number of admitted students stays within the 4,000 to 5,000 mark. If we take the total number of applicants and admitted students for the past five years, we’ll end up with an average transfer acceptance rate of 24%.

Interestingly, despite having the highest transfer acceptance rate of 26.8%, 2023 was also a year when UC Berkeley had relatively fewer applicants. On the other hand, 2021 had the lowest transfer acceptance rate at 19.7% despite having the second to the highest number of applicants.

This could mean that the UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate depends on factors like the quality of the applicant pool and the school’s capacity to admit transfer students.

UC Berkeley Transfer Application Requirements

UC Berkeley considers you a transfer student if you have already completed coursework at a regular session at a college after graduating from high school. However, summer sessions immediately following high school don’t count. Also note that UC Berkeley only accepts transfer applications in the fall.

That said, here are the UC Berkeley transfer application requirements:

Academic requirements

Transfer admission requirements may differ according to college and major, but these are the general requirements across all colleges:

• Completed general education requirement
• Minimum 60 UC-transferable semester
• At least 3.0 GPA in transferable college-level coursework
• Lower division major preparation courses
• Must not exceed 80 semester units

Again, aside from the general requirements, you should also check specific transfer requirements per college. For example, BS Chemistry applicants don’t need to complete all general education requirements as long as they’ve finished Reading and Composition.

Personal insight questions

UC Berkeley looks at more than just your coursework and extracurriculars when you apply. You’ll also need to answer four supplemental essays, which they call personal insight questions (PIQs).

All transfer applicants will need to answer this required question:

Please describe how you have prepared for your intended major, including your readiness to succeed in your upper-division courses once you enroll at the university.

As for your three other essays, you can pick them from these seven prompts:

• Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes, or contributed to group efforts over time.
• Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
• What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
• Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
• Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
• What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
• Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?

Rest assured that you can write about any of the prompts you want since they’re all equal and given the same consideration. There’s also no right or wrong way to answer the questions since they’re just a way for admissions officers to get to know you better.

Additional requirements for international transfer applicants

International transfer applicants have the same requirements as local applicants. English Language Proficiency tests like TOEFL and IELTS are actually not required for international transfers as long as you’re completing the 7-course pattern.

Your main concern would be checking the transferability of international coursework. Here are a few pointers to help you with that:

• First, you should make sure your school is officially recognized by your country’s Ministry of Education or by a U.S. regional accrediting agency. That’s because UC Berkeley only accepts credit from institutions with official recognition. Then, you should list every college or university you’ve attended, including all courses and grades, even if you’re sure the credits won’t transfer.
• Only courses from academic degree programs that are similar to a US associate or bachelor’s degree are considered transferable. Courses from vocational or technical programs usually won’t transfer, even if they were completed at an accredited institution.
• Use the UC Berkeley Course Guide to check whether your classes match those offered at Berkeley. Transfer credit is only considered for subjects that closely align with what’s taught in the UC system.
• If you can’t find a similar course in UC Berkeley’s catalog, check course listings from other UC campuses. A class may still be transferable if it’s taught somewhere within the UC system.
• Remedial courses like ESL or high school-level math won’t transfer. Even though UC Berkeley offers some remedial classes, they don’t count toward a degree, and neither will similar courses from other institutions.

If you need more guidance in the transfer admission process, our UC transfer admissions program can help you build a strong profile and offer tips on what classes and extracurriculars to take at your current college.

UC Berkeley Transfer Application Timeline and Deadlines

Here are the important dates for the UC Berkeley transfer application process:

Important note: UC Berkeley is on a semester system calendar (same as UC Merced), compared to other campuses that are on the quarter system calendar.

Tips to Increase Your Chances of Transferring to UC Berkeley

The UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate may be higher than the freshman admit rate, but it can still be quite competitive. Because of that, here are some tips to help you improve your odds of getting accepted:

1. Go beyond the minimum academic requirements.

Meeting UC Berkeley’s minimum 3.0 GPA and 60 transferable units wouldn’t be enough to make you competitive. In recent years, the average GPA of admitted transfer students has ranged between 3.6 and 3.9.

So, to stand out, aim for mostly A’s, especially in challenging courses related to your major. If you can handle a heavier course load or take honors-level classes, that also helps show academic strength and readiness for Berkeley’s rigorous environment.

2. Prioritize major preparation.

UC Berkeley places strong emphasis on your readiness to begin upper-division courses in your major. This is reflected in the requirement that you complete general education coursework before applying.

3. Write strong PIQs.

The PIQs are your chance to show who you are beyond your transcript. Use them to explain your goals, your interest in your major, and how your experiences have shaped you. Be specific, honest, and clear. Strong PIQs can set you apart from other applicants with similar GPAs, especially if you can use them to contextualize your achievements.

If you need more help answering these UC Berkeley supplemental essays, here are a few quick tips:

• Don’t cram. Start early so you can pace yourself. Give yourself time to reflect on your experiences and select the best stories and prompts that can present you in the best light.
• Answer the prompt clearly. Read each prompt carefully and make sure you’re directly answering the question. Avoid going off-topic or using fillers. Start with a clear main idea, then support it with specific examples or experiences.
• Be authentic. UC Berkeley wants to understand who you are, what motivates you, and how you think. Because of that, write about genuine experiences, including challenges or setbacks, and show how they shaped you.
• Revise. Review each essay multiple times. Ask a mentor or friend for feedback, but your responses should still have your voice even after multiple revisions.
• Connect to UC Berkeley. While the PIQs are part of the shared UC application, you should still tailor your content to align with what UC Berkeley values. If you’re applying to a specific major, mention how your goals relate to Berkeley’s programs, resources, or faculty. Show that you understand what Berkeley offers and how you’ll contribute to its academic community.

Our college application essay editing program can help you choose the best prompts for your story and write strong responses while maintaining your own voice.

4. Demonstrate leadership and involvement.

UC Berkeley values students who contribute to their communities. You don’t need to lead five clubs, but you should show that you’ve taken initiative outside the classroom. That could be through work, volunteering, mentoring, or creating something new.

Leadership is more about impact than just titles. So, if you’ve made a difference in your school, workplace, or community, make sure to highlight that in your application.

5. Take advantage of transfer resources.

The UC system offers transfer resources that can help you in the process. These are:

• ASSIST. ASSIST.org is the official database for course articulation between California community colleges and UC campuses. Use it to check which classes at your current school satisfy UC Berkeley’s general education and major requirements.
• Transfer Admissions Planner (TAP). The UC Transfer Admissions Planner is an online tool that helps you track your academic progress toward UC eligibility. It’s especially useful for planning coursework and staying organized ahead of applying.
• Transfer Student Center. UC Berkeley’s Transfer Student Center provides support services, academic advising, and community for current and incoming transfer students. It helps students adjust, succeed, and connect on campus.
• Transfer Alliance Project. UC Berkeley’s Transfer Alliance Project supports high-achieving, low-income community college students through one-on-one advising and workshops. Participation can strengthen your application, especially if you’re from an underserved background.

UC Berkeley Transfer Acceptance Rate by Major

UC Berkeley offers more than 130 undergraduate majors. Based on 2023 data, these are the ten most popular among transfer applicants:

Meanwhile, here’s a look at UC Berkeley’s top 10 majors with the highest transfer rates:

The number of available slots and applying students varies per major. Because of that, some majors might have a high admit rate due to only having a few applicants.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What GPA do you need to transfer to UC Berkeley?

UC Berkeley requires a GPA of at least 3.0. However, the average GPA of transfer students in recent years falls between 3.6 and 3.9. Because of that, you’ll need to aim for a GPA in that range if you want to be a competitive applicant.

2. Is it easier to get into UC Berkeley as a transfer?

Compared to applying as a freshman, it may be easier to get into UC Berkeley as a transfer since you’re applying to a particular major, which significantly minimizes the number of students you’ll be competing with. In fact, the 2025 UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate is 24%, while the freshman acceptance rate of the same year is 11%. However, you’ll still need to present a strong application if you want to stand out as a transfer student.

3. Does UC Berkeley accept international transfer students?

Yes. UC Berkeley does accept international transfers. International applicants must meet the same course, unit, and GPA requirements as local transfer applicants. UC Berkeley doesn’t require TOEFL/IELTS scores for transfer admission if you’ve completed the English composition courses in the UC transfer curriculum.

4. What are the most popular UC Berkeley majors for transfer students?

The top five most popular UC Berkeley majors for transfer students are business administration, psychology, electrical engineering – computer science, computer science, and economics.

Takeaways

• The UC Berkeley transfer acceptance rate for Fall 2025 is 24%, which is higher than the freshman acceptance rate of 11%.
• Successful transfer applicants must have a GPA of at least 3.0 and complete 60 units, general education, and all major prerequisites before transfer.
• Five of UC Berkeley’s most popular majors for transfer students include business administration, psychology, computer science, economics, and political science.
• Trying to transfer to UC Berkeley (or hoping to get admitted as a freshman)? Consult a private admissions expert to help you strengthen your application to improve your chances of being accepted.