About
Consistently ranked among the world’s top public research universities, the University of California attracts the best and brightest students from more than 100 countries. The commitment to support an ethnically and culturally diverse student population helps UC deliver one of the finest learning experiences to 1,500 reciprocity students every year. Each UC campus offers an exciting educational environment in which to explore, learn, research and develop the skills needed to excel in a global workplace.
For over 50 years, the University of California Education Abroad Program (UCEAP) has invited international exchange students on a Californian adventure. Enhance your education by learning alongside UC students in one of the most diverse states in the US.
Location
There are several campuses: Berkeley, Davis, Irvine, Los Angeles, Merced, Riverside, Santa Barbara, Santa Cruz and San Diego. Any student wishing to apply should be open to going to any of the California campuses. The central exchanges office at UC will select which campus students attend.
Level of competitiveness
Less competitive *
The level of competitiveness (Less competitive * / Competitive ** / Very competitive ***) refers to one's chances of being allocated an exchange space at this partner. This is an approximation determined by the number of applications received for this destination during the last academic year versus the total number of exchange spaces available to Queen Mary students.
Academic Calendar
Please note some campuses operate on quarters and others semesters. More information on important dates can be found on the University of California's academic calendar.
Courses
The below students must have calculus to ‘A’ level (or international qualification) standard, a pre-requisite for California:
- Any student wishing to study Business
- Students from Queen Mary's School of Biological and Behavioural Sciences
Explore courses that meet your academic needs and open doors to new areas of interest. Plan to enrol in two or three courses in your major department each term, with the remainder of your classes in other academic subject areas. Attend courses in other major departments if you meet the course prerequisites and space is available in the course.
Drama and Film students: if you apply to study on the UCLA campus and are interested in studying Theatre, please note that if allocated a space on this campus, you would not have access to Theatre major courses (only perhaps Theatre minor courses).
Courses
UC students typically take two or three courses in their major department each term because the workload can be intense. Reciprocity students may also enrol in general education courses in other departments. Do not plan to enrol in a full schedule of courses only in your host department. Consider taking some general courses of interest to you.
The short (10-week) UC quarter (for all campuses other than Berkeley) makes it difficult to complete the term successfully if you fall behind. Continuous studying throughout the entire term is essential to avoid falling behind during the year. Attendance and participation are important factors in determining your grade for a class. Failure to respect requirements may result in your dismissal from the program. You must take exams for all courses while on UCEAP.
At UC classes are often referred to as courses. There are various course types:
- Lecture: The lecture is the main course where the instructor delivers instruction. Lecture class size may be from 15 to 500 students.
- Section (also called Discussion Section): When lectures have a very large student enrollment, you may also be required to enroll in a smaller, complementary section class. The section will be at a different time from the lecture and may be led by an expert graduate-level student or researcher. The section allows students to explore and use material from the lecture, ask questions and participate in collaborative learning.
- Lab: A lab is usually a hands-on, required laboratory class associated with a lecture course.
- Seminar: A seminar is usually a focused course for small group of student.
Credits
University of California Berkeley: 14 to 16 credits (usually four courses) per semester (two semesters in the academic year).
The University of California – all other campuses: 12 to 16 credits (usually three or four courses) per term (three terms in the academic year).
Find out more about credit transfer and grade conversions.
Queen Mary student feedback
Blog posts on Queen Mary Global Bloggers:
- Naveen in the USA (UC Santa Barbara, CA)
- Paulina in the USA (UC Berkeley, CA).
- Joel in the USA (UC Berkeley, CA)
- Tom in the USA (UC Irvine, CA)
- Jasmine in the USA (UC Los Angeles, CA)
- Vicky in the USA (UC Berkeley, CA)
- Harry in the USA (UC San Diego, CA)
- Haym in the USA (UC Berkeley, CA)
- Emmanuel in the USA (UC Los Angeles, CA)
- Catarina in the USA (UC Santa Barbara, CA)
Instagram takeovers:
YouTube videos/vlogs:
Accommodation
California is a desirable place to live and housing will likely be your highest monthly cost. UC students are accustomed to living together, sharing common spaces and sharing a bedroom. Beyond cost savings, there are many advantages to having roommates. Your roommates might introduce you to student life, the cuisine of their culture, welcome you in their family and be an important part of your study abroad experience.
Explore the variety of housing options that are available and choose the one that fits your budget and lifestyle.
UC students are serious about their studies and spend time in study spaces, cafes and the library. Campus libraries are generally open until late in the evening and have further extended hours over examination periods. UC students can also be very serious about their socialising and the shared housing space may not be a quiet place for study. The University of California advises students to live with Americans if they want to fully immerse themselves in the culture.
The majority of students in the residence halls are first-year or second-year (sophomore) students, but there are also options for more advanced undergraduates called “transfer” or junior/senior year level. Many international students choose to room with transfer students as they share a similar experience however are already accustomed to the culture.
Cost of Living
The University of California provides information on the cost of living as a student here. You can find more general, up-to-date information about the cost of living in various Californian cities (as compared to London) using this website: Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, Berkeley, Irvine, San Diego, etc.
Living expenses can vary depending on individual lifestyle, especially in California where renting private accommodation can be as (if not more) expensive than renting privately in London. Please also see the section below on medical treatment, as it mentions health insurance that all students are required to purchase. Please consult the estimated minimum and maximum cost of living figures for this destination country available in our “Estimated Costs of Living” document available on our Finance page.
Important: Students considering to live and study in California must be realistic about financial matters, this being one of the most expensive cities in the world. In the decision-making process, Queen Mary students must calculate their forecasted budget with confirmed funding to which they will have access against the rising cost of living.
Support Services
For information on accessibility, please visit the University of California's Student with Disabilities webpage.
UC provides confidential services and assistance to support students with disabilities and special needs (temporary or permanent) so they can participate fully in campus programs and activities.
If you are holding an offer for UC and will require assistance with any physical or learning disabilities, medical or mental health concerns, special needs, etc., UCEAP (who coordinate incoming exchange students to UC) can help you prepare for your exchange by putting you in contact with your host UC campus services. You may also contact those services directly after learning your UC campus placement. Contact information for UC campus Counseling and Psychological services, and Disabilities and Special Needs offices is available on UC's Your Well-Being pages.
Medical treatment
Medical treatment in the US is excellent but can be expensive. All students attending UC are required to have health insurance and are automatically enrolled in their UC campus plan. The cost of insurance is applied to your student billing account. Insurance coverage and costs vary by campus. Depending on your medical history and medical needs, you may want to purchase supplemental insurance. See Campus Specific Instructions for information about campus insurance plans. UC health insurance meets the J-1 visa program insurance requirements.
To be covered under a plan other than the UC campus plan, you must request a waiver (exemption) from the requirement within the announced deadlines. Review your host UC campus requirements to ensure that your insurance from home meets all waiver criteria. A campus-specific waiver request along with proof of enrollment in the alternative insurance plan must be submitted for review to the campus by the posted deadline.
A waiver is not automatic: do not assume that a waiver will be approved. Purchase of the UC insurance plan is a UC requirement and is an expense for which you must budget.
Campus Life
It's easy to get involved! With hundreds of clubs and volunteer opportunities, the UC campuses offer a mosaic of culture and activity. From arts and music to sports and recreation, find your passion.
