BS Chemistry at University of California, Irvine

Programme overview

The major in Chemistry is elected by students planning careers in the chemical sciences and frequently also by those whose interests lie in other disciplines such as biology, medicine, public health, earth sciences, ecology, secondary education, business, and law. New freshman and transfer Chemistry students are strongly encouraged to take an orientation seminar, CHEM 11 , where they learn about the Chemistry major requirements, the Chemistry Department, and the career options available to students after graduation. The curriculum of the Department is designed to satisfy the diverse needs of these students and others who may have occasion to study chemistry.

Faculty: School of Physical Sciences | Study mode: full-time | Location: Irvine, CA, United States

What you will study

The curriculum of the Department is designed to satisfy the diverse needs of these students and others who may have occasion to study chemistry. Students have an opportunity to write their research thesis as part of an upper-division writing course CHEM 180W ( CHEM H181W in the Honors sequences).

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Applies to admission to the university and this major, not a programme-specific cut-off: Students may be admitted to the Chemistry major upon entering the University as freshmen, via change of major, or as transfer students from other colleges and universities. Information about change of major policies is available in the Physical Sciences Student Affairs Office and at the UCI Change of Major Criteria website . For transfer student admission, preference will be given to junior-level applicants with the highest grades overall and who have satisfactorily completed the following required courses: one year of general chemistry with laboratory and one year of approved calculus. Completion of one year of organic chemistry is strongly recommended.

Domestic applicants: USD 14,202 a year (2026-27). Undergraduate tuition for California residents entering Fall 2026 (Tuition Stability Plan, held flat for that entering class). Tuition line only; excludes Student Services Fee, campus fees and health insurance. Applies to all undergraduate majors. Nonresi Source

UCI operates on a quarter system (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer quarters). First-year and transfer applicants apply for Fall entry; the UC Application for fall 2027 admission is open for submission from October 1 to November 30.

UC Application submission period for fall 2027 admission and scholarships: October 1 to November 30 (application opens August 1). Application fee is $80 for domestic applicants and $95 for international and non-immigrant applicants, payable by credit card or by mail; fee waivers are available for up to four campuses for qualified students. UC Irvine does not consider SAT or ACT scores for admission or scholarship purposes.

Dance, B.Mus. and Arts applicants complete an audition/portfolio process, December 1 to January 31; Drama applicants may submit an optional portfolio or audition. Priority deadline for transfer and second baccalaureate applicants to submit the Transfer Academic Update (TAU) is January 31.

Graduate applications are submitted online through the UCI graduate application portal; the non-refundable application fee is $135 for U.S. citizens and lawful U.S. permanent residents and $155 for all other applicants. Deadlines are set by each programme. GRE is required by some programmes only; TOEFL or IELTS English proficiency is required of graduate applicants unless waived.

Apply through the official page: https://uci.edu/admissions/

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