University of California (UC)

The University of California (UC) is the major public research university in the state of California, serving undergraduate and graduate students. There are ten campus locations: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, San Diego, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco. (Both San Francisco and Merced do not participate in the exchange). The campuses of the UC system are located throughout California and encompass the state’s cultural and geographic diversity. UC campuses rank highly among the top public universities in the U.S. Each campus offers attractive and distinct facilities, specialized schools, and creative and challenging learning opportunities.  

Applying to UC means you need to be prepared to go to any UC campus for your exchange.

When applying to the University of California (UC), it’s crucial to understand that the campus allocation is final and cannot be changed post-application. If you’re assigned a campus that wasn’t your preferred choice and decide to drop out, the spot can’t be reassigned, and switching to another institution isn’t an option.

During the application process, you’ll have the opportunity to list your top three campus preferences. However, this doesn’t guarantee placement at one of these campuses. UC reviews applications considering the availability of your chosen subject area across campuses and assigns a campus based on their selection criteria. The campus assignment is typically announced in April each year.

Each UC campus offers unique opportunities, so thorough research is essential to identify which one aligns best with your preferences. While academic offerings and course availability are paramount, other factors may influence your decision. For instance, some campuses might have lower living costs, better access to university accommodation, or offer extra-curricular activities that align with your interests. Lifestyle factors, such as whether you prefer a bustling city or a location closer to nature, should also be considered.

It’s important to maintain an open mind regarding your campus assignment. UCLA and UC Berkeley are often the most sought-after campuses and have limited availability. Remember, every UC campus provides a quality education and unique experiences that can enrich your academic journey.

Please use this Discover UC campus tool to research each campus.

Please use the Major Campus Search to see which campuses offer your subject area.

UC has an earlier application deadline than most other exchange universities.

If you are allocated a place at UC you will need to complete your application to study with them earlier in the year as they have an early deadline of 1^st February - you will be required to complete your application in mid-late January.

For visa and immigration purposes students wishing to study on exchange in the USA are required to prove access to financial resources. The amount you are required to prove is usually the estimated cost of living at your host institution. If you are successfully awarded a place at a US institution you will be asked to submit your financial proof during the official host institution application process (March/April) - please see the Cost Considerations section below for further information.

Available exchanges

The University of California hosts the University-wide exchange and Subject-specific Art - Fine Arts exchange.

Restricted subject areas

There are some academic restrictions at UC which you will need to be aware of.

Information on Restricted Courses

Business Administration (MBA programmes); Design; Medicine, Nursing, Veterinary Medicine and Law are not open to exchange students at UC.

Certain subjects are highly competitive and students must be willing to attend any host campus. Joint honours students who are specialised in two of the following majors should be aware that UC cannot guarantee access to more than one major and you must be prepared to select coursework in only one of your majors.

Restrictions apply to the following subjects:  

Architecture, Arts, Drama, Music, Economics, Communication, Computer Science, Economics, Education, Engineering, Film / Film Studies, Journalism / Writing, Psychology.

Students in these subjects will need to be enrolled in the same field at the University of Edinburgh and will need to prove they meet the prerequisites for the courses. It is important that you are flexible with course choice, and that you have a good list of back up courses. You may also only be able to study your degree subject at certain campuses (e.g. UC Berkeley does not offer Computer Science) so please do check this in the campus major tool.

Your responsibilities

The information provided here serves as a guide.
It is your responsibility to research whether the partner provides appropriate courses for your degree programme.
Even if there are no restrictions on your degree subject, this does not mean that there are appropriate courses for you.

Course listings in the campus catalogues give a broad outline of availability, but many students find on arrival in California that a number of their preferred courses are not offered. Please be well prepared for this by selecting back-up courses for any you are interested in.  

You should look into the courses offered for your degree subject at UC.

Explore UC Courses

You will need to select your 'major' to view the courses available. Generally, this is the same as your degree in Edinburgh. For those that study joint honours, your major would be either the first subject in your degree title or the subject that is most competitive to sign up to courses e.g., computer science.  

Courses are numbered according to their level, 1-99 being lower division, 100- 199 upper division and 200-299 graduate courses. Upper division courses are considered equivalent to honours level at Edinburgh. You will be required to select courses from 100-199.

Depending on which campus you are assigned, you are required to take a different number of credits – at UCB this is a semester system where you will study for 2 semesters and are required to take 28-30 credits, you would study at other campuses for 3 quarters and need to select between 40-45 credits.

Pre-requisites are required to have access to certain courses make sure to look into what you may need for your subject area:

Preparation for popular majors

For more information about navigating the information about courses, as well as information about course enrolment, grades and progression information please consult the following:

UC Academic Resources

The Academic Experience at UC

**Please be aware, there may not be an up-to-date course catalogue available at this exchange destination. Please use the information available to get an idea about what you can study while on exchange** 

Guaranteed accommodation?

University accommodation

UC has a variety of different accommodation options.

Explore UC Accommodation

The University of California guarantees housing to all first-year students. After they have been assigned housing, the remaining spaces are opened up, and you would be eligible to apply for housing from the remaining places depending on your campus assignment. Please note though that accommodation is not guaranteed.

University housing contracts require a commitment through the end of the academic year (May/June) or through the end of your UC studies (early termination fees may apply).  

Private accommodation

Some popular private housing options include living in Cooperative housing (Co-ops) or Community housing. 

non-University housing options

Co-op housing is a good option for students who need to keep housing costs low and are interested in being part of a community. Resident members contribute to the daily operations of the house by performing work shifts. Smaller co-op houses may be quieter and cleaner, while larger co-ops provide opportunities for meeting more students. 

Please be aware that finding private accommodation may be difficult, your campus’ community housing office can provide rental resources and advice about your rights and obligations as a renter. This service cannot find housing for you but they can offer advice and provide resources for your housing search.

Immigration/Visa requirements

You will need to fulfil the financial requirements set out in order to get your visa documentation. This includes proving access to funds through personal funds, or family or sponsorship funds. The amount to show is often over $20,000 in total. This can be across multiple sources. You will need to provide sponsorship letters from personal funds/family members/sponsor funds/Sponsor organisations etc.

Please bear this in mind. If you cannot prove this, you will not be able to get a visa and therefore not be able to go on exchange. UC will provide more information on this if you are allocated an exchange place. 

How much it will cost to go on exchange to UC?

The University of California has created a budget to outline expected costs. 

UC Budget and Costs 

Please also bear in mind that different campuses will have very varied costs attached to them. According to the information provided by UC, the most expensive campus is Berkeley costing $19,174(estimated) for rent and meals and health insurance combined for the academic year. The cheapest exchange campus is Riverside at $14,317(estimated) for the same costs over the same period.  

As you may not receive a place at your chosen campus, and as you cannot change your campus allocation as decided by the University of California, please bear in mind the consequences applying to this institution may have on your budget and finances.   

Additional costs will depend on your housing and lifestyle choices. Each individual campus may have more information about the estimated cost of living in their various towns. Be sure to check the campus websites for this.  

You may also be required to pay for administrative fees at your host institution. This can include paying for your transcript to be sent to us at the end of your exchange.

Health insurance

All students attending the University of California are required to have health insurance, and are automatically enrolled in the health plan chosen by their campus. This also ensures students meet the J-1 visa insurance requirements. 

UC Health Insurance

As each campus has different health insurance coverage and costs, consult the campus specific instructions to find out the costs. As with the accommodation costs, insurance costs for campuses can range from $1,800-$3,500, so please do bear this in mind.  

Campus Specific Insurance and Costs

Students already covered by health insurance can request a waiver (exemption) if your current insurance meets the requirements and waiver criteria. A campus-specific waiver request along with proof of enrolment in the alternative insurance plan must be submitted for review to the campus. 

One full academic year includes 30 weeks of instruction: Three quarters or Two semesters (UC Berkeley (UCB) and UC Merced (UCM)).

A quarter is 10 weeks of instruction: Fall quarter (mid-September-mid-December) Winter quarter (January-mid-March) Spring quarter (April-mid-June)

A semester is 15 weeks of instruction (UCB and UCM only): Fall semester (mid-August-mid-December) Spring semester (mid-January-mid-May)

UC Academic Calendar

Prior to the start of the term, attend the mandatory on-campus orientation. You will learn about enrolment, the benefits and responsibilities of your J-1 visa, safety and the services available on campus. Your host college or department may also hold an orientation.

Visit the Campus Specific Instructions for orientation dates and times. Keep this in mind as you may need to arrive earlier for this orientation week.

Home | University of California 

UCEAP Reciprocal Exchanges | UCEAP Reciprocity System (universityofcalifornia.edu) 

Student Life – find societies and various on-campus activities.

Campus Specific Instructions – find out more about arrival at each campus inc. insurance, accommodation etc.

Wellbeing at UC – here you can find more information on disability and learning support services, health centres and counselling and psychological services available at UC campuses.

Your Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

US Embassies and Consulates

Visa Resources and Travel FAQs

Safety and Security

Facebook - Check out the UCEAP Reciprocity student page