How to Apply to Physics at UCLA: Choose Physics or Undeclared on the UC Application, with a BS in Physics, a BA in Physics and a BS in Astrophysics in the Department of Physics and Astronomy (Biophysics BS Closed to New Admits), and Requirements for Domestic, International (Including Chinese) and Transfer Students

At UCLA, physics is taught by the Department of Physics & Astronomy, part of UCLA College (College of Letters and Science; the department’s page header shows College and Physical Sciences). You apply to UCLA through the University of California’s single application and can name a major or apply undeclared. Mathematics, computer science and engineering have their own articles on this site; chemistry and other majors are not covered here. Below is what UCLA’s and UC’s websites say, for domestic students, international students (with a separate section for applicants from China) and transfer students. UCLA’s course catalog (catalog.registrar.ucla.edu) runs on a third-party platform (CourseLoop) and was not accessed, so course requirements here come from the department’s own pages.

1. The degrees and programs

The department says it offers four undergraduate majors, with research strengths including condensed matter, elementary particle, plasma, nuclear, atomic-molecular-optical and accelerator physics, biophysics and astrophysics.

• B.S. in Physics: described as giving a solid preparation in universally acknowledged core physics concepts, in the classroom and the laboratory. Required: Physics 105A, 105B, 110A, 110B, 112, 115A, 115B, 115C; one Physics 170 course and one Physics 180 course (or two 180 courses); and three upper-division electives. The major is 52 units, plus the preparation courses. The plan for the three upper-division electives must be worked out in writing with a departmental advisor five terms before graduation.
• B.A. in General Physics: described as a strong physics background with flexibility for study in other fields, of interest to double majors and future science teachers. Required: Physics 105A, 105B, 110A, 110B, 112, 115A, 115B, 115C, plus one course from the Physics 170 or 180 series; 36 units, with the same preparation courses as the BS.
• B.S. in Astrophysics (also called Astronomy and Astrophysics on the program page): the preparation includes Physics 1A/1B/1C, 4AL, 4BL, 17, 32, Astronomy 81 and calculus; the major requires Physics 105A, 105B, 110A, 110B, 115A, 115B, 115C, Astronomy 115, 117, 127 and 180, and three upper-division electives (at least one in astronomy); 56 units.
• B.S. in Biophysics: the department page says admission is being suspended, effective fall 2027 for new admits (“effective Fall 2026 for continuing students and Fall 2027 for new admits”), and that the department will propose discontinuing the major; students entering as new students in fall 2026 can continue. Applicants for fall 2027 entry should not count on it; ask the department’s undergraduate advisors.
• Other combinations: joint or double degrees with mathematics, computer science or other fields are not listed on the physics pages read; not published. The BA description mentions double majors.
• Size and outcomes: the department pages give no enrollment figures or placement percentages; not published. They say only that careers for physics majors are varied: academic, governmental or corporate research, engineering, teaching, hardware and software development, with many majors accepted to medical and law schools and others entering banking, finance, management, entertainment and government.

2. How admission works: choose a major when applying, complete major requirements after enrolling

• Choosing on the application: UCLA admissions says you can declare a major or apply undeclared on the UC application. Although the application has an alternate major for other UC campuses, UCLA reviews first-years for one major only. For applicants to a major in the College, the major you choose neither helps nor hurts, and many apply undeclared.
• Changing major after applying: changing majors within the College is not allowed after you submit (the major is not considered in review). After admission you can contact the department, change or declare at the New Student Session, or meet a counselor.
• Conditions for the physics major: the department lists “preparation for the major” and “the major” courses and states no grade threshold or cap for moving from the preparation courses into the major; this is not published, so ask the department’s undergraduate advisors. It says all courses for the major and preparation must be taken for a letter grade (no pass/no pass), with a 2.0 average in those courses required to complete the degree.
• Enrolling in courses: the department’s enrollment page says to join waitlists for full Physics 1 series courses, that the department does not issue PTE numbers for lower-division courses, and that upper-division labs (Physics 170 and 180, Astronomy 180) are by PTE number only, with priority to declared physics, astrophysics and biophysics majors, assigned by class standing and expected graduation date.
• Advising: undergraduate advisors meet students in person or by Zoom about majors, degree requirements, course planning and research.

3. Preparation

• High school courses (university level): UCLA requires 15 A-G courses, at least 11 completed before the start of the last year of high school: 2 years of history/social science, 4 of college-preparatory English, 3 of mathematics (4 recommended), 2 of laboratory science (3 recommended), 2 of a language other than English (3 recommended), 1 of visual and performing arts and 1 college-preparatory elective. It says there is no single path and competitive applicants earn high marks in the most rigorous curriculum available. The physics pages list no required high school physics or calculus; not published.
• Physics 1 series and calculus: the physics preparation courses are Physics 1A/1B/1C (or the honors 1AH/1BH/1CH), 4AL, 4BL, 17 and 32; Math 31A, 31B, 32A, 32B, 33A and 33B; Chemistry 20A; and PIC 10A, CS 30 or CS 31 — 58 units in all. Physics 1A has enforced requisites Math 31A and 31B and a corequisite of Math 32A; Physics 1B requires Physics 1A and Math 31B and 32A, with Math 32B as corequisite. The Physics 1 honors series requires departmental consent (contact the undergraduate advisors). The Physics 5 series is for life sciences majors and is not part of the physics major preparation. The pages read mention no math or physics placement exam; not published.
• AP/IB credit (UCLA College’s AP and IB charts; check the latest): UCLA awards AP credit for scores of 3 or higher, and IB credit for Higher Level exams only; the credit depends on the college that houses your major. In the charts, AP Physics 1 and Physics 2 are 8 units each and AP Physics C: Electricity/Magnetism and Mechanics 4 units each, all listed as PHYSICS “General” credit, with an 8-unit maximum for physics; IB Physics HL 5 to 7 is listed as PHYSICS Intro, 8 units. The charts name no specific required course such as Physics 1A; whether AP credit can replace physics requirements is not on the physics pages read, so ask the undergraduate advisors. For mathematics: AP Calculus AB (or AB subscore of BC) 3 to 4 is MATH Calculus (4 units); AB 5 is MATH 31A; BC 3 is MATH Calculus (8 units); BC 4 is MATH 31A plus Calculus; BC 5 is MATH 31A and 31B; IB Mathematics Analysis & Approaches HL 6 to 7 is MATH 31A (a 5 is Unassigned). The site adds that AP credit does not satisfy general education requirements.
• Labs and thesis: the BS requires a Physics 170 course and a Physics 180 course (or two 180 courses), which are lab courses assigned by PTE number; the BA requires one course from the 170 or 180 series; the preparation includes the Physics 4AL and 4BL labs. The physics pages do not list a thesis as required; see Honors below.
• Honors: the department’s honors page says physics majors in the senior year with a 3.5 GPA in upper-division math and physics courses are eligible. Besides all major courses, students complete either two 4-unit terms of Physics 199 (research) or 4 units of Physics 197 (an individual study with a written report) plus Math 115A and two courses from Math 120A, 120B, Physics 221A and 221B. Honors requires a GPA of at least 3.5 at graduation and Highest Honors at least 3.75.
• Undergraduate research: the department’s ten-week summer research program (dates printed for 2026: June 15 to August 21) pays a USD 6,000 stipend, is open only to UCLA students majoring in physics or astronomy, is full-time with no concurrent summer classes, and asks for a one-page statement, an unofficial transcript, a resume and a faculty recommendation; the 2026 deadline was March 25. The 2027 arrangements are not on the page read; check the department site. Projects span theoretical particle physics, plasma physics, condensed matter and quantum information, nuclear and particle physics and astroparticle physics.
• Competitions: how competitions such as the USAPhO are viewed in admissions is not on the pages read; not published. UCLA’s comprehensive review lists special talents, awards and accomplishments among its criteria.

4. Plans and materials (fall 2027 entry)

• UC application: opens August 1 and is submitted October 1 to November 30 (the UCLA first-year page also says “October 1-December 1” elsewhere on the same page, while UC’s dates page says October 1 to November 30; follow the official sites). Decisions: March 1 to 31 per UC (UCLA says late March); enrollment deposit and housing application May 1; final transcripts July 1; AP/IB official results July 15. UCLA has no early action or early decision and accepts fall applications only.
• Application fee: UC’s international page says USD 95 per campus (possibly USD 80 for international students enrolled at a US institution); the fee and waiver rules for domestic applicants are not on the pages read; not published, so check the UC application site.
• Essays: four of eight Personal Insight Questions, each up to 350 words.
• Recommendations and interviews: UCLA does not require or accept letters of recommendation and offers no interviews; transcripts are not collected at application, and admitted students submit official transcripts afterwards.
• Testing: UCLA will not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships; scores submitted may be used only as an alternative way to meet minimum eligibility or for course placement after enrolling.
• Review: UCLA lists 13 faculty-approved criteria for comprehensive review, including rigor of curriculum, grades, leadership and involvement and personal circumstances; the unweighted GPA for fall 2025 admits was 4.0.

5. Domestic students

• Tuition: California residents pay far less than nonresidents: the tuition page (marked updated July 2026; the academic year is not printed, so confirm) shows nine-month costs: university fees USD 16,430; housing in residence halls 12,299; food 7,568; books 1,588; transportation 969; personal 2,761; health insurance 3,885 (waivable with other coverage); California residents total USD 45,500. Nonresidents add USD 39,270 of nonresident supplemental tuition for USD 84,770. The site says residency is determined by a specific process, and that it is extremely difficult for undergraduates whose parents are not California residents to qualify.
• Aid: US citizens and permanent residents file the FAFSA; non-citizens who graduated from a California high school and are AB540-eligible file the California Dream Act Application; the priority deadline is March 2 (with the Cal Grant GPA verification). Aid combines scholarships, grants, low-interest loans and work-study; the site says UCLA seniors in 2025 averaged USD 19,000 in loan debt.
• Scholarships: scholarships specific to the physics department are not on the pages read; not published. The summer research stipend above is the only department-specific funding read.
• Resident preference or guarantee: not on the pages read; not published.

6. International students

• UC eligibility: UC’s international page says first-year international applicants complete 15 year-long academic courses with a 3.4 GPA: 2 years of history, 4 of composition and literature, 3 of college-preparatory mathematics, 2 of college-preparatory science, 2 of a second language, 1 of visual and performing arts and 1 elective; meet the requirements specific to their country; and show English proficiency. UCLA adds that you may not disregard a college record and apply as a first-year.
• English: students who completed all their secondary education in English are proficient; those who studied in a country where English was not the language of instruction and have had less than 3 years of English instruction must show proficiency with the TOEFL, IELTS or Duolingo. UCLA says it looks for competitive scores of TOEFL iBT 5 or higher (subscores 5 or higher) on the revised scale or above 100 (subscores above 24) on the old scale, IELTS 7.5 or above and Duolingo 135 or higher. UC’s minimum benchmarks are TOEFL iBT 4.5 (80 on the old scale), IELTS 6.5 and Duolingo 115, and UC notes a campus may require a higher score. Both sets appear on the sites. UCLA does not encourage using SAT/ACT for English. Official scores need not be sent with the application, but must be accurately self-reported by January; TOEFL can be sent to one UC campus, while IELTS and Duolingo go to each campus. Admitted students whose native language is not English may also take UCLA’s ESLPE.
• Funds and aid: UCLA does not award scholarships or financial aid to undergraduates who are not US citizens or permanent residents. International students must prove sufficient funds; for students admitted to fall quarter 2026 the minimum is about USD 80,739, with another USD 5,000 recommended for personal expenses, contingencies and summer, and the site says it usually grows each year. Adequate medical insurance is required for those on non-immigrant visas.
• Records: UCLA requires records from secondary schools showing subjects and grades, plus any national or government certificates; college records go in the original language with English translations after admission.
• Agents: UCLA does not partner with agents and does not endorse their use.

7. Applicants from China

• Gaokao: the UCLA and UC pages read do not say how Gaokao results are used; this is not published, so ask UCLA admissions.
• Chinese national curriculum (UC’s country page): list all courses and marks from grade 9 through grade 12 exactly as they appear on your official records, and be prepared to submit the upper middle school Graduation Certificate and the official lower and upper middle school academic records (grades 9-12) if you are accepted.
• IGCSE/GCSE/GCE: the country page says to complete at least 5 IGCSE/GCSE/GCE O-Levels and at least 3 academic GCE A-Level exams, reported on the International Exams page of the application. IB students follow the separate IB instructions.
• English and testing: the same as other international applicants; UCLA does not consider the SAT or ACT.
• Any other China-specific guidance is not published on the pages read; ask UCLA admissions.

8. Department funding and research programs

• The Department of Physics and Astronomy summer undergraduate research program: USD 6,000 stipend, conditions in section 3, open only to UCLA physics or astronomy majors.
• The department pages also link to a Schwinger Fellowship site, which was not read.
• Whether these opportunities are open to international students is not on the pages read; not published.

9. Transfer students

• General: UCLA admits transfer students for fall quarter only and gives highest priority to California community college applicants. Transfer applicants must apply to a specific major and cannot apply undeclared; the site says UCLA policy requires transfer students to declare a major by junior standing and expects lower-division preparation for the intended major to be completed before transferring.
• Academic requirements: junior-level standing (60 semester or 90 quarter transferable units) by the end of spring before transfer; a UC-transferable GPA of 3.2 or higher; major preparation completed by the end of that spring; and the 7-course pattern (two transferable English composition and critical thinking courses, one transferable math course with an intermediate algebra prerequisite or higher, and four transferable courses in at least two of arts and humanities, social and behavioral sciences, and physical and biological sciences). The site says admitted transfer students average above 3.5 and have completed most or all major preparation courses.
• Physics major preparation: not listed on the transfer pages read; not published here. UCLA’s Transfer Admission Guide and ASSIST list major preparation by major, and were not read.
• Dates: application October 1 to November 30; grade and coursework updates from January (priority deadline January 31); decisions in late April; Statement of Intent to Register June 1; final transcripts July 1; official AP/IB results July 15.
• International transfers: they must be at junior level (90 to 130 quarter units, or 60 to 90 semester units); UCLA prefers California community college transfers, and historically three out of four admitted international transfers were attending one when they applied. UC does not accept English composition courses from international universities where English is not the language of instruction.
• Credit: UCLA does not evaluate courses before you apply; course-by-course evaluation is done for admitted students who plan to enroll. At most 70 semester (105 quarter) units of transferable lower-division coursework can count toward the degree.
• Aid: the FAFSA deadline is March 2; international transfer students are not offered scholarships or aid.

Checklist

Domestic students:

• Apply to UCLA on the UC application, October 1 to November 30; choose physics or undeclared (the College does not consider the major in review)
• Complete the 15 A-G courses (4 years of math and 3 of science recommended); four of eight Personal Insight Questions; no letters of recommendation and no SAT or ACT
• After enrolling, take Physics 1A/1B/1C and Math 31A to 33B and plan the major with the physics undergraduate advisors

International students (including those from China):

• English: UCLA’s competitive scores are TOEFL 5, IELTS 7.5, Duolingo 135; UC’s minimums are 4.5, 6.5, 115
• No scholarships or aid for international undergraduates; show proof of funds (about USD 80,739 and up for fall 2026 admits)
• Chinese national curriculum: list all grade 9-12 courses and marks; ask how Gaokao results are used

Transfer students:

• Apply to a specific major; junior standing, UC-transferable GPA 3.2 or higher, the 7-course pattern and major preparation
• Check physics major preparation in UCLA’s Transfer Admission Guide and on ASSIST

Sources: UCLA, Physics and Astronomy: undergraduate program; Physics and Astronomy: majors and requirements; Physics 1 and 5 series; Physics and Astronomy: enrollment information; Required course descriptions; Undergraduate summer research; Departmental honors (PDF); First-year applicants; First-year requirements; Choosing a major; International applicants; Transfer applicants; Transferring credits; AP credit; IB credit; Tuition and fees; Financial aid and scholarships; UC: international applicants; UC: requirements by country; UC: English proficiency; UC: dates and deadlines. Information is for fall 2027 entry. Check UCLA and the University of California for the latest details.