Transfer Admission Guarantee FAQs 

Below are answers to our most frequently asked questions about the Transfer Admission Guarantee, known as TAG.

TAG basics 

  • Do I need to submit a TAG to apply for admission to UC Davis as a transfer student?
  • No. A TAG is not required to apply for transfer admission. However, we encourage students to complete a UC Davis TAG for its many benefits, which include guaranteed admission and strong academic preparation.

    We encourage you to meet with your California Community College, or CCC, counselor and apply for admission through the regular transfer application process.
  • How should I begin my TAG plan?
  • Discuss your career goals and the TAG requirements with your California Community College, or CCC, counselor as early as possible. Your counselor helps you identify a UC Davis major that matches your career goals map out a course of study and start your UC Transfer Admission Planner, or TAP.
  • Can I submit a TAG application to more than one UC campus?
  • No. You can only submit a TAG application to one of the six participating UC campuses. However, you can apply for general admission to as many UC campuses as you wish.
  • If I submit a TAG for another UC campus, can I still apply and gain admission to UC Davis?
  • Absolutely! Though you won’t have the assurances of a TAG, we encourage you to apply to UC Davis Oct. 1-Nov. 30.
  • Is the TAG available to students who previously attended a college or university outside of the United States?
  • Yes. We encourage you to apply for a UC Davis TAG, as long as you do not have a baccalaureate or higher-level degree and currently attend a California Community College, or CCC. Students must also complete a total of 30 UC transferable semester units from a CCC by the spring prior to transfer.
  • What do I need to ensure my admission to UC Davis?
  • You must meet all provisions of your UC Davis TAG. Specific requirements are included in your TAG decision when it is available in mid-November. Students admitted with a TAG receive formal admission notification in late March to early April of the following year.
  • Do I also need to file the UC application for undergraduate admission and scholarships?
  • Yes, students with approved UC Davis TAGs must file the UC undergraduate application during the initial fall application filing period, for the major and term for which the TAG is written. We encourage you to wait for your TAG decision before you submit the UC application.

    It is critical that coursework reported in the UC application and TAG application matches coursework shown on official, sealed transcripts.

TAG requirements

  • Can I have too many units to be eligible for TAG?
  • Students who attend only California Community College, or CCC, remain within the unit cap for UC Davis TAG. There is no unit limitation for these applicants. 

    A student who has attended institutions in addition to a CCC should speak with their CCC counselor for details regarding unit limitations. After applying UC lower-division unit limitations and exclusions:
     
    • Students must have fewer than 80 semester (120 quarter) transferable units of college coursework at the time of enrollment.
    • The College of Engineering will consider non-TAG applicants with 80 or more semester (120 quarter) units of transfer credit.
  • Are TAG requirements subject to change? If so, when?
  • Criteria required to qualify for a UC Davis TAG can change annually in May. Meet with your California Community College, or CCC, counselor between mid-May and September, one year in advance of your planned UC Davis enrollment to discuss.
  • Do certain majors require additional coursework and or higher GPAs for UC Davis TAG eligibility?
  • Yes, certain majors require specific coursework and GPAs. Review TAG major requirements and plan your courses to meet additional GPA and coursework expectations for selective majors. 

    Non-selective majors may not require additional coursework to qualify for TAG, but transfer students are strongly advised to complete as many preparatory courses as possible for their major before they enroll at UC Davis. Visit the ASSIST webpage for transferable courses that satisfy lower division coursework.
  • Do I need to submit transcripts with my TAG application?
  • Transcripts are not required when you submit your TAG application. Admitted students must submit official high school and college transcripts by July 1 and official examination scores no later than July 15, prior to fall enrollment.

    It is critical that self-reported coursework on your TAG application and UC application match coursework shown on official, sealed transcripts. You need to report any college or university outside of the United States. Prepare to submit course descriptions with word-for-word English translations upon request.
  • Must I report Advanced Placement, known as AP, and or International Baccalaureate, known as IB, Higher Level Examinations and submit official scores with the TAG?
  • Students must self-report any test scores from AP or IB Higher Level Examinations and use the UC Transfer Admission Planner, or TAP, as directed. Non-passing scores of 3 or less do not jeopardize a student’s chances to receive a TAG.

    Prepare to submit official examination scores by July 15, if you are admitted. However, we strongly encourage you to submit your scores by July 1.
  • Must I complete Intersegmental General Education Transfer Curriculum, known as IGETC, for UC Davis TAG eligibility?
  • Completion of IGETC is not a requirement for the UC Davis TAG. IGETC generally works well for students who plan to pursue a Bachelor of Arts major with few units of lower-division preparation. Bachelor of Science degrees and higher-unit majors often require extensive lower-division course preparation. Learn more about general education requirements in the UC Davis General Catalog or through ASSIST webpage.

Additional information

  • What if my California Community College, or CCC, does not offer a required course?
  • Take an equivalent course at another CCC if your primary CCC doesn’t offer a required UC Davis course. Confirm course availability on the ASSIST webpage.

    If ASSIST lists a comparable course but it’s not offered or availability is uncertain, include it in your plan and note it in your TAG application. Update your planned course schedule through the UC Transfer Academic Update, or TAU, after you submit your UC application.
  • I'm interested in the Marine and Coastal Science major. Which college should I apply to?
  • Marine and coastal science is a cross-college major offered through three of our academic colleges. Students must identify an area of focus in order to select the appropriate major or college pairing:
    • Coastal environmental processes within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
    • Marine environmental chemistry within the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
    • Marine ecology and organismal biology within the College of Biological Sciences*
    • Oceans and the Earth system within the College of Letters and Science
  • Once I submit the TAG may I attend a college or university other than a California Community College, or CCC?
  • No. TAGs are only available to students currently or most recently enrolled at a CCC.
  • When will I receive my TAG decision?
  • Students who submit their TAG application by Sep. 30 are notified of their approval status after mid-November.
  • What happens if I am unable to meet the requirements of my TAG?
  • Apply through the transfer application process if you’re unable to meet your TAG provisions — many students still earn admission this way. Consider submitting a new TAG the following year. Connect with your California Community College, or CCC, counselor to review your options.