How to Apply to Computer Science at UC Irvine: The ICS Computer Science B.S., Change-of-Major Thresholds and Transfer Requirements, with Requirements and Timeline for Chinese and Canadian High School Students and Transfer Students

At the University of California, Irvine (UCI), undergraduate computer science is the Computer Science, B.S. offered by the Donald Bren School of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS). The school also offers Computer Science and Engineering (jointly with Engineering), Data Science, Software Engineering, Informatics, Game Design and Interactive Media, and Business Information Management. UCI uses the UC Application and admits for fall only. Here is what you need to know for fall 2027 entry, based on UCI and University of California websites, for students at high schools in China, students at Canadian high schools (including BC and Vancouver students), and transfer students.

Note: this guide could not use the school’s own website (ics.uci.edu); major information comes from the UCI Catalogue, the change-of-major website and the admissions website.

1. Curriculum (2026-27 Catalogue)

• Lower division: I&C SCI 31, 32 and 33 (or accelerated H32 plus 33); C/C++ programming, data structure implementation and analysis, introductory computer organization, principles in system design and introduction to software engineering; calculus MATH 2A and 2B; Boolean logic and discrete structures, discrete mathematics for computer science, computational linear algebra (or MATH 3A); STATS 67; and two approved general education courses.
• Upper division, 17 courses:
  • core (2): COMPSCI 161 Design and Analysis of Algorithms and I&C SCI 139W Critical Writing on Information Technology;
  • flexible core (4): one course from at least four of seven focus areas (vision and graphics; information management; networks and cybersecurity; systems and software; architecture and embedded systems; algorithms; artificial intelligence and machine learning);
  • nine upper-division electives;
  • two project courses (for example databases and web applications, compilers, operating systems, artificial intelligence, or the computer science project).
• Areas of interest: the catalogue lists algorithms, architecture and embedded systems, AI and machine learning, information management, networks and cybersecurity, systems and software, and visual computing. You can focus on one area or explore several.
• Languages: the school catalogue says Python, Java and C++ are used in the curriculum.
• AP: one school course lists AP Computer Science A with a score of at least 3 as a prerequisite, or a transfer programming course or equivalent experience on review.
• Honors: the ICS Honors Program lets selected upper-division students do at least two quarters of faculty-supervised research and write a report.

2. Getting into Computer Science as a first-year

• Choose the major on the UC Application: UCI’s admissions pages do not say how much your chosen major affects first-year admission, and admit numbers or rates for Computer Science are not published.
• Two statements on review: the school catalogue says selection criteria include “grades, test scores, and other considerations”, while UCI admissions says SAT and ACT scores are not considered for admission or scholarships. Admissions is the authority; both are shown here.
• Changing into Computer Science (requirements effective fall 2026):
  • cumulative UC GPA of at least 3.0, 3.0 in the quarter before the change, and 3.0 across all courses required for the major;
  • complete I&C SCI 33 and three of MATH 2B, I&C SCI 6B, 6D, 6N (or MATH 3A) and STATS 67, with an average of 3.3 or higher and no grade below C;
  • AP scores are not accepted as grades; students with AP credit must take additional courses from the list;
  • at most two repeats in total, and one per course.
• When: students admitted as first-years in their first six full-time quarters apply through StudentAccess on a rolling basis (3 to 4 weeks); in the 7th to 9th quarter they can only file a change-of-major appeal, decided on UCI performance and major capacity; after the 9th quarter they cannot change into an ICS major. Appeals open only in weeks one and two of each quarter, with decisions by the end of week 6.
• Computer Science and Engineering: students in this major are assigned to ICS or Engineering based on enrollment, and cannot also complete the Computer Science major.

3. First-year dates and review

• Submit the UC Application for fall 2027 from 1 October to 30 November 2026; this also counts for scholarships. Decisions appear in the UCI applicant portal.
• No ED or EA; fall entry only.
• Comprehensive review: A-G GPA, course rigor, honors/AP/IB HL courses, senior-year program, special talents, achievements and personal circumstances, and your Personal Insight Questions. UCI does not accept letters of recommendation.
• SAT/ACT: not considered for admission or scholarships.

4. International academic and English requirements

• Academic: 15 year-long A-G courses with a minimum GPA of 3.4: 2 years of history, 4 of the language of instruction, 3 of mathematics, 2 of science, 2 of a second language, 1 of arts and 1 college-preparatory elective.
• English: required if all or part of high school was not taught in English, or English instruction was under 3 years. Minimums: TOEFL iBT 4.5 from January 2026 (80 before); IELTS 6.5; Duolingo 115. ACT English 24, SAT EBRW 680 or AP English 3+ also work. Test by December; IELTS One Skill Retake and TOEFL MyBest are not accepted.

5. Students at high schools in China

• Standard curriculum: complete 12 years of school with a graduation certificate and list all grade 9 to 12 courses. The Gaokao is not mentioned.
• A-levels: at least 5 IGCSE/GCSE/O-levels and 3 A-levels, grade C or better. IB: scores of 5 or higher in coursework and exams are encouraged.
• AP 3+, IB HL 5+ and A-level A to C can earn UCI credit, but AP cannot replace course grades for a change of major (section 2).
• Mathematics and programming: admissions does not list high school prerequisites for computing majors; the first year includes the programming sequence and calculus.

6. Students at Canadian high schools

• BC and provinces other than Quebec: complete 12 years with a high school diploma and competitive grades (no specific score is published).
• Quebec: the DES plus the two-year CEGEP DEC.
• Three years at an English-language high school means no English test is needed.

7. Transfer

• Basics: 60 semester or 90 quarter UC-transferable units by the end of the spring before entry; minimum transferable GPA 2.8 for non-residents; all majors are selective, with priority for junior-level California community college students.
• Computer Science transfer requirements (no TAG):
  • transferable GPA of 3.0;
  • a B or better in: two semesters or quarters of approved calculus; one year of programming in a single object-oriented language (Python, Java or C++), not introduction-to-computer-science courses; and one more approved course (advanced data structures, machine organization and assembly, software engineering, discrete mathematics, Boolean algebra or linear algebra);
  • Visual Basic, C and C# courses are not approved preparation.
• Note: lower-division courses must be taken in sequence, so junior transfers who still need much of the sequence may take more than two years to graduate. First-year object-oriented programming is taught in Python, and C++ and Java are used extensively, so learn them before your first quarter.
• Changing major later: junior transfers can appeal to change into an ICS major in their 3rd quarter, and not after.
• English and credit: international transfers meet English with two UC-transferable composition courses at C or better; non-UC lower-division credit is capped at 70 semester or 105 quarter units.
• Dates: 1 October to 30 November; 31 January is the priority deadline for the Transfer Academic Update.

8. Costs (USD)

• 2026-27 fees for the fall 2026 cohort: 20,105.05 for California residents; non-residents add 39,270 in supplemental tuition, about 59,375 in total, excluding housing, food, books and transport. Whether Computer Science carries an extra major fee is not published.
• Fee stability: under UC’s tuition stability plan, tuition and the student services fee stay the same for up to six years. Fall 2027 costs are not published.
• Aid: UCI does not offer financial aid to international students, who are also ineligible for federal or state aid.

Checklist

Students at high schools in China:

• Submit the UC Application between 1 October and 30 November 2026, choosing the Computer Science B.S.
• A-G GPA of 3.4 or higher (competitive applicants are usually higher); TOEFL 4.5 (new scale), IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 115 by December
• The bar to change in later is high, so apply to Computer Science from the start

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

• Submit by 30 November; no SAT/ACT needed; get familiar with Python

Transfer students:

• Transferable GPA of 3.0 or higher; two calculus courses, a year of object-oriented programming and one approved course, each at B or better
• Learn Java and C++ before you arrive

Sources: UC Irvine and the University of California, 2026-27 Catalogue: Computer Science, B.S.; 2026-27 Catalogue: Donald Bren School of ICS; Change of major: School of ICS; International students; First-year students; Dates and deadlines; Transfer major requirements; Transfer credit policy; 2026-27 undergraduate fees (fall 2026 cohort); Financial aid for international students; UC English language proficiency. Information is for fall 2027 entry (costs are 2026-27 figures). Check UCI and UC for the latest details.