Physics transfer to UC
What every UC campus expects physics transfers to finish before they apply, where TAG applies, and how selective UCLA is (31% for fall 2025).
Checked against official UC and campus sources in October 2026.
The shared course list
UC’s Physics Transfer Pathway lists the community college courses that prepare you for this major at every campus. Finishing it doesn’t guarantee admission, and campuses add their own rules below.
| Course | Status |
|---|---|
| Calculus-based physics for scientists and engineers (3 semesters / 5 quarters through modern physics, with labs) | Required |
| Single variable calculus (full sequence) | Required |
| Multivariable calculus (one semester) | Required |
| Linear algebra (one course) | Required |
| Differential equations (one course) | Required |
Since fall 2024, a full general chemistry sequence is no longer expected.
Check your courses
Paste the course titles from your transcript or education plan and see which items on the list they cover.
Campus by campus
TAG lines come from UC’s TAG matrix for fall 2027. ASSIST shows which of your college’s courses count at each campus.
| Campus | TAG | Extra rule | Courses |
|---|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | No TAG | None listed | ASSIST |
| UCLA | No TAG | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC San Diego | No TAG | Physics needs a 3.0 GPA in its screening courses. | ASSIST |
| UC Irvine | 3.40 | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Davis | 3.20 | A selective major. Summer courses before transfer don’t count. | ASSIST |
| UC Santa Barbara | 3.40 | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Santa Cruz | 3.00 | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Riverside | 2.80 | None listed | ASSIST |
| UC Merced | 2.90 | None listed | ASSIST |
UCLA’s numbers for this major
- Fall 2025 admit rate
- 31%
- Applicants
- 237
- Admitted GPA, middle half
- 3.84–4.00
UCLA reports these for Physics, against 26% for its community college applicants as a whole. UCLA reviews you for your first-choice major only, unless you’re a TAP student.
Your odds at every campus
Estimates for Physics at all nine campuses at the GPA you set.
Questions
What classes do I need to transfer to UC for physics?
UC’s Physics Transfer Pathway lists 5 items, including calculus-based physics for scientists and engineers (3 semesters / 5 quarters through modern physics, with labs), single variable calculus (full sequence), multivariable calculus (one semester). Check each course on ASSIST for the campuses you apply to.
Can I get a TAG for physics?
Yes, at all six TAG campuses: UC Davis, UC Irvine, UC Merced, UC Riverside, UC Santa Barbara, UC Santa Cruz.
What GPA do you need to transfer to UCLA for physics?
UCLA admitted 31% of 237 transfer applicants to Physics for fall 2025, and the middle half of admits had GPAs of 3.84–4.00.
Is physics a selective major at UC?
Several campuses add rules: San Diego, Davis. See the campus table above.