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Change of college

Admission to the College of Engineering via a change of college application is very competitive and highly unlikely.

  • Through direct freshman and transfer admissions, we admit the maximum number of students possible each year.
  • Many of our engineering courses are reserved for COE students; therefore, it may be difficult for non-COE students to get into courses in order to meet the minimum requirements for consideration.
  • Applicants need to simultaneously advance in another major in their current college, because admission is unlikely.
  • Students interested in studying engineering at UC Berkeley should apply directly to the college as a freshman or transfer applicant.
  • Transfer students admitted to another school or college at Berkeley are not eligible to change to the College of Engineering.

In this section

Important notes:

  • The College of Engineering does not accept change of college applications for any of the following: EECS major, EECS/MSE joint major, EECS/NE joint major.
  • Students who are accepted via change of college to the College of Engineering cannot change their major or add a second major within Engineering.
  • The application deadline is firm. No late applications will be accepted.
  • The change of college decision is final. No appeals are accepted.

Application periods

Aerospace Engineering only: Students can only apply in their first year between the 1st day of the spring semester until March 1 at 4 PM PT.

All other majors:

Students can only apply in their second year:

  • Fall semester: 1st day of class to October 1 at 4 p.m. PT
  • Spring semester: 1st day of class to March 1 at 4 p.m. PT
  • Applications are only reviewed after the deadline regardless of when it was submitted.
  • Late applications are not accepted.

Decisions are emailed:

  • Fall applicants: November 1-30
  • Spring applicants: April 1-30 (except Aerospace Engineering applicants, who will be notified June 1-30)
  • The change of college decision is final. No appeals are accepted.

For more details about the change of college process, see our change of college application page.

Students who have taken reduced course loads as recommended by the Disabled Students’ Program will be reviewed within that context. Deadlines remain the same, and you must apply no later than your 4th semester. Please contact changeofcollege@berkeley.edu with questions about any disability accommodation requests.

Eligibility

  • Must have been admitted to UC Berkeley as a first-year student Fall 2022 or later
  • Must be on track for the Aerospace Engineering major.

GPA requirement

  • Minimum UC technical GPA of 3.8

Application period

  • Students can only apply in their first year between the 1st day of the spring semester until March 1 at 4 p.m. PT.
  • Note that while applications are due March 1 of your first year, they will not be reviewed until after grades are posted for the spring semester.

Eligibility

  • Must have been admitted to UC Berkeley as a first-year student
  • Must have completed at minimum the freshman year curriculum for your intended major, with in progress the requisite number of additional courses to be on track
  • Must have completed at least 2 semesters of letter grades at Berkeley. Note that Incompletes could negatively impact your eligibility
  • Must be able to complete degree in 8 semesters
  • Must have R&C part A completed or in progress by 3rd semester, and must have R&C B completed or in progress by 4th semester
  • IEOR: Must have completed at least 2 letter graded math classes at Berkeley. This two-course requirement cannot be met with exam scores or transfer work

GPA requirements

  • BioE and BioE/MSE: Minimum UC technical and overall GPA of 3.4
  • Energy Engineering: Minimum UC Technical and overall GPA of 3.3
  • All Other Engineering Sciences: Minimum UC technical and overall GPA of 3.2
  • All other majors: Minimum 3.0 technical and overall UC GPA

Please follow the instructions on the change of college application webpage.

How do I calculate my technical GPA?

The technical GPA includes lower division course requirements as noted on the change of college worksheet. While other technical courses are not calculated into the technical GPA, it is expected that students demonstrate strong performance in all STEM courses. When calculating the technical GPA, grades for courses that have been repeated should be averaged as long as the original grade was below a C-. Do not use only the better of the two grades to calculate the technical GPA. Grades for repeats of technical courses in which the original grade was C- or higher should not be calculated into the technical GPA.  Except for coursework completed at another UC Campus, any coursework not completed at Berkeley is not factored into the GPA calculations, but should be noted on the worksheet.

What if I have taken reduced course loads as recommended by the Disabled Students’ Program?

Students who have taken reduced course loads as recommended by the Disabled Students’ Program will be reviewed within that context. Deadlines remain the same, and you must apply no later than your 4th semester (2nd semester for Aerospace Engineering). Please email changeofcollege@berkeley.edu with specific questions about this.

How are applications reviewed?

We consider a number of factors when change of college applications are reviewed — including, but not limited to, whether the applicant would have been accepted had they applied directly to the College of Engineering as a freshman, completion (at a minimum) of the prescribed engineering freshman curriculum, enrollment in (or completion of) certain sophomore curriculum courses, the student’s overall GPA in these courses, the number of technical courses completed at Berkeley (not at a community college or through AP/IB exams), number of technical courses completed each semester at Berkeley, space availability in the major to which a student has applied and the student’s motivation for engineering as described in the personal statement.

Which resources should I use to prepare to change into the College of Engineering?

The College of Engineering Undergraduate Guide includes detailed information about majors, including a semester-by-semester academic plan to complete degree requirements. The departmental websites also have information about requirements, usually found in the undergraduate or degree programs section.

The humanities and social sciences page on our website explains the complete details on this six-course College of Engineering requirement.

The exam information on our website explains how AP/IB or A level  exams can be used to satisfy requirements for the College of Engineering.

What if I participated in the Fall Program for First Semester or Berkeley Global Edge my first semester?

Students who participated in the Fall Program for First Semester or Berkeley Global Edge can apply in their 5th semester and must submit their applications by 4 p.m. PT October 1 (if fall semester is your 5th semester) or March 1 (if spring semester is your 5th semester).

What about P/NP grades if I was enrolled at Berkeley Spring 2020 through Spring 2021?

Grades of Pass will fulfill college and major requirements if completed Spring 2020, Fall 2020 or Spring 2021. However, applicants must have two semesters of letter graded technical courses listed on the change of college worksheet. Applicants who do not have sufficient letter graded work in technical courses listed on the change of college worksheet will be reviewed at the end of the semester in which they applied.

Whom do I contact if I have more questions?

For a quick question, send us an email or stop by 230 Bechtel and ask a peer adviser. College of Engineering academic advisers are not available to meet with students interested in a applying for a change of college . However, during the academic year College of Engineering peer advisers are available via email at esspeeradvisers@berkeley.edu to answer general questions on the process. Please note that peer advisers cannot comment on any student’s chance of admission, or assist with preparing an application. You are also welcome to submit questions to our change of college email.