University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) Reciprocity
Location

UC is the major public research university in the state of California serving both undergraduate andgraduate students. There are ten campus locations: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced,Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, San Diego and San Francisco (a graduate medical school).
Discover UC's campuses: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/discover-uc

Description

The University of California opened its doors in 1869 with just 10 faculty members and 38 students. Today,
the UC system includes more than 238,000 students and more than 190,000 faculty and staff, with morethan 1.7 million alumni living and working around the world.
Discover UC's campuses: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/discover-uc

Level

Undergraduate / Bachelor

Deadline

Applications for August/September (Fall quarter/Fall semester) start are due by: February 1.
Applicatiopns for January (Winter quarter/Spring semester) start are due by: August 1.
For more information, see: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply-exchange/applyundergraduate-programs/step-3-apply

UC Majors

For information on UC majors, see: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/plan-your-studies/uccourses

Subject Area Restrictions For campus-specific requirements and restrictions, see Major Specific Notes:
https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/plan-your-studies/uc-courses/major-preparation
Major Prerequisites

In the UC system, biology, business administration, economics, engineering, and psychology require
intensive preparation for coursework taught at the upper-division level (100-199). To be approved forupper-division courses, you must demonstrate to UC departmental advisors and / or instructors that you
are sufficiently prepared.
Review the UC catalogs for course descriptions and information on prerequisites; see also Major SpecificNotes: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/plan-your-studies/uc-courses/major-preparation
See also the Major Prerequisites Checklist:
https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/sites/default/files/docs/Prereq-Checklist.pdf
The information on prerequisites is provided as a general guide only. Other coursework may be necessary.
Enrollment in classes is not guaranteed.

Academic Term Dates

UCB and UCM have semester-length terms. A semester includes 15 weeks of instruction. Fall semester(mid-August–mid-December); Spring semester (mid-January–mid-May). One full academic year at UCB
and UCM is two semesters for a total of 30 weeks of instruction.
UCD, UCI, UCLA, UCR, UCSB, UCSC, and UCSD have quarter-length terms. A quarter includes 10weeks of instruction. Fall quarter (mid-September–mid-December); Winter quarter (January–mid-March);
Spring quarter (April–mid-June). One full academic year at these UC campuses is three quarters for a totalof 30 weeks of instruction.
https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/after-you-apply/timeline
See also the UC academic calendar for term dates by academic year:
https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/uc-calendar

Language of Instruction

English, unless specified as a foreign language course

Course Catalog

The Course Catalog lists courses that have been offered in the past and includes general information
about the course such as a description, unit value, prerequisite information, etc.
For links by campus, see: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/discover-uc

Schedule of Classes

Schedule of Classes (list of course offerings) will not have been published yet for the academic term forwhich prospective students will apply. The Schedule of Classes is announced midway through thepreceding academic term. There is no guarantee that a course you are interested in taking will be offeredduring your proposed UC exchange studies, however you may research current Schedule of Classes to get
an idea of the likelihood of a course being offered.
For links by campus, see: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/discover-uc

Information on UC-recognized English-language profiency examinations can be found on our webiste.
English-Language
Proficiency Requirements
Minimum score requirements vary by UC campus.
See: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/plan-your-studies/examinations

Course Load
Requirements

Full-time enrollment (at least 13 units each term at most UC Berkeley colleges, at least 12 units each term
at all other UC campuses) is required of both U.S. and non-U.S. citizens. If your first language is not
English, consider limiting your first-term enrollment to the minimum number of course units required byyour UC college or department.

Course Numbering

Enrollment in courses is subject to meeting prerequisites and available space in the class.
Undergraduate Courses (1-199)
Lower-division courses numbered 1 - 99 are introductory and are often taken by UC students in their firsttwo years of study.
Undergraduate upper-division courses numbered 100 - 199 are usually taken by UC students in their last
two years of study.
Upper-division courses numbered 198 - 199 are usually taken by students working on a thesis or research.
Graduate courses are numbered 200 and above. Some campuses and / or departments do not allow
undergraduates to enroll in graduate courses. You must respect any restrictions that apply.
Professional Schools
Some majors at UC are taught only at the graduate level in what are called professional schools. Examplesof these majors are education, medicine, veterinary medicine, law, management, information
management, and journalism. Undergraduate reciprocity students generally cannot enroll in professional
schools.

Costs / Fees

UCEAP reciprocity students do not pay tuition, student services or campus-wide fees.
UCEAP reciprocity students are responsible for payment of orientation, housing, utilities, UC healthinsurance, books and laboratory, materials/technology, studio fees, document fees, optional leisureactivities, travel and any personal expenses incurred while on the exchange.
Students are also responsible for the shipping cost of their DS-2019 visa certificate and any other fees
associated with the issue of their US visa.
For general information, see: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/plan-your-studies/budget

Insurance

All UC students, including UCEAP reciprocity students, are required to have health insurance and will be
automatically enrolled in the host UC campus’ student health insurance plan. The cost of insurance will beapplied to your student billing account for each term of participation.
The student health insurance office will review health insurance exemption (waiver) requests they receive,if they are received by the stated deadline.
There is no guarantee that a waiver request, if submitted, will be approved. If you submit a request for
waiver and it is not approved, you must be prepared to pay the cost of the UC student health insurance
plan. The student health insurance office will review health insurance exemption (waiver) requests theyreceive, if they are received by the stated deadline.
General information about Insurance is available at:https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/before-you-arrive/insurance
Detailed information is posted on the Campus Specific Instructions pages when it becomes available at:https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/before-you-arrive/campus-specific-instructions

Health Requirements

Students must be prepared to submit proof of their immunization records and TB screening by the stateddeadline of their host UC.
For more information, see: https://www.ucop.edu/uc-health/_files/uc-immunization-requirements-andrecommendations.pdf

Housing

UCEAP reciprocity students are eligible to apply for UC university-owned housing. UC housing is notguaranteed.
https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/before-you-arrive/housing
Housing information is posted on the Campus Specific Instructions pages when it becomes available at:https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/before-you-arrive/campus-specific-instructions

US Visa

UCEAP reciprocity students will receive instructions after their host UC campus placement is determinedon how to submit financial documentation required for DS-2019 request. Students must have a DS-2019
before they can apply for their US J-1 visa.
For the minimum Estimated Living Expenses required for DS-2019 issuance, see:https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/after-you-apply/visa-resources/financial-requirements
For Visa Resources, see: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/after-you-apply/visa-resources
U.S. citizens and valid U.S. permanent residents do not need a DS-2019 to enter the United States; a U.S.
passport or permanent resident card is sufficient.

Application Review

UC is a systemwide program with 9 undergraduate campuses. Students must be willing to attend any UC
campus where their major is offered.
Applicants are required to submit 3 study plans for UC campuses where their area of study is offered.
These will help staff in our office to better understand the applicant’s study objectives and place theapplicant at a UC campus that will be a good match.
For more information, see: https://reciprocity.uceap.universityofcalifornia.edu/apply-exchange/applyundergraduate-programs/step-1-explore