Timeline
August/September Arrival
| UC Term | UC Campus | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester | UCB UCM | Fall Semester (Middle of Aug-Middle of Dec) | Spring Semester (Middle of Jan-Middle of May) | ||||||||||
| Quarter | All other UC campuses | Fall Quarter (Middle of Sep-Middle of Dec) | Winter Quarter | Spring Quarter | |||||||||
January Arrival
| UC Term | UC Campus | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Semester | UCB UCM | Spring Semester (Middle of Jan-Middle of May) | Fall Semester (Middle of Aug-Middle of Dec) | ||||||||||
| Quarter | All other UC campuses | Winter Quarter | Spring Quarter | Fall Quarter (Middle of Sep-Middle of Dec) | |||||||||
One full academic year includes 30 weeks of instruction:
- Three quarters or
- Two semesters (UC Berkeley (UCB) and UC Merced (UCM))
A quarter is 10 weeks of instruction:
- Fall quarter (mid-September-mid-December)
- Winter quarter (January-mid-March)
- Spring quarter (April-mid-June)
A semester is 15 weeks of instruction (UCB and UCM only):
- Fall semester (mid-August-mid-December)
- Spring semester (mid-January-mid-May)
| June – December | Register for English as a Second Language (ESL) tests |
| November | Application period begins for undergraduates |
| November – April | Application period for graduates begins; See department specific deadlines. |
| February 1 | Deadline for undergraduate application |
| February – May | Notification of campus placement |
| March – May | Prepare for study abroad: Explore your host UC; Research the visa application process in your location. |
| April – June | Submit financial documents and request your DS-2019 |
| May – August | Enroll in courses |
| July | Finalize your arrival plans (housing, enrollment, visa, flights) |
| Late August | Fall semester begins at semester campuses |
| Late September | Fall quarter begins at quarter campuses |
| Mid-December | Fall term ends |
| Mid-May | Academic year ends at semester campuses |
| Mid-June | Academic year ends at quarter campuses |
| January – June | Register for English as a Second Language (ESL) tests |
| August 1 | Deadline for undergraduate application |
| August – September | Notification of campus placement |
| September – October | Prepare for your study abroad: Explore your host UC; Meet UC students from your host campus; Research the visa application process in your location. |
| September – October | Submit financial documents and request your DS-2019 |
| October – December | Enroll in courses |
| November | Finalize your arrival plans (housing, enrollment, visa, flights) |
| Early January | Winter quarter begins at quarter campuses |
| Mid-January | Spring semester begins at semester campuses |
| Mid-May | Academic year ends at semester campuses |
| Mid-June | Academic year ends at quarter campuses |
| June – December | Register for English as a Second Language (ESL) tests. |
| February | Deadline for application and submission of financial documents to request your I-20 |
| February – March | Reserve your housing. Research the visa application process in your location. |
| April – May | Finalize your arrival plans (housing, enrollment, visa, flights) |
| May – August | Summer term |
| Six months prior | Register for English as a Second Language (ESL) tests |
| Five months prior | Secure an invitation from your UC mentor |
| Four months prior | Deadline for application and submission of financial documents to request your DS-2019. Research the visa application process in your location. |
| Three months prior | Apply for your visa |
| Two months prior | Finalize your arrival plans (housing, enrollment, visa, flights) |
