Grad STAR General Track

The Graduate Success Through Academics and Research (STAR) General Track includes comprehensive academic English training 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.

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 Curriculum

Minimum 12 units to meet the full-time requirement each quarter

Course List:

• Academic English for ESL Learners courses
• Standardized Test Preparation courses
• Graduate Application Assistance course
• STAR Research and Academic Enrichment courses
• DCE Professional courses
• Accelerated Certificate Programs (ACPs)
• UCI Major courses
• Career Preparation course (part of the Internship Program)

Important Notes:

1. Academic English for ESL Learners courses are required in the first quarter for students who have not earned a degree from an accredited U.S. university/college.
2. Program approval is required to enroll in more than 12 units. The maximum number of units covered by the program tuition is 16 units per quarter.
3. Students who have demonstrated a TOEFL 71 or equivalent may be able to substitute one Academic English course with a DCE Professional course with the program’s approval.
4. Students must meet the program advancement criteria to enroll in UC Irvine Major courses, ACPs, or Internship Experience.
5. Courses are scheduled based on availability. Course equivalent substitutions will be recommended when courses become unavailable.

Eligibility and Requirements

To be accepted in our Graduate STAR General Track, you, as an applicant, must provide the following documents:

1. The completed Graduate STAR application with a non-refundable $200 application fee. The application fee must be paid within 7 days of our office’s receipt of your application to be processed; otherwise, the application may automatically be canceled.
2. 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 3.0 (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.
3. Copy of your current passport page that shows your photo.
4. Documentation for any educational gap since the start of university/college attendance must be supported with explanations and evidence.
5. Copies of English proficiency proof:
   • Two Quarters:
     • English proficiency tests accepted
       • 71 iBT TOEFL (To send an official TOEFL test score, please select the institution code B166.)
       • 530 PBT TOEFL or 17 on each section
       • 685 TOEIC
       • 6.0 IELTS (To send an official IELTS test score, please select the institution code B166.)
       • B2 CEFR or ISE
       • 3.5 iTEP
       • 450 Kaplan Test of English (KTE)
       • 95 Duolingo
       • 50 Pearson Academic
       • Advanced Cambridge
       • EIKEN Japanese Test in Practical English "Grade pre-1"
     • Completion of English language school
       • UC Irvine Intensive ESL: Level 5
       • Kaplan International: Higher Intermediate
       • FLS International: Level 16
       • ELS Language Centers: Level 112

Note:

TOEFL iBT MyBest Scores, Special Home Edition, Essentials, and IELTS Indicator will be accepted as long as all exams were taken within the past two years.

English Requirement Exemption:

1. You have attended a high school for at least 3 years where English is the main language of instruction; or
2. You have obtained a recognized undergraduate or master’s degree from an institution at which English was the sole language of instruction.

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.