Neuroscience transfer to UC Santa Cruz
What UC Santa Cruz expects neuroscience transfers to finish before fall 2027. Below are Santa Cruz’s own preparation and selection rules, the TAG terms and your odds.
Checked against official UC and campus sources in November 2026.
At a glance
- Fall 2025 campus admit rate
- 70.4%
- Selection criteria
- Yes
- TAG GPA line
- 3.00
- Admits transfers
- Yes
UC Santa Cruz admitted 70.4% of all transfer applicants for fall 2025, and it doesn’t publish admit rates by major. UC Santa Cruz reported an average GPA of 3.47 for admitted fall 2025 transfers and no range. The calculator’s range is an estimate around that average.
What Santa Cruz expects
Neuroscience B.S.
- Courses to finish
Required before transfer are one general chemistry series (CHEM 3A-3C or 4A-4B), CHEM 8A, BIOL 20A, BIOL 20L and BIOE 20B, plus one of MATH 11A, 16A or 19A. BIOL 20L is waived if BIOL 20A and BIOE 20B were completed at a California community college (2026-27 catalog). Source
Also recommended before transfer are a second calculus course, PHYS 6A, 6B, 6C and 6N, STAT 7 and 7L, and CHEM 8B and 8L. Source
- Selection
Neuroscience is a screening major. The required courses must be finished by the end of spring term before fall entry, and winter entrants must also complete a CHEM 8B equivalent (2026-27 catalog). Source
- Also note
Neuroscience is on UCSC's Fall 2026 screening majors list. Source
- Every Santa Cruz major
For Fall 2026, UCSC screens transfer applicants for completion of major preparation courses in a published list of screening majors, with criteria given in each major's General Catalog entry. Source
Required major preparation must be completed by the end of the spring term before fall transfer, or by the end of the fall term before winter transfer. Source
TAG for this major
UC Santa Cruz’s TAG covers neuroscience for fall 2027 at a 3.00 UC-transferable GPA. TAG filing runs September 1–30 of the year before you transfer. All UCSC majors are open to TAG, and Neuroscience is a screening major with added major preparation criteria.
Your odds
Move the GPA to see a regular-review range at UC Santa Cruz.
The same major at other campuses
| Campus | Selection criteria | TAG |
|---|---|---|
| UC Berkeley | Yes | No TAG |
| UCLA | Yes | No TAG |
| UC San Diego | Yes | No TAG |
| UC Irvine | None stated | Not stated |
| UC Davis | Yes | 3.20 |
| UC Riverside | Yes | 2.80 |
| UC Merced | None stated | Not stated |
Other majors at UC Santa Cruz
- Anthropology
- Bioengineering
- Biological Sciences
- Business Administration
- Business Economics
- Chemistry
- Cognitive Science
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Science
- Earth Science / Geology
- Economics
- Electrical Engineering
- English
- Environmental Science
- Film and Media Studies
- History
- Linguistics
- Mathematics
- Philosophy
- Physics
- Political Science
- Psychology
- Public Health
- Sociology
Official links
- UC Santa Cruz transfer admissionsadmissions.ucsc.edu
- ASSIST: course agreements to UC Santa Cruzassist.org
Questions
What GPA do you need to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for neuroscience?
UC Santa Cruz doesn’t publish a GPA for this major. UC Santa Cruz reported an average GPA of 3.47 for admitted fall 2025 transfers and no range. The calculator’s range is an estimate around that average. A TAG needs at least a 3.00.
What classes do I need to transfer to UC Santa Cruz for neuroscience?
Required before transfer are one general chemistry series (CHEM 3A-3C or 4A-4B), CHEM 8A, BIOL 20A, BIOL 20L and BIOE 20B, plus one of MATH 11A, 16A or 19A. BIOL 20L is waived if BIOL 20A and BIOE 20B were completed at a California community college (2026-27 catalog). Check each course on ASSIST for your college.
Can I get a TAG for neuroscience at UC Santa Cruz?
Yes, for fall 2027, with at least a 3.00 GPA. TAG filing runs September 1–30 of the year before you transfer.