The UC application is the University of California’s own form, separate from the Common App, and every UC campus uses it. One submission reaches as many of the nine undergraduate campuses as you choose. For fall 2027 entry, the application opened on August 1, 2026, and it must be submitted by November 30, 2026.
Here are the fall 2027 rules at a glance, from UC’s own pages as of October 2026.
| Item | Fall 2027 entry |
|---|---|
| Application opens | August 1, 2026 |
| Filing period | October 1 to November 30, 2026 |
| Campuses on one application | Any or all of the nine undergraduate campuses |
| Application fee | $80 per campus; $95 for international and non-immigrant applicants |
| Fee waiver | Covers up to four campuses for eligible applicants |
| SAT and ACT | Not considered for admission or scholarships |
| Letters of recommendation | Not required or read at the time of application |
| Decisions | March 1 to 31, 2027 (some campuses may release earlier) |
UC Application Deadlines for Fall 2027
UC’s dates and deadlines page sets the fall 2027 filing period at October 1 to November 30, 2026. The application opened on August 1, so you can work on it in as many sessions as you like before you submit.
That page gives November 30 without a time of day. The UC Application Center help desk extends its hours to 7 a.m. through midnight PST on November 29 and 30. Since the page names no cutoff hour, plan to submit before that final evening.
UC’s calendar has one fall filing period and no separate early deadline. Two campuses state outright that they have no early plan: UC Berkeley “does not participate in early action or early decision,” and UCLA does not offer either plan “for any applications.” So if you are weighing early action or early decision at other colleges, your UC application runs on its own calendar beside them.
UC does not use rolling admission either. Its admission decisions page ties the March notification period to applications filed during the October 1 to November 30 window. Admitted first-year students then have until May 1 to submit a Statement of Intent to Register.
Transfer applicants file in the same October 1 to November 30 window for fall 2027. Their transfer calendar adds dates of its own: the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) filing period, September 1 to 30, 2026, and an online transfer application update that opens December 15. Transfer decisions arrive between March 1 and May 1, 2027.
What the UC Application Costs
The fee is $80 for each campus you select, as of October 2026. International and non-immigrant applicants pay $95 per campus. The charge is per campus, so Berkeley and UCLA cost the same as any other UC campus. UC’s fees and waivers section also states that fees are non-refundable: once you submit, you pay for every campus you chose, even if you cancel later.
| Campuses selected | Total at $80 each | With a UC fee waiver |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $80 | $0 |
| 4 | $320 | $0 |
| 6 | $480 | $160 |
| 9 | $720 | $400 |
The UC fee waiver covers up to four campuses. UC’s apply-now page opens it to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and applicants eligible for AB 540 benefits, and eligibility depends on the family size and income you enter in the About you section. When you then pick campuses, the application shows in real time how many you can apply to for free.
Waivers from outside UC, such as one from the College Board, are accepted too. Only one waiver applies, whatever its source, and none covers more than four campuses. Each campus past the fourth costs $80.
What Each Section of the UC Application Asks
UC’s overview of the application walks through its sections in this order. The application signs you out after 20 minutes of inactivity, so save each page as you go.
| Section | What it asks |
|---|---|
| About you | Family, household and residency details; your income figures decide fee-waiver eligibility |
| Campuses & majors | The campuses you are applying to and a major at each, including "Undecided" or "Undeclared" |
| Academic history | Every high school course and grade, entered by you from your transcript |
| Test scores | AP, IB, English proficiency and international exams |
| Activities & awards | What you have done outside the classroom, sorted into six categories |
| Scholarships & support programs | Scholarship categories that fit you, plus interest in UC support programs |
| Personal insight questions | Four short written responses, chosen from eight prompts |
| Review & submit | A final check, the fee payment and the Statement of Application Integrity |
Activities & awards takes up to 20 entries, from awards and honors to work experience, and UC says it is looking for “quality, not quantity.” The writing section is the personal insight questions: you answer 4 of the 8, each capped at 350 words.
Campuses & Majors
UC’s own tip is to apply to more than one campus, which it says will significantly increase your chances of admission to the UC system. You choose a major at each campus, and the majors do not have to match. Each campus reviews your application without knowing your status at the others. Some majors also require a supplemental application or an audition, with requirements that vary by campus and program.
Academic History: Your Transcript, Typed In by You
UC does not want your transcript at this stage. You enter every course and grade yourself, and UC’s instructions say to work from your transcripts, not from memory. That includes any college courses taken during high school and high school-level math or language courses from 7th and 8th grade. Final official transcripts are due only after you accept an offer, by July 1, 2027.
UC calculates your official UC GPA from this record when you submit. Its minimum GPA requirement is 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for nonresidents, in A-G courses. An optional comments box, limited to 550 characters, lets you add context to your academic record.
Test Scores: What UC Does and Does Not Use
UC will not consider SAT or ACT scores in admission decisions or scholarship awards. Scores can still be used to meet minimum eligibility requirements, or for course placement after you enroll. SAT and ACT results can only be reported after you submit. The section does ask about AP, IB, English proficiency and international exams, including ones you plan to take.
Letters of Recommendation: Not Part of the Application
UC states that it does not require, or read, letters of recommendation at the time of application. A campus may ask for them later, as part of a supplemental review. UC Berkeley selects a small percentage of first-year applicants to submit up to two letters, one of them from a teacher or instructor, and sends the request by email.
Some programs with their own supplemental applications ask for letters too. UCLA’s Film and Television major and UCSB’s College of Creative Studies, for example, each require two.
Review & Submit
Before you submit, you confirm your academic information and choose whether to share your application with people such as your counselor or parents. Fees are paid by credit card inside the application, or by mail if you prefer to pay by check; a pay-later option covers applicants who are sending a non-UC fee waiver. You also agree to UC’s Statement of Application Integrity.
Very few changes are possible after that. UC will not accept changes to the Activities & awards or personal insight sections once you submit. Your confirmation page shows your UC Application ID, which you use to log in to campus student portals and, in many cases, to see your admission decisions.
What Happens If an Entry Is Wrong
UC checks what you self-report. Its August 2026 quick-reference guide says application information is verified once your official academic record and any test scores arrive. UC also runs a pre-admission check on a random sample of applicants. Those selected hear in December and must send documents for items such as academic history, awards or personal insight responses.
Applicants who miss the deadline for those documents are withdrawn from consideration at every campus. Information found to be falsified can cost an admission offer, and later even a UC degree.
Because so little can change after you submit, the time for a second reader is before November 30. ExceptionalGrad’s college application advising includes a Detailed Application Review, which its page describes as making sure “all sections of the application including essays and experiences are fully prepared for submission.” UC’s own integrity statement allows applicants to receive advice on content and editing, provided the content and final text are their own. That is our line too: we edit and advise, and we never write your responses.
If you have qualified for a full application fee waiver and can document it, ExceptionalGrad offers discounts on individual services and comprehensive application packages. With the filing period open until November 30, a free consultation is the place to start this application cycle.
Frequently Asked Questions
When are UC applications due for fall 2027?
November 30, 2026, for every UC campus and for transfer applicants too. Filing opens October 1, and the application has been available to fill in since August 1. UC’s dates page lists the date without a time of day. On-time first-year applicants generally hear back between March 1 and 31, 2027.
Is the UC application free?
No, unless you qualify for a fee waiver. As of October 2026, each campus costs $80, or $95 for international and non-immigrant applicants. A UC fee waiver covers up to four campuses, and the application checks your eligibility from the income you enter, so you see the result before you pay.
Does the UC application require letters of recommendation?
No. UC neither requires nor reads letters at the time of application, so there is no letter section to complete. A campus can request them later in a supplemental review. UC Berkeley invites a small share of first-year applicants by email, and it says choosing not to send letters will not hurt the review.
Does UC use the Common App?
No. All nine UC undergraduate campuses use the UC Application, a separate system with its own account, fee and filing period. One UC application covers every UC campus you select, alongside any Common App you file for other colleges. UC’s writing section is its own set of personal insight questions.
Does the UC application check for AI?
UC says it screens responses. Its Statement of Application Integrity states that UC “conducts regular screenings” of personal insight responses and may ask you to authenticate your writing. Generative AI may help with readability, but UC requires the content and final written text to be your own.