UC San Diego Physics
Transfer Acceptance Rate, GPA and Classes

For fall 2025, 54% of transfer applicants to UC San Diego Physics were admitted (71 of 131). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.46–3.91.

The major preparation UC San Diego lists for Physics transfers starts with PHYS 2CL, PHYS 2DL and PHYS 4A; the full list is below.

UC San Diego does not offer the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG).

38 California community colleges have a current transfer agreement with UCSD for this major. Pick yours below to see which of its classes count.

54%

UCSD Physics transfer admit rate, fall 2025

3.46–3.91

GPA range of admitted transfers

131

Transfer applicants, 71 admitted

California community colleges with a transfer agreement for Physics

Source: UC Information Center, Fall 2025 transfer admissions by major.

Your community college

Which classes count at your community college?

Pick your college to see its class for each UCSD requirement.

Major Requirements

UC San Diego Physics Major Preparation

The courses UC San Diego lists as Physics major preparation for transfer applicants, for the 2026-27 academic year. Course numbers are UCSD's own; pick your community college above to see the matching class there.

Lower division major requirements

Complete all of these

PHYS 2CL Physics Laboratory - Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 2DL Physics Laboratory-Modern Physics
PHYS 4A Physics for Physics Majors—Mechanics
PHYS 4B Physics for Physics Majors—Fluids, Waves, Statistical and Thermal Physics
PHYS 4C Physics for Physics Majors—Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 4D Physics for Physics Majors—Electromagnetic Waves, Special Relativity and Optics
PHYS 4E Physics for Physics Majors—Quantum Physics

Complete all of these

MATH 18 Linear Algebra
MATH 20A Calculus for Science and Engineering
MATH 20B Calculus for Science and Engineering
MATH 20C Calculus and Analytic Geometry for Science and Engineering
MATH 20D Introduction to Differential Equations
MATH 20E Vector Calculus

Complete 1 of these options

PHYS 41 Scientific Computing with Python
CENG 15 Engineering Computation Using MATLAB · NANO 15 Engineering Computation Using MATLAB · COGS 18 Introduction to Python · CSE 8A Introduction to Programming and Computational Problem Solving I · CSE 11 Introduction to Programming and Computational Problem Solving - Accelerated Pace · CSE 12 Basic Data Structures and Object-Oriented Design · ECE 15 Engineering Computation · MAE 8 MATLAB Programming for Engineering Analysis

Also listed by UCSD

UCSD lists these under the headings shown, apart from the list above.

Recommended but not required

PHYS 2A Physics - Mechanics
PHYS 2B Physics - Electricity and Magnetism
PHYS 2C Physics - Fluids, Waves, Thermodynamics, and Optics

Where a list says “courses listed”, or options are separated by a dot, UCSD's own Physics requirements say exactly which of those courses you need.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the UC San Diego Physics transfer acceptance rate?

For fall 2025, 54% of transfer applicants to UC San Diego Physics were admitted (71 of 131). Admitted transfers' GPAs ranged 3.46–3.91.

Does UC San Diego have a Physics major for transfer students?

Yes. UC San Diego offers Physics (B.S.) and lists the major preparation it expects transfer applicants to complete.

What classes do I need to transfer to UC San Diego for Physics?

UC San Diego's Physics major preparation includes PHYS 2CL, PHYS 2DL, PHYS 4A, PHYS 4B, PHYS 4C and PHYS 4D, with more courses in the list on this page. Pick your community college on this page to see which of its classes match.