How to Apply to Computer Science at UC Berkeley: The CDSS Computer Science BA and the College of Engineering EECS BS, With Requirements and Timeline for Chinese, Canadian High School and Transfer Students

At the University of California, Berkeley (UC Berkeley), there are two routes into computing: the Computer Science BA in the College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS), and the Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences (EECS) BS in the College of Engineering. Both are linked to the EECS department, but they sit in different colleges and are admitted separately. Berkeley uses the University of California application and admits for fall. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UC Berkeley and UC official information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver), and transfer students.

1. Two routes: CDSS Computer Science and Engineering EECS

• CDSS Computer Science (BA): CDSS is Berkeley’s newest college, with majors in Computer Science, Data Science and Statistics. First-year applicants to CDSS must choose one of these majors; CDSS does not admit undeclared students, and admitted students are enrolled in their major automatically. If you are unsure, the college suggests applying undeclared to the College of Letters and Science.
• Engineering EECS (BS): the College of Engineering lists Electrical Engineering & Computer Sciences among its majors, along with Electrical and Computer Engineering and Undeclared Engineering.
• EECS with business: the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Technology (M.E.T.) program includes an EECS & Business Administration track, earning two BS degrees from Engineering and Haas in four years. It is open to first-years only, requires supplemental information and cannot be an alternate major; applicants not admitted to M.E.T. are considered for the matching Engineering major, without a guarantee.
• Alternate majors are not reviewed: you can list a primary and an alternate major, but Berkeley reviews only the primary major, and recommends making a strong interest your primary choice.
• Curriculum: the course requirements for both degrees are on the EECS department website and in the Berkeley Undergraduate Catalog; they were not checked for this guide (the EECS site refused access and the catalog’s program details were not read), so check those two sources directly.

2. Changing into computer science after enrolling

• From another college into CDSS: students admitted in fall 2024 or later in a non-CDSS major apply through a comprehensive review. You need an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher, at least one semester at Berkeley, and to be on track with writing requirements; admission is not guaranteed.
• Between CDSS majors: also through comprehensive review, and applications are accepted only in spring for the following fall.
• Transfer students: CDSS says that because of the demanding nature of the major, transfer students admitted in fall 2024 or later cannot switch into Computer Science or pursue it as a simultaneous degree.
• Engineering: the application FAQs say changing major is possible in most cases, but higher-demand majors such as Engineering may be more difficult, and moving within the same college is easier. Transfer students admitted to Engineering cannot change major within the college and have five semesters to graduate.

3. First-year dates and review

• The UC application opens August 1, 2026; submit October 1 to November 30, 2026; decisions are posted at the end of March, with a reply due May 1. There is no early decision or early action, and late applications are not accepted. Berkeley may also admit students from the waitlist to start in January.
• Minimums: complete the A-G courses with a 3.0 GPA in 10th and 11th grade A-G courses (3.4 for nonresidents). Berkeley says meeting the minimums is often not enough to be competitive.
• Holistic review: mainly weighted and unweighted UC GPA (10th and 11th grade only), planned 12th grade courses, grade trends, the number of and performance in AP, IB, honors and college courses, AP or IB exam scores, and personal qualities and context.
• SAT/ACT: Berkeley is test-free; scores are not used in admission, only for placement or credit after enrolment.
• Letters: only applicants who are invited may submit up to two letters, voluntarily, by January 10; unsolicited letters are not accepted.
• Interviews: Berkeley does not interview; international applicants may send optional InitialView materials by November 30, which cannot replace an English test.
• Context: in 2026, 133,157 first-years applied and 13,992 were admitted (11%); the middle 50% of admits had an unweighted GPA of 3.90 to 4.00 and a weighted GPA of 4.36 to 4.72. Berkeley says these are not benchmarks.
• Fee: $95 per UC campus.

4. Academic and English requirements for international students

• Education: finish secondary school with a certificate that allows university entry in your country. Report grades exactly as on your records; do not convert them. Berkeley has international admission specialists for other education systems.
• IGCSE or O-Levels alone are not enough: you also need the two-year A-Level program (at least three academic exams), the IB Diploma or a similar curriculum. Exam results such as A-Levels are required after admission.
• English (met by January 31, with scores valid for two years from enrolment):
  • TOEFL 90 (4.5 on the new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115;
  • or AP English Language or Literature 3+, IB English A SL 6+ or HL 5+;
  • or ACT ELA 24+ or SAT Writing and Language 31+;
  • or three or more years of English-medium instruction (mixed instruction does not count).
• Visa and funding: after admission you complete the Non-immigrant Information Form (NIF), with proof of funds for the first year from your sponsor.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Chinese national curriculum: list courses and marks exactly as on your records, and submit your graduation certificate and official records if admitted. Neither Berkeley nor UC mentions Gaokao requirements.
• A-Level curriculum: complete the two-year A-Level program with at least three academic exams; IGCSE alone is not enough.
• IB curriculum: the IB Diploma meets the academic requirement, and IB English A results can show English proficiency.
• AP: AP exam scores are considered in review, and AP English 3+ shows English proficiency.
• Focus on TOEFL 90 (4.5 new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115, met by January 31.

6. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC and all provinces except Quebec: under UC requirements, complete 12 years of education and earn the appropriate graduation diploma.
• Quebec: complete the DES and the two-year DEC at a CEGEP.
• Three or more years of English-medium instruction meets the English requirement.
• Berkeley sets no province-specific grade requirements.

7. Costs (US$)

• Fees (Registrar, 2026-27 entering cohort, per semester): for nonresidents, tuition 7,101, student services fee 693, campus fee 936, transit fee 236, nonresident supplemental tuition 19,635, instructional resilience fee 141 and health insurance 2,533, for 31,275 per semester; new students also pay a one-time 250 document fee in their first semester (31,525). Fees are set by entering cohort. Fees for the 2027-28 cohort are not yet published.
• Living costs: the admissions cost page’s 2026-27 budget shows living expenses of 23,640 in a residence hall (its tuition line is the California resident figure).
• Aid: Berkeley’s scholarship and aid policy for international students was not checked for this guide.

8. Transfer students

• Who is a transfer: anyone who has taken courses in a regular term (fall, winter, spring) at a college after high school; the summer right after graduation does not count. Fall entry only. California community college students have priority, but applicants from other institutions are accepted.
• Common requirements (by the end of spring before transfer): at least 60 semester or 90 quarter UC-transferable units and the lower-division preparation for your major.
• CDSS Computer Science: the UC 7-course pattern, major preparation as shown on ASSIST, and at least a 3.0 UC-transferable GPA by the end of the fall term of application. IGETC is not required, but CDSS recommends choosing courses that also fit IGETC.
• Engineering EECS: at least a 3.5 UC-transferable GPA, preparation as shown on ASSIST, and strong preparation in math and physical sciences; IGETC is neither required nor recommended.
• Students outside California community colleges: compare course descriptions in the Berkeley Undergraduate Catalog to find similar preparation courses at your college; four-year and out-of-state applicants can see UC’s transfer eligibility guidance.
• Unit limits: at most 70 semester or 105 quarter units of lower-division credit; applicants above 80 semester or 120 quarter units (89 semester or 133.5 quarter for Engineering) are ineligible. AP, IB and A-Level units do not count toward the limit, but units from any UC campus do. Students who studied only at community colleges are unlikely to exceed it.
• AP/IB credit: AP 3+ and IB HL 5+ earn unit credit that helps meet the minimum but does not count toward the maximum.
• International transfers: the same requirements apply; completing the 7-course pattern satisfies English, so TOEFL or IELTS is not required. Coursework outside the US is unlikely to meet the 7-course pattern, so check transferability first.
• Dates: also November 30, with grade updates by January 31 (priority), decisions at the end of April and a reply by June 1.
• Context: in 2026, 26,251 transfer applicants and 5,345 admits (20%); the middle 50% of admits had a college GPA of 3.69 to 3.96.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Submit the UC application October 1 to November 30, 2026, with CDSS Computer Science or Engineering EECS as your primary major
• A 3.4 GPA in A-G equivalent courses is only the floor; A-Level students need the full two years with at least three exams
• TOEFL 90 (4.5 new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115 by January 31
• Send letters only if invited, by January 10

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

• Apply by November 30; no SAT or ACT needed
• If you want computing, make it your primary major; changing in later means a comprehensive review with no guarantee

Transfer students:

• A 3.0 GPA for CDSS Computer Science or 3.5 for Engineering EECS, 60 semester units and completed preparation
• Transfers admitted from fall 2024 cannot switch into Computer Science, so choose it at application

Sources: UC Berkeley and the University of California, First-year applicants; Testing and letters policy; Requirements for international students; Dates and deadlines; Student profile; Majors by college; Application FAQs; Transfer students; Transfer information by college; CDSS admissions; CDSS majors and change of college policy; Registrar fee schedule; Cost; UC requirements for international applicants; UC first-year information by country. Information is for fall 2027 entry (fees are for the 2026-27 entering cohort). Check UC Berkeley and UC for the latest details.