UC Campuses Open for Spring 2026 and Next Admission Steps

Now that you’ve learned your application results (unless possibly if you’re on a waitlist), here are the next steps in your UC journey. 

UC campuses open for winter/spring 2026

UC Merced and UC Santa Cruz will be accepting transfer applications for winter quarter/spring semester 2026. Additionally, UC Merced will be accepting first-year applications in select majors for the spring 2026 semester. The application filing period is July 1–31. After July 1, students can check to ensure that their major is available for winter quarter/spring semester enrollment.

Document submission for admitted students

First-year

First-year students who accept an offer of admission must submit final, official transcripts from their high/secondary school and transcripts for all college/university coursework attempted to the one UC campus where they intend to enroll.

• All official high school transcripts must include the date of graduation and final senior year grades.
• Students with international coursework must submit an official academic record (transcript) directly from the international institution. UC campuses will not accept international coursework posted to a U.S. transcript (pass-along credit).
• International transcripts issued in a language that does not use the Roman alphabet must include an official translation.

Transfer

Transfer students who accept an offer of admission must submit transcripts from all colleges/universities attended and for all coursework attempted.

• Students with postsecondary attendance at an international institution must submit the official academic record (transcript) directly from the international institution(s) issued in English or with an official English translation.
• Students must submit the official high/secondary school transcript(s) if requested by the campus.

Transcripts, exam scores and IGETC

• Final, official transcripts/academic records from every institution attended must be submitted to the campus where the student plans to enroll by July 1, or, for quarter-system schools, as soon as final spring grades are posted.
• All UC campuses strongly encourage all official transcripts to be submitted electronically from an acceptable electronic transcript vendor.
• High schools and colleges that are unable to submit transcripts electronically may send official, sealed transcripts (hard copy) directly to the campus through a mail delivery service.
• Emailed transcripts are neither allowed nor accepted.
• Official AP/IB/A-level and English proficiency exam scores must be postmarked or delivered electronically by July 15, or as soon as the results are available.
• Full or partial UC IGETC certification must be postmarked or delivered electronically by July 15, either posted directly to the official transcript or as a separate document, per IGETC Standards section 12.3.3.

All UC campuses highly recommend that UC IGETC certification be sent electronically as a notation on the transcript or as a hard copy through a mail delivery service. Partial IGETC certification must indicate exactly how many courses from each area are missing. Except in rare instances or extenuating circumstances, emailed certificates will not be accepted. Delivery of IGETC certification by any method other than that preferred by the campus may result in processing delays.

Schools unable to meet the transcript deadline

If your school/institution is unable to meet the July 1 deadline for transcripts or the July 15 deadline for IGETC certification, notify UC by emailing AskUC@ucop.edu. Please be sure to include the name of your school, your College Board (CEEB) code and the date when you expect transcripts to be available. This information will be shared with each of our campuses.