How to Apply to Computer Science at UC San Diego: Four Selective CSE Majors That Are Hard to Switch Into Later, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and UC Transfer Students

At the University of California San Diego (UC San Diego or UCSD), computer science is taught by the Department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) in the Jacobs School of Engineering. Every UCSD undergraduate also belongs to one of eight undergraduate colleges, each with its own general education requirements, but CSE majors are available in every college and major requirements are the same. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UC San Diego and UC information, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students (especially UC transfers from California community colleges).

1. Four majors and the curriculum

• Majors: BS Computer Engineering (CSE-BS-001), BS Computer Science (CSE-BS-002), BS Computer Science with a Specialization in Bioinformatics (CSE-BS-003) and BS Artificial Intelligence (CSE-BS-004), plus a minor in Computer Science.
• BS Computer Science structure (General Catalog): 124 major units, not including general education.
  • Lower division, 52 units, normally by the end of sophomore year: CSE 8B or 11, CSE 12, CSE 15L or 29, CSE 20, CSE 21 and CSE 30, plus at least 4 units from a list of computing courses; MATH 20A, 20B, 20C and MATH 18 (linear algebra); one listed science course; and one probability and statistics course.
  • Upper division, 72 units: 12 units of core (CSE 100 Advanced Data Structures, CSE 101 Algorithms, CSE 110 Software Engineering) and 60 units of electives, with at least 12 units each tagged Systems, Theory/Abstraction and Applications of Computing.
• AP: the catalog says a 4 on AP Computer Science A exempts CSE 8A, and students should take CSE 11. AP and IB credit follows the annual AP and IB credit charts.
• Double major limits: Jacobs School of Engineering majors, Data Science and Business Data Science majors, and the Math-Computer Science major cannot double major or minor in CSE.

2. Selective majors: apply for CSE from the start

• What selective means: Admissions lists Data Science, Engineering and Public Health as selective majors for first-year applicants, and the CSE majors fall under Engineering. Space is limited, and UCSD strongly recommends listing an alternate non-selective major on your UC application; if you are not admitted to your first choice, you may be admitted to the alternate if space is available.
• Hard to switch in later: CSE says that since fall 2022 its incoming class has grown and it will be hard, if not impossible, for students not admitted directly to switch into CSE majors. The only way to change into a CSE major after enrolling is the campus Selective Major Application Process, and there is no appeal.
• How the switch works (rules for the summer 2026 cycle): one application window a year, between summer and fall quarters; space is limited and acceptance is not guaranteed. The Artificial Intelligence major is not open through this process at this time.
  • After first year: at least 8 units of screening courses completed at UCSD;
  • after second year: at least 12 units;
  • screening courses include CSE 8B or 11, CSE 12, CSE 29 (or ECE 15 or CSE 15L), CSE 20, CSE 21, CSE 30 (or ECE 30), CSE 100 and CSE 101; they must be taken for a letter grade, and equivalent transfer coursework does not count.
• Past data: summer 2026, 55 applicants and 25 admitted; summer 2025, 76 and 25; summer 2024, no spaces offered.
• Alternatives: CSE points students who are not admitted to the Computing Paths website for other computing-related majors, or to the CSE minor.

3. First-year applications

• Dates: the UC application opens 1 August; submit 1 October to 30 November; portal invitations arrive in December; decisions are posted before the end of March; selected applicants may opt into the waitlist by 15 April; accept by 1 May.
• College ranking: rank up to four undergraduate colleges on the UC application.
• Minimums: A-G courses with C or better and, for nonresidents including international students, a 3.4 GPA from 10th and 11th grade A-G courses. Competitive applicants go well beyond the minimum.
• SAT/ACT: not considered for admission or scholarships.
• Review: GPA (with weight for UC-approved honors, AP and IB), the number and rigor of courses, your senior schedule, Personal Insight Questions (four of eight, 350 words each), achievements and context. CSE states that it plays no role in undergraduate admission review; admission questions go to Admissions.

4. English requirements

If your native language is not English and you attended high school where English is not the language of instruction, you must show proficiency (minimum scores):

• TOEFL iBT 4.5 (from January 2026) or 83 for earlier tests;
• IELTS Academic 7; Duolingo 115;
• or AP English Language or Literature 3+, or IB English A HL 5+ or SL 6+.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Chinese national curriculum: complete 12 years of education and earn the graduation certificate, with all grade 12 subjects at C or better and an overall 3.0 equivalent. If admitted, your school sends English records for grade 9 and grades 10–12 and a stamped copy of the graduation certificate directly to UCSD; notarized translation booklets are not accepted. UCSD does not mention Gaokao results.
• A-level curriculum: at least five IGCSE/GCSE/O-levels and three A-levels; after admission, at least three A-levels must be passed with C or better.
• Maths and programming: UCSD does not list high school prerequisites for CSE first-year applicants; calculus, linear algebra and programming are taken in the lower division (section 1).

6. Students at Canadian high schools

• British Columbia: the Secondary School Graduation Diploma (Dogwood); Ontario requires the OSSD and Quebec the DES plus a pre-university DEC.
• Grades: all grade 12 classes at C or better and an overall 3.0 equivalent; admission is cleared only on receipt of the provincial Ministry of Education record and diploma.
• Students educated in English-speaking countries do not need an English test.

7. Transfer students (UC transfer)

• Dates: submit the UC application 1 October to 30 November; decisions by 30 April.
• Minimums: at least 60 semester (90 quarter) transferable units by the end of spring, junior-level admission only; a minimum GPA of 2.4 for California residents and 2.8 for nonresidents, though admits usually exceed this.
• Finish major preparation before you transfer: applicants to selective majors must complete the minimum lower-division preparation by the end of the spring term before fall admission, and are screened on the number of courses completed, grades and cumulative GPA, with at least C (2.0) in each. For BS Computer Science:
  • Maths: MATH 18, MATH 20A, 20B and 20C (linear algebra and three quarters of calculus);
  • Programming: CSE 11, CSE 12 and CSE 20;
  • Science: one course from a list including PHYS 2A, 2B, CHEM 6A and BILD 1.
  Computer Engineering requires MATH 18, 20A–20D, PHYS 2A–2C and CSE 11 and 12 (CSE 30 recommended); Bioinformatics requires MATH 18, 20A–20C, BILD 1 or 3, CHEM 6A and CSE 11 and 12; Artificial Intelligence matches Computer Science. California community college students can check equivalents on ASSIST.
• No switching in later: CSE states that transfer students are not permitted to apply through the campus selective major process, so apply to a CSE major on the UC application with the preparation done; listing an alternate non-selective major is also recommended.
• Course credit: students from other UC campuses can check CSE’s list of pre-approved UC courses; for out-of-state or four-year institutions, ask Admissions about transferability. Courses not pre-approved can be petitioned with CSE after enrolment.
• English: applicants from English-medium high schools or universities can meet it with B or better in two English composition courses; others submit TOEFL 4.5, IELTS 7 or Duolingo 115 by January.
• Where transfers come from: more than 90% come from California community colleges, but UCSD also admits students from other UC campuses and four-year institutions.

8. Tuition and aid (US$)

• For students entering in 2026-27 (three quarters a year): tuition, student services fee and nonresident supplemental tuition total 18,286 a quarter or 54,858 a year; campus fees including mandatory health insurance are about 5,659 a year; international students also pay a one-time 200 visa administration fee.
• Locked tuition: under UC’s Tuition Stability Plan, tuition stays flat for each entering class for up to six years. Rates for 2027-28 entrants have not been published.
• Aid: international students are not eligible for federal or state aid and must prove sufficient funds for their visa.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Submit the UC application by 30 November 2026 with Computer Science (or another CSE major), an alternate non-selective major and four colleges ranked
• A-G GPA of at least 3.4 (competitive applicants are well above); TOEFL 4.5 (new scale), IELTS 7 or Duolingo 115
• Understand that switching into CSE after enrolling is very hard

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

• Also apply by 30 November; no SAT/ACT; all grade 12 classes at C or better

Transfer students:

• By the end of spring before transfer, complete equivalents of MATH 18, 20A–20C, CSE 11, 12 and 20 and one science course, each with at least C, ideally much higher
• Junior standing and a nonresident GPA of at least 2.8; apply by 30 November, decisions by 30 April

Sources: UC San Diego and the University of California, CSE: prospective students; CSE undergraduate degree programs; CSE selective major criteria; General Catalog: CSE undergraduate programs; First-year application requirements; First-year timeline; International students; Undergraduate colleges; Transfer requirements; Transfer major preparation; 2026-27 undergraduate registration fees; UC requirements for international applicants. Information is for fall 2027 entry (fees are rates for students entering in 2026-27). Check UC San Diego and UC for the latest details.