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University of California

Take the opportunity to apply for exchange studies in the USA. The exchange programme with the University of California (UC) is Lund University’s oldest and largest, both in terms of hosting and sending exchange students.

About exchange studies at the University of California

The University of California is a large and eminent research university that receives exchange students from over a hundred different partner universities located in around thirty countries.

The University’s nine different campuses all offer an exciting learning environment where you as an exchange student can expect to gain new academic insights as well as develop valuable skills such as intercultural communication.

You can read more below about entry requirements, the different UC campuses you can apply to, and how to apply.

To become an exchange student at the University of California, you submit your application during the autumn semester. If you are nominated, you will travel the following autumn.

The next opportunity to apply for exchange studies at the University of California is 1 to 15 November 2023, for the academic year 2024/2025.

There are two types of entry requirements for exchange studies at UC: general entry requirements and faculty-specific entry requirements. See below.

Please note that at the time of your departure for UC, you should have completed less than four years of full-time studies in higher education. Exceptions may be made if you changed your study programme or field of study earlier on in your higher education.

If this applies to you, and if you are unsure whether you are eligible to apply, email the UC Study Center: ucstudycenter [at] er [dot] lu [dot] se (ucstudycenter[at]er[dot]lu[dot]se)

General entry requirements

At the time of application, you must

  • have completed studies comprising at least 30 first-cycle credits at Lund University, and be registered for full-time studies at Lund University (or have had leave from a programme at Lund University approved)
  • be able to show a study plan that contains courses that are equivalent to full-time studies and are eligible for credit transfer within a degree at Lund University
  • possess the language skills necessary in the language of instruction, or demonstrate a plan for how these language skills will be acquired before departure.

Faculty-specific entry requirements

Some faculties/departments have additional entry requirements. See your faculty's or department's website for more information and contact details.

A total of around 280 000 students study across the nine UC campuses to which you can apply. These campuses perform well in the international university rankings that are conducted annually.

The campuses are spread across California, and each has a distinctive character of its own. Each campus is, effectively, a university in its own right, with its own independent organisation within the framework of the University of California.

You can apply to the following UC campuses:

  • UC Berkeley
  • UC Davis
  • UC Irvine
  • UC Los Angeles
  • UC Merced
  • UC Riverside
  • UC San Diego
  • UC Santa Barbara
  • UC Santa Cruz

More about the various UC campuses

Exchange studies at UC are always a full year in length, corresponding to August–June at Lund University.

Students are nominated for a full year of studies at UC. Nominated students can shorten their stay at UC at a later stage. If you have been nominated and wish to shorten your stay, contact UC Study Center for guidance and information.

As an exchange student, you do not need to pay tuition fees at UC.

If you have student finance from CSN, you can take it with you.

Read more about estimated living expenses at the various campuses on UC’s website

Contact information

University of California Study Center
ucstudycenter [at] er [dot] lu [dot] se (ucstudycenter[at]er[dot]lu[dot]se)

Telephone:
+46 (0)46 222 38 85

Phone and visiting hours:
For current visiting hours, please contact the UC Study Center using the above email address.

Visiting address:
Stora Algatan 4, Lund

A student jumping in front of the Golden Gate Bridge. Photo.

UC Berkeley

UC’s oldest and second-largest campus, close to San Francisco Bay.

UC Berkeley's website

A building on the UC Davis campus and head-shaped sculptures. Photo.

UC Davis

The campus with the third largest student population, located close to Sacramento.

UC Davis' website

A student with an Irvine t-shirt smiles and stretches out their arms in front of the sea and a skyline. Photo.

UC Irvine

A modern campus located south of Los Angeles, surrounded by ocean, mountains and deserts.

UC Irvine's website

A building on campus and its surroundings. Photo.

UC Los Angeles

The UC campus with the most students and the greatest diversity, close to the ocean and mountains.

UCLA's website

Teachers speak into a megaphone on the Merced campus. Photo.

UC Merced

UC’s newest, fast-growing campus, not far from Yosemite National Park.

UC Merced's website

Two students passing by the giant letters UCR, 'UC Riverside'. Photo.

UC Riverside

A diverse campus close to the desert, mountains and the ocean, ca. 100 kilometres from Los Angeles.

UC Riverside's website

Surfers on the beach in the evening light. Photo.

UC San Diego

UC’s most southerly campus, near the border with Mexico.

UC San Diego's website

Aerial view of the Santa Barbara campus. Photo.

UC Santa Barbara

A green campus with a focus on sustainability, and the ocean and mountains close by.

UC Santa Barbara's website

Aerial view of the green Santa Cruz campus. Photo.

UC Santa Cruz

A smaller, green campus with views of the ocean, close to Silicon Valley.

UC Santa Cruz' website

How to apply

Submit your application via SoleMove.

Tips for a good application

Please note that it takes time to put together a complete application and that only complete submissions will be processed.

Below you can read more about which documents you should upload as attachments to your application. Please note that only the required documents need to be attached to the application in SoleMove. No other documents will be taken into consideration.

Note that all attachments must be uploaded in PDF format in order for the application to be considered complete.

Your application, step by step

  • Go to SoleMove (use the link below). 
  • Choose 'Lund University' in the list and log in.
  • Look for the exchange 'Uniwide – University of California'.
  • Choose the period 'Full year 2024–2025'.
  • Upload the documents listed below as PDF files under the 'Enclosures' tab.
  • Check through and submit your application – complete with all appendices by 23:59 on 15 November 2023.

Full SoleMove application guide for outgoing exchange students

Log in to the application system SoleMove and complete your application

Questions about applying in SoleMove can be sent to solemove [at] er [dot] lu [dot] se (solemove[at]er[dot]lu[dot]se).


Attach the following documents to your application:

Attach one Statement of Purpose to your application to UC (i.e. not one for each UC Campus chosen, but just one).
Your Statement of Purpose is to:

  • be written in English
  • be at least two-thirds of a page of A4, and one full page at most.

In your Statement of Purpose:

  • you should explain the reasons you wish to study at UC
  • you should state how what you plan to study at UC will complement your programme/courses at Lund University.

Additionally, you can explain your motives through the following:

  • what you may be able to offer in a teaching situation or other relevant context, once you have arrived in California. 
  • what benefits you expect to gain from being able to spend some of your time studying at UC/in California (beyond programme/courses at Lund University)
  • personal qualities and special experience (within or beyond the university world) and how they are relevant to a future study period at UC.

If you wish, you may also specifically explain your reasons for choosing one or more of your three UC campus choices, although this is not necessary.

Find out which campus suits you and your studies.

Current information about the UC majors/subjects that are part of the exchange at each UC campus can be found on UC’s website, under 'Disciplines'. There, you will also find information about possible restrictions that might exist in your specific academic discipline.

Explore UC courses – universityofcalifornia.edu

On the UC Campus Priority Sheet, you list the three UC campuses that you would most like to study at, in order of preference (1 to 3, where 1 is ranked highest). Please note that you must list three, otherwise your application cannot be processed. Remember that the documents you upload should be in PDF format.

UC Campus Priority Sheet (PDF 32 kB, new tab)

For each of your three UC campus choices, you must submit a complete study plan – UC Study Plan. This means that you should attach three UC Study Plans to your application.

UC Study Plan (PDF 131,3 kB, new tab)


Note that exchange studies at UC comprise whole-year studies, which is equivalent to either two or three study periods at UC, depending on the campus.

The following UC Campuses have two study periods:

UC Berkeley and UC Merced are 'semester system campuses'. In your study plan for these campuses, you should include courses for two study periods (Fall and Spring semester). For each study period, include courses equivalent to 15–17 (semester) units.

The other UC campuses have three study periods:

The other UC campuses are 'quarter system campuses'. In your study plan for these campuses, you include courses for three study periods (Fall, Winter and Spring quarter). For each study period, you include courses equivalent to 15–17 (quarter) units.


How to find specific courses:

You will find information about specific courses offered at each UC campus on UC’s website, for example under

Explore UC courses – universityofcalifornia.edu

Use the drop-down menu under 'Choose a discipline'. If any information about which courses will be offered for your planned stay at a UC campus is missing, choose from the courses that were offered during the preceding study period or academic year.

Choose undergraduate courses in the first instance:

In your application, you should primarily apply for Undergraduate courses. These are usually numbered 1–199 (where 1–99 are lower division and 100–199 upper division). You should seek to list courses from the upper division level in your UC Study Plans.

If you are nominated and at a later stage once you are at your UC campus, there are usually opportunities to study some courses at graduate level depending on your prior knowledge (courses numbered 200+), but this is not guaranteed in advance.

If you do include a course at graduate level (one numbered 200+) in your application, make a note in the relevant UC Study Plan stating that you are aware that such courses are not guaranteed in advance.

Contact your department or faculty if you are unsure:

If you feel unsure about your choice of courses, it is important to discuss your selections with your programme coordinator, study advisor or the international coordinator at your faculty/department. It is your faculty/department that will process credit transfer on your return.

At the bottom of your three UC Study Plans, write the name of the person with whom you have discussed your course choices and indicate their faculty/department at LU.

Your CV (Curriculum Vitae) should include:

  • education that is relevant to the application
  • information about any language certificates
  • work experience and 
  • other relevant activities

You should not, however, attach work references, letters of recommendation or similar documents that support your CV.

The CV document should be:

  • a maximum of one A4 page in length
  • written in English
  • uploaded to the application as a PDF

You must upload a Ladok certificate as part of your application. The certificate is to be in English.

This is how to do it:

  • Log in to Ladok.
  • Click on 'Transcripts and certificates' in the main menu.
  • Click on 'Create'.
  • Select 'Official transcript of records'.
  • Fill in the required information.
  • Click on 'Create'.
  • Download the PDF-document.
  • Save the PDF as 'Surname Transcript' (e.g. 'Johnson Transcript.pdf').

If you have questions about: 

  • the application process, contact studentreception [at] lu [dot] se (studentreception[at]lu[dot]se)
  • the application system SoleMove, contact solemove [at] er [dot] lu [dot] se (solemove[at]er[dot]lu[dot]se)
  • UC-campus, contact ucstudycenter [at] er [dot] lu [dot] se (ucstudycenter[at]er[dot]lu[dot]se)

Monday 6 November, 13:00 to 15:00

Information and Q&A Session: application to UC exchange programme

Zoom link for the meeting on 6 November

You can also join the meeting by entering the following information in the Join a meeting dialogue box or in the Zoom app:

Meeting ID: 690 8181 3737

Use your Lucat credentials (student account) to log in at https://lu-se.zoom.us and activate your account. Make sure you are also logged in to the Zoom app with your Lucat credentials.

Download or update the Zoom app to ensure full functionality in the meeting. If you have any problems logging in, please contact LU Servicedesk at servicedesk [at] lu [dot] se (servicedesk[at]lu[dot]se).


Friday 10 November, 11:00 to 13:00

Information and Q&A Session: application to UC exchange programme

Zoom link for the meeting on 10 November

You can also join the meeting by entering the following information in the Join a meeting dialogue box or in the Zoom app:

Meeting ID: 663 9404 1116

Use your Lucat credentials (student account) to log in at https://lu-se.zoom.us and activate your account. Make sure you are also logged in to the Zoom app with your Lucat credentials.

Download or update the Zoom app to ensure full functionality in the meeting. If you have any problems logging in, please contact LU Servicedesk at servicedesk [at] lu [dot] se (servicedesk[at]lu[dot]se).

You can reach us by telephone on the following dates and times:

  • Tuesday 7 November, 11:00 to 13:00
  • Thursday 9 November, 11:00 to 13:00
  • Monday 13 November, 13:00 to 15:00
  • Wednesday 15 november, 13:00 to 15:00

Telephone number: +46 (0)46 222 38 85

After you have submitted your application

Assessment of your application

The application and appendices must be complete and written in good English. Incomplete applications will not be processed. Decisions on nominations are made by External Relations after statements are taken from the faculties’ international administrators.

Notification

You will be notified of nomination around 3–4 weeks after the application period closes.

If you are nominated

After you have been nominated, you apply via UC Study Center to the various UC campuses for a final placement. UC Study Center offers support and guidance both after nomination and throughout your time at the University of California.