Transfer Applicants

Why transfer to Caltech?

Take your science and engineering education to the next level. Immerse yourself in one of the world's premier STEM programs. Learn from award-winning faculty in an academic environment emphasizing freedom of inquiry and fearless innovation. Be challenged intellectually by a community of like-minded peers. Become one of society's most innovative thinkers, leaders, and doers. Sound like your place? Learn more about why students choose Caltech.

Who is a transfer student?

Prospective transfer students have completed their secondary education and are enrolled at a college or university other than Caltech where they have earned course credit.

Students may not transfer to Caltech during or for their senior year of college.
Students who have already completed a bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, in any subject are not eligible for transfer admission. While applicants may not pursue a second bachelor's degree at Caltech, the Graduate Studies Office provides educational opportunities beyond the bachelor degree.

If you are concurrently (or dual) enrolled in a high school/secondary school and a college or university, you should apply for first-year admission.

What we look for

In evaluating transfer applicants, we look for students who have taken the STEM coursework needed to succeed on our transfer entrance exams. Courses include those in Caltech's core curriculum.

Entrance exams measure a prospective transfer student's preparation in:

Calculus of One and Several Variables
Linear Algebra
Differential Equations
Classical Mechanics and Electromagnetism
Waves, Quantum Mechanics, and Statistical Physics

Beyond the academic preparations, we want to learn about how you explore STEM outside of the classroom. If you want to learn more about how we evaluate all candidates to Caltech, we have a whole section on what we look for.

How to prepare for Caltech

While you can prepare for entrance exams by reviewing the anticipated subject matter, it's your academic pursuits up to this point that have helped prepare you for Caltech. It's the AP and advanced STEM coursework you elected to take in high school and the STEM coursework you have taken or plan to take at your current college or university.

To learn more, visit our page on Academic Preparation.

For questions about the transfer admissions process, please contact our Transfer Coordinator, Johanna Araujo, at +1 626-395-6341 or [email protected] .