UC Unit Cap for Transfer Students

Transfer Students UC Transfers
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For context, I’m a first year at UC Davis majoring in Biomedical Engineering. Due to personal and financial circumstances, I am planning on transferring to Community College next year and then applying to another UC closer to home(SoCal) for my junior year.

However, it was just brought to my attention that I might not be eligible to transfer to a UC campus after community college due to the unit cap. I currently have 81 quarter units(including AP Units and UC Davis Units), and will have 95 quarter units by the end of this academic year.

Because I want to major in a life science major at my transfer-in UC, and life science majors have a good amount of major pre-requisites, I would be taking on a good amount of units at community college—at least 30 minimum because I won’t be considered a CC student otherwise when transferring in.

If the total amount of units—including the units I currently have and units from CC—exceed over the unit cap for let’s say UCLA, 129 quarter units, will I straight up just not be able to transfer to UCLA?

I’m honestly a little confused and frustrated because it feels like there’s no way forward for me—all because I have too many units?? What other options exist? If I choose a major with only a small amount of pre-major requirements, will I be able to transfer? Because of financial reasons, I’m pretty dead set on going to community college next year, but does that mean that returning to UC Davis would be the only option available for me then?

I would appreciate any and all advice. Thank you!

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Your AP credits are not included in the maximum unit cap but your UC Davis and CC course units would be included in the maximum limits.

See page 36-37 on link. https://admission.universityofcalifornia.edu/counselors/_files/documents/quick-reference-guide-to-uc-admissions.pdf

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As a side note since you’re interested in UCLA be sure to consider taking part in the TAP program at your CCC since it greatly increases the chances of being accepted for majors in the College of Letters and Science (these days called just the “College”). One CCC site says “In 2020 general transfer Students were admitted to UCLA at a rate of 24%. By contrast, TAP applicants were admitted at a rate of 78%.” For program details see UCLA Transfer Alliance Program | UCLA Undergraduate Admission

6 of the UCs take part in the TAG program so you can also have an admission guarantee to one of them for your life science major. It’s not mutually exclusive. You can take part in TAP, apply to one UC using TAG, and apply to other UCs as well. But be sure to check on unit limits for TAG eligibility.

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Read pages 36-38 of the above linked (by @Gumbymom ) document very carefully to see how the number of units is calculated for the limit. Also note that 1 semester unit = 1.5 quarter units; most community colleges and UCB and UCM use the semester system, while UCD and other UCs use the quarter system.