How to Apply to Psychology at UC Davis: A BA or a BS (Biology or Quantitative Emphasis), Declare After Two Courses, and Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), psychology is taught by the Department of Psychology in the College of Letters and Science, with two degrees:

• Bachelor of Arts (AB): for students interested in the liberal arts, with at least 56 major units;
• Bachelor of Science (BS): for students interested in biology or mathematics, with a biological emphasis (at least 100 units) or a quantitative emphasis (at least 87 units), including calculus, chemistry and other science courses.

The department is organized around five core areas: perception, cognition and cognitive neuroscience; biological psychology; social-personality psychology; developmental psychology; and quantitative psychology. UC Davis uses the UC application and admits for fall only. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UC Davis and University of California information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. How first-years enter psychology

• Choosing a major: UC Davis advises applying to a major that interests you rather than one you think is easiest to get into, and listing an alternate major in case you are not admitted to your first choice.
• Declaring the major (General Catalog): after entry, complete PSC 001 (General Psychology) and PSC 041 (Research Methods in Psychology) for letter grades with a combined GPA of at least 2.5; otherwise a 2.0 GPA in at least three upper-division psychology courses also qualifies. Then save a Degree Worksheet and submit a Change of Major form in OASIS.
• AB preparation: general psychology, statistics (such as STA 013), PSC 041 and a set of biology courses; upper-division courses come from four core groups, with at least 40 upper-division psychology units in total.
• Honors: for high or highest honors in psychology, students must meet college honors criteria and complete an original data-analysis research project of at least 6 units over two or more quarters, written as a thesis approved by the department.
• Research and internships: the department strongly encourages research with faculty and internships, especially for students planning graduate study.
• The department’s website could not be opened while this guide was written, so the major information here comes from the UC Davis General Catalog.

2. First-year dates and review

• Start the UC application from August 1; submit October 1 to November 30, 2026; check decisions in the UC Davis applicant portal as early as mid-March; submit your Statement of Intent to Register by May 1.
• No early decision or early action; fall entry only.
• Comprehensive review uses UC’s 13 factors: A-G GPA, rigor including honors/AP/IB HL courses, subject strengths, achievements, personal context and your personal insight questions.
• SAT/ACT: UC Davis no longer considers SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarships; scores may be used for minimum requirements or placement after enrollment.

3. Academic and English requirements for international students

• Academics: complete secondary school with strong grades and a certificate that qualifies you for university in your country; nonresidents need at least a 3.4 A-G GPA. International students meet the same requirements and join the same selection process as U.S. students. Report grades as they appear; do not convert them or use a credential evaluation.
• English: required if you studied in the U.S. for fewer than three years and were taught in another language before. UC Davis accepts TOEFL, IELTS, Duolingo, specific AP/IB exams or college coursework, using UC’s minimums:
  • TOEFL iBT (including Home Edition): 4.5 from January 2026, 80 before;
  • IELTS 6.5;
  • Duolingo 115.
  Test by December of your final year; UC notes that campuses may expect higher scores in selection. IELTS One Skill Retake and TOEFL MyBest are not accepted.
• 13-year systems: if your country’s pre-university education is 13 years, you must complete all 13 years before entering.

4. Students at high schools in China

• Chinese national curriculum: following UC instructions, report all grade 9–12 courses exactly as on your records; if admitted, submit your graduation certificate and official lower and upper middle school records. UC Davis does not mention Gaokao results.
• A-Level: at least five IGCSE/GCSE/O-Levels and three A-Levels; AS-Levels do not count toward the minimum but must be reported; A, B or C A-Level grades may earn credit.
• IB: report IB courses and exams following the application instructions.
• After admission, records must be sent directly by the school or exam board; records sent by students or notarized copies are generally not official.

5. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC and all provinces except Quebec: complete 12 years and earn the graduation diploma (UC’s requirement); UC Davis publishes no specific score.
• Quebec: the DES plus the two-year CEGEP DEC; CEGEP work can earn up to one year of credit, course by course.
• Students taught in English generally do not need an English test; follow the English proficiency guidance in the UC application.

6. Costs (US$)

• Students first enrolling in 2026-27, living in residence halls: systemwide tuition and fees 15,588; campus fees 2,490; books 1,205; room and board 22,252; personal 2,656; transportation 672; health insurance 3,996; document fee 150; California resident total 49,009. Nonresidents add supplemental tuition of 39,270, for about 88,279; living off campus, about 83,931.
• Tuition stability: systemwide tuition and fees stay flat for up to six years from your first term; campus fees, housing and insurance can change each year.
• Aid: UC Davis’s admissions pages do not say whether international students can receive financial aid, and the financial aid office’s international page could not be opened while this guide was written; check that page or contact the office directly.

7. Transfer students

• Minimums: 60 semester or 90 quarter UC-transferable units by the end of spring before entry; two English composition courses; a transferable GPA of 2.40 for California residents and 2.80 for nonresidents, with a UC Davis minimum of 2.80.
• Psychology is a selective major: transfer applicants must complete the following with a 2.90 GPA across the group, C or better in each, for a letter grade, by the end of spring before entry (summer courses do not count):
  • introductory psychology;
  • statistics (STA 013);
  • biology: BIS 002A or BIO 002/002L, or BIS 010 plus one of ANT 001, MCB 010 or NPB 010. For the BS biological emphasis, UC Davis strongly recommends BIS 002A or BIO 001, 002 or 003.
  California community college students using TAG for Letters and Science need at least a 3.20 GPA.
• International transfers meet the same requirements in the same selection process. Two English composition courses need C or better; if you transfer directly from a non-English-medium university abroad, your English courses are unlikely to count and you will need a test to show English proficiency.
• Credit: only academic courses from degree-granting institutions recognized by the education ministry or a U.S. accreditor count; technical, vocational and remedial courses generally do not; credit is finalized after you enroll.
• Dates: submit October 1 to November 30; TAG decisions come in mid-November; January 31 is the priority deadline for the Transfer Academic Update, and later updates may not be considered.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Submit the UC application October 1 to November 30, 2026, choosing psychology and an alternate major
• A 3.4 or higher A-G GPA; competitive applicants are usually higher
• TOEFL 4.5 (80 on the old scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115, taken by December
• Budget about $88,000 a year

Students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver):

• Apply by November 30, with no SAT/ACT
• After entry, take PSC 001 and PSC 041 early; a combined 2.5 GPA lets you declare

Transfer students:

• 60 semester units and a 2.80 or higher transferable GPA
• Complete introductory psychology, statistics and biology with a 2.90 GPA by spring

Sources: UC Davis and the University of California, International admission; International records; International exam and visa requirements; First-year admission requirements; First-year application tips; First-year timeline; Application review criteria; Transfer admission requirements; Transfer timeline; Transfer with international records; Selective major requirements: Letters and Science; 2026-27 cost of attendance; Catalog: Psychology, Bachelor of Arts; Catalog: Psychology, Bachelor of Science; UC English language proficiency; UC first-year information by country. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check UC Davis and UC for the latest details.