How to Apply to Mathematics at the University of California, Irvine: B.S. Degrees in the School of Physical Sciences, a 3.0 Math GPA to Change Majors Later, with Admission Routes and Prerequisites for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At the University of California, Irvine (UCI), undergraduate mathematics is offered by the Department of Mathematics in the School of Physical Sciences. The catalogue lists no school-level requirements (“School Requirements: None”). UCI uses the University of California’s common UC application. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UCI’s website, for U.S. domestic students (including California residents), international students (including those from China) and transfer students. Computer Science sits in a different school and is not covered here; this site has a separate article on it.

1. Degrees and specializations

• Degrees: the department lists the Mathematics B.S., the Applied and Computational Mathematics B.S., a Mathematics minor and a Mathematics for Biology minor. A Mathematics B.A. is marked “Coming Soon” and does not appear in the 2026-27 catalogue. The department describes the B.S. as designed for graduate school or direct work in mathematics, and the B.A. as designed for math-adjacent or non-math fields such as medicine, law, business, finance, journalism, government service or pre-college teaching, with more electives and possibly fewer units.
• Mathematics B.S.: a pure track, a Specialization in Mathematics for Education, and a Concentration in Mathematics for Education/Secondary Teaching Certification (you may choose only one of the two education options).
• Applied and Computational Mathematics B.S.: a standard track, a Specialization in Mathematical Biology, and Concentrations in Data Science and in Mathematical Finance and Actuarial Science.
• Admitted to the major? The catalogue says students may be admitted to the major upon entering the university as freshmen, via change of major, or as transfers. How the major is chosen on the UC application and whether there is a major-specific cut-off is not stated on the pages read; check the UC application and UCI Admissions.
• Specializations and concentrations require applying: they are optional, admission involves an application and an interview, and the department states it is not guaranteed. Mathematics for Education must be applied for by the end of junior year; the teaching certification concentration by the end of sophomore year, starting with an Intent form at the CalTeach center; Data Science requires a 3.0 math GPA; Mathematical Finance and Actuarial Science requires the lower-division math courses plus ECON 20A-20B, advisor approval and an interview; Mathematical Biology involves a meeting in weeks 6 and 7 of a quarter.
• Not combined: a Mathematics major cannot minor in Mathematics or Mathematics for Biology or double major in Applied and Computational Mathematics, and vice versa.

2. Changing into math after enrolling

• School of Physical Sciences criteria (the same for Mathematics and Applied and Computational Mathematics): a 2.00 cumulative UC GPA and 2.00 most recent quarterly GPA; a 3.00 GPA in lower-division math courses that count toward the major, and also 3.00 in lower-division UCI math courses that count; and at least two math courses taken at UCI that count toward the major.
• UCI says exceptions to the GPA criteria will be considered, and students who do not meet the minimums may be held to specific course or grade requirements before or after acceptance. Students with more than 135 units or wanting a double major have additional requirements; contact the School of Physical Sciences advising office (pssazot@uci.edu).
• For all majors, the Dean reviews progress and upper-division GPA after sophomore year, and at most two required math and science courses may be repeated.
• The page gives no application dates; not published. Confirm with Physical Sciences Student Affairs.

3. Prerequisites and the math curriculum

• High school math: UC’s A-G rule is three years of mathematics (four recommended) including algebra, geometry and advanced algebra. UCI publishes no separate high school prerequisite for the math major, and the pages read do not mention a math placement exam; ask the department’s undergraduate office (mathundergrad@uci.edu) about course placement after admission.
• AP / IB credit: scores of 3, 4 or 5 on AP, 5, 6 or 7 on IB Higher Level, and A, B or C on A-Level earn credit toward graduation. The unit and subject credit per exam is in UCI’s AP/IB chart and catalogue; specific math course equivalencies were not checked here.
• Core courses (2026-27 catalogue): Single-Variable Calculus MATH 2A-2B, Multivariable Calculus 2D, Linear Algebra 3A, Differential Equations 3D, MATH 9 programming, MATH 13 Introduction to Abstract Mathematics, Abstract Algebra 120A, Linear Algebra 121A, Probability 130A and Elementary Analysis 140A-140B, plus a three-quarter sequence in chemistry, physics, or statistics and programming. The pure track adds MATH 2E, 120B, 121B, Complex Analysis 147 and five MATH lecture courses numbered 100–189.
• Applied and Computational Mathematics: core courses through MATH 2E, MATH 9 and 13, Numerical Analysis 105A-B with labs, Linear Algebra 121A-B, Probability 130A and Elementary Analysis 140A-B, plus three lower-division courses from biology, chemistry, physics, programming and statistics.
• Honors Program: for junior and senior math majors planning graduate work in mathematics, with at least a 3.5 GPA in math and 3.2 overall. Meet the honors advisor by the start of junior year; apply no later than fall quarter of senior year. Beyond the major, students take MATH 120B and 121B, an honors or upper-division sequence in analysis, number theory or geometry, and one quarter of MATH 199 or an approved research project and thesis. The distinction is noted on the transcript.

4. Rounds, deadlines and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• Application window: UCI’s date table lists 1 October to 30 November as the UC application submission period for fall 2027 admission and scholarships (no year is printed on the page; verify it is 2026). UCI does not list an early application round.
• SAT/ACT: UCI does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships; after enrollment they may be used for placement or certain graduation requirements.
• Essays: four of the eight Personal Insight Questions, up to 350 words each.
• Recommendations: UCI’s international page says it neither accepts nor considers letters of recommendation.
• Transcripts: you self-report all courses and grades on the UC application; official transcripts are requested only after admission and the Statement of Intent to Register.
• Application fee: not stated on the pages read; see the UC application.
• Math competitions: the selection criteria mention outstanding performance in an academic subject, special projects, and special talents, achievements and awards, but do not name math competitions or say how results are treated.
• Review: comprehensive review, including A-G academic GPA (with extra points for UC-certified honors courses), coursework beyond the A-G minimum, honors, AP, IB Higher Level and transferable college courses, “Eligible in the Local Context” (identified by UC as ranking in the top 9 percent of your high school class) and senior-year program quality.

5. U.S. domestic students (including California residents)

• GPA: 3.0 in the 15 A-G courses (3.4 for non-California residents), with no grade below C. There is no pre-approved course list for schools outside California; take varied, challenging coursework.
• Costs: the Registrar’s 2026-27 undergraduate fees total USD 20,105.05 a year for California residents and USD 59,375.05 for non-residents (including USD 14,202 tuition, USD 39,270 nonresident supplemental tuition, other fees and USD 3,213.90 student health insurance). UCI says tuition is held flat for an entering class for up to six years (Tuition Stability Plan).
• Aid: grants are need-based and come from federal, California and UC sources; apply with the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application (2027-28 applications are open). Campuswide scholarships are on ScholarshipUniverse, and the three Distinguished Scholarships (Regents’, Chancellor’s Excellence and Directors’) are considered automatically from the UC application.
• Residents: beyond “Eligible in the Local Context,” the pages read describe no guaranteed admission for California residents; not published.

6. International students

• Subjects: a minimum 3.4 average in history (two years, your own country’s history instead of U.S.), four years in the language of instruction, three years of college-preparatory math (four recommended), two years of science (three recommended), two years of another language (three recommended), one year of visual and performing arts and one more year of the above.
• English: based on the language of instruction at your secondary school, not citizenship. If your school did not teach in English, or you had under three years of English instruction, you must show proficiency: TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition) 4.5 on the new scale from January 2026 (80 before), IELTS 6.5, Duolingo 115, or ACT English 24, SAT Writing and Language 31, SAT EBRW 680, AP English Language or Literature 3+, IB English SL 6–7 (HL 5–7), or a C or better in a transferable English composition course. MyBest TOEFL and IELTS One Skill Retake are not accepted. You self-report scores and send official ones if admitted; if you have not tested, do so by December.
• Costs and aid: international undergraduates pay non-resident fees (section 5). UCI says international students are not eligible for federal or state aid, and UCI does not offer financial assistance for international students; look for external scholarships.
• Agents: UCI does not partner with agents, and applications must be completed by the student.
• International transfers: same major requirements; English is met by two transferable English composition (UC-E) courses with C or better, and courses at non-English-instruction institutions outside the U.S. do not count.

7. Applicants from China

• Credential: you must complete 12 years of education and receive your certificate of graduation, and report all coursework from grades 9–12.
• Chinese plus international curriculum: report all courses and internal grades from grades 9–12 in Academic History, and any international exams (including planned ones) on the International Exams page.
• Gaokao: the page does not say whether Gaokao results are considered or how; not published. Ask UCI Admissions.
• Graduation-exam (huikao) materials: not published; the page does not mention them.
• English: TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo as above.

8. Transfer students

• Math and Applied and Computational Math requirements: a 3.0 cumulative UC-transferable GPA (3.4 for the TAG program); a 3.0 GPA in the required courses; and one year of single-variable calculus with at least a B in each course. Major admission requirements must be done by the end of the spring term before the fall quarter you enter.
• Catalogue note: preference goes to junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall who have completed one year of approved calculus; multivariable calculus, linear algebra and differential equations are strongly recommended.
• Dates: the date table lists the UC application window (1 October–30 November) and a 31 January priority deadline for transfer and 2B applicants to submit the Transfer Academic Update (TAU).
• Credit: up to 70 semester (105 quarter) units of lower-division credit from non-UC colleges; California community college courses follow assist.org agreements; college algebra/precalculus counts once and statistics once.

9. Costs, scholarships and outcomes

• Costs: see section 5. For non-residents, USD 59,375.05 (2026-27); living costs beyond these fees are not listed on the fee page.
• Department scholarships: the department undergraduate pages read do not list math-specific scholarships; not published. Ask the department’s undergraduate office.
• Outcomes: the pages read carry no employment or graduate school data for math majors; not published.

Checklist

U.S. domestic students:

• Submit the UC application between 1 October and 30 November; no SAT/ACT or recommendations
• Complete A-G courses with a 3.0 GPA (3.4 out of state) and three years of math, four recommended
• File the FAFSA or the California Dream Act Application if you need aid

International students (including China):

• 12 years of education; self-report all grade 9–12 courses; 3.4 average in subject requirements
• If your school was not English-taught: TOEFL 4.5 (new) or 80 (old), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115
• Non-resident fees; no UCI financial assistance, so plan your own funding

Transfer students:

• One year of single-variable calculus with B or better each; 3.0 GPA
• Apply 1 October–30 November; submit the TAU by 31 January

Sources: University of California, Irvine, 2026-27 Catalogue: Mathematics, B.S.; Catalogue: Applied and Computational Mathematics, B.S.; Catalogue: Department of Mathematics; Math majors and minors; Math concentrations and specializations; Math honors program; Change of major: Physical Sciences; First-year students; International students; Dates and deadlines; Transfer major requirements; Transfer credit policy; 2026-27 undergraduate fees; International student aid; Undergraduate costs and scholarships; Grants. Some pages (change of major criteria, transfer requirements) do not state the entry year they apply to. Check UCI for the latest details.