Grad STAR General Track
The Graduate Success Through Academics and Research (STAR) General Track includes comprehensive academic English language support and a focused study plan that is relevant to a student's field of study and provides the flexibility of choosing Accelerated Certificate Programs or university credit-bearing classes; learn the course topics that target critical and analytical thinking, resume writing, and interviewing skills. Students can also gain real-world experience through internship opportunities in the U.S. that develop their professional skills and strengthen their graduate school applications.
STAR does not offer conditional or guaranteed admission to UC Irvine or any other university. Any STAR program information should be referred to our official website.
Program Benefits
- Satisfy the pre-requisites of and be transferable* to your desired graduate program by taking credit-bearing Undergraduate and Graduate classes
- Exclusive networking opportunities with select graduate programs to showcase your strengths and to receive pre-admission consultation
- Receive Intensive Academic English and advanced training in Professional Communication (e.g., interview and presentation) that helps you become proficient in English language use in any formal settings
- Get specialized ACTS (Authentic, Comprehensive, Targeted, Strategic) guidance on your application process for colleges and universities in the U.S.
- Gain access to expert-approved standardized test preparation resources for US college admission to help you reach your target score
- Gain practical work experience in an optional Internship Experience
- School partnership and scholarship opportunity: STAR is excited to partner with several prestigious institutions in the U.S, including Northwestern University School of Professional Studies, Pepperdine University Graduate Business and Law Schools, and A. Gary Anderson Graduate School of Management at UC Riverside. Highlights of our partnerships include priority application review and English requirement (e.g., TOEFL and IELTS) waiver. Scholarships from our partners are also available.
*Final credit transfer is determined by the student's current or future institution.
Eligibility and Requirements
Minimum Admissions Requirements
- Copies of all your current official academic transcripts to prove your completion of at least three years of college education and to meet the minimum GPA requirement of 2.0 (or equivalent).
- If you have already completed your bachelor’s degree, provide a copy of your 4-year bachelor’s degree diploma/graduation certificate or a confirmation statement issued by your current university/college with your expected graduation date and year.
- Documentation for any educational gap since the start of university/college attendance must be supported with explanations and evidence.
- Proof of English language proficiency (one of the options below taken within the past two years)
| Acceptable Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
| CEFR or ISE | B2 |
| Cambridge | Advanced |
| Duolingo | 95 |
| IELTS | 6.0 |
| Internet-based TOEFL | 71 |
| iTEP | 3.5 |
| Kaplan Test of English (KTE) | 450 |
| Paper-based TOEFL | 530 or 17 in each section |
| Pearson Academic | 50 |
| TOEIC | 685 |
| English Program Completion |
|
| Program Completion | Attended high school for at least 3 years where English was the main language of instruction; or Higher education degree taught entirely in English according to the World Higher Education Database |
Preferred Admissions Requirements
- Completion of at least one year of transferable university courses (Note: ESL courses are excluded),
- 3.0 GPA or higher; 3.4 GPA or higher for Engineering and Data/Computer Sciences,
- Demonstration of English language proficiency (one of the options below):
- 80 iBT TOEFL
- 6.5 IELTS
- 115 Duolingo
Notes
- TOEFL iBT MyBest Scores and Special Home Edition and IELTS Indicator will be accepted as long as all exams were taken within the past two years.
- To send an official TOEFL or IELTS test score, please select the institution code B166.
- Students whose native language is not English may be required to take UC Irvine DCE’s online English-as-a-Second-Language Placement Exam before the start of the program. The exam results will determine the appropriate English language courses needed in the program.
- Our program entry requirements and English exemption are not the same as any other programs at UC Irvine.
- UC Irvine DCE reserves the right to deny acceptance to STAR. Applicants who are not accepted into STAR by UC Irvine DCE will be notified in writing.
Program
Please visit our Tuition and Fees page to view a list of associated costs
Have Questions?
Talk to an enrollment coach
Call: +1 (949) 824-5414
Monday-Friday, 9am-4pm (Pacific)
Curriculum
Required Core Courses:
This course is designed to strengthen the writing skills and critical reading skills of students in preparation for university study. Students will learn conventions which are essential to academic writing and practice avoiding and correcting common writing mistakes. They will practice composing and properly citing quotations, paraphrases, and summaries and will produce two academic essays. Throughout the course, students will also read and analyze articles. They will evaluate claims and evidence, synthesize information from multiple readings, and reference passages in their own writing. Additionally, peer discussions and group work will be a regular part of this course, preparing students to engage confidently in the collaborative learning context of their future college courses.
Prerequisites: Completion of level 4 ESL or equivalent
This course introduces students to speaking and presentation skills necessary for academic settings. Speaking skills are developed through leading and participating in group discussions, debates, and an individual speaking presentation. Students will practice forming questions, reporting findings, and supporting their own arguments. Examples of learning activities in this course include class discussions, group work, and note-taking practice.
Prerequisites: Completion of level 4 ESL or equivalent
This course is designed to help international students develop the critical thinking and writing skills necessary to excel in academic, research-related writing tasks in a university-level course. In addition, the course will put great emphasis on academic honesty and plagiarism. Through course discussions, practices, and assignments, students will learn to integrate and comment on multiple academic sources to support an argument and engage with texts to understand, interpret, and evaluate what specific language and rhetorical features communicate. Students will also develop a range of sophisticated sentence structures and a strong command of academic expressions used in academic writing.
Prerequisites: Successful completion of Academic Reading and Writing preferred or equivalent English proficiency level
This course is designed to help graduate-level applicants with the university selection and application process. Students will be introduced to the comprehensive review process and how their academic and professional credentials impact the schools they choose. They will be guided through school selection and personal statement processes. They will explore the ethics of submitting authentic applications and be given structured information on how to write compelling narratives of their experiences under ethical guidelines that promote original, unique work. The objectives of this course will be achieved through discussions, activities, assignments, and assessments.
Prerequisites: A minimum of TOEFL 61 or equivalent English proficiency
View courses here.
View professional/continuing education courses here (also includes Internship Experiences and Accelerated Certificate Programs).
Recommended Support Course:
View Intensive ESL courses here.
Additional Information:
- Courses are scheduled based on availability. Course equivalent substitutions will be recommended when courses become unavailable and/or when students have met our one of our eligible education backgrounds in the acceptance requirements.
- Program approval is required to enroll in more than 12 units in any subsequent quarter. The maximum number of units that are covered by the program tuition is 16.
- Students who do not meet our minimum acceptance requirements are admitted into our program for 3 quarters/9 months of study with the additional ESL courses in the first quarter. The ESL placement test is required and is only given once to the students prior to the start of the program.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Complete the online Graduate STAR Application and pay the non-refundable $200 application fee.
- After you have been provisionally accepted into STAR, an official Acceptance Confirmation Letter will be sent to you. This letter is usually sent by e-mail. It will describe the STAR registration policies and request the required Program Deposit of $5,000 USD to be submitted to STAR within 15 days after the receipt of your Acceptance Confirmation letter. You will also need to submit copies of your or your sponsor’s financial statements (e.g., checking or savings accounts) that meet our financial requirements for I-20 issuance. If you are applying as a transfer-in from another US institution, you will also need to submit a completed Transfer Evaluation Form.
- After you have signed the acknowledgment form that is part of your Acceptance Confirmation letter, and STAR has received your required program deposit, you will receive an official Letter of Acceptance (LOA), Form I-20, and Welcome Packet. With the Letter of Acceptance and Form I-20, you will be able to submit a request for a student (F-1) visa from the U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your area.
- You will have 30 days to pay the balance of the program tuition and fees. Confirmation of enrollment must include full payment of tuition and fees.
Please see Registration Policies & Deadlines for cancellation and postponement requests.
UC Irvine DCE is committed to serving students from all diverse backgrounds. While the acceptance preference will be given to students who have met our minimum acceptance requirements, we recognize individual circumstances and offer a comprehensive review of every applicant. So, students who do not meet our minimum acceptance requirements are still encouraged to apply. It is important that students provide additional information (e.g., resume, community service, awards and achievements, and extra-curricular classes and activities) to demonstrate their unique circumstances.
Yes. The minimum full-time requirement is 12 units each quarter. An F-1 student visa is required for students who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents to study in this program on the UC Irvine campus.
Please visit Program Dates for available intakes.
Program Completion clearance will not be granted for a student with an outstanding debt related to their program tuition and fees, any outstanding misconduct charges, or unsatisfactory completion of all program requirements.
Funding is currently not available for students who are enrolled in our program. However, students may find any financial assistance opportunities by contacting the consulates in their home countries. There are also scholarship websites available: IEFA, International Scholarships, International Student.
View the list of schools that have offered admission to our STAR students since 2011.
Upon successful completion of the program, STAR students will also receive our program assistance and recommendation in applying to the Honors Program at our partner college, Irvine Valley College, which offers many benefits, including: transcript recognition, guaranteed/priority transfer acceptance consideration, dedicated scholarships, and access to UCLA Transfer Alliance Program (TAP), the UC Irvine Honors-to-Honors Program, and other transfer partnerships with participating HTCC colleges and universities, across the U.S.
Yes. Please visit Student Resources for more information.