L&S Language Requirement

In April 2025, the L&S Executive Committee (EC) approved the name change from the Foreign Language Essential Skills Requirement to the “Language Requirement.” This change will go into effect Fall 2026.

The Language Requirement must be fulfilled with a language other than English (LOTE). Both Modern and Ancient world languages satisfy the requirement. ASL (American Sign Language) continues to satisfy this requirement.

Beginning in Fall 2026, incoming students in the College of Letters & Science (L&S) will no longer be able to satisfy their Language Requirement with high school coursework alone. Under the revised policy, these students must instead pass an AP, IB, or A-level exam, take college-level language courses, or demonstrate second-semester proficiency through an assessment. 

Here is the amended L&S regulation on the Language Requirement:

(C) Foreign Language

The candidate shall satisfy this requirement in one of the following ways:

1. By completing the second semester of a foreign language at UC Berkeley, or its equivalent at another higher education institution, with a minimum grade of C-.

2. By demonstrating equivalent knowledge through examination. This examination may include the CEEB Achievement Test, the CEEB Advanced Placement Examination (if taken before admission to the College), or an examination administered on a campus of the University of California. If necessary, this examination may be administered by a certified language instructor, who, although unaffiliated with a UC campus, is trained in the teaching of the language. The Associate Dean responsible for undergraduate advising is authorized to grant exceptions to this requirement to students on an individual basis.

These changes are effective for the incoming fall 2026 class – first-year and transfer students. These changes will NOT apply to any student admitted to L&S prior to fall 2026.

If a language is taught at UCB, students must take the proficiency exam offered at UCB. If a language is NOT taught at UCB, students can make a request to an instructor outside of the University for a proficiency exam.

In rare instances, if a language is taught at UCB, but a student has an extenuating circumstance (e.g. tester is not available to administer an exam at UCB), student can ask for an exception from the L&S Associate Dean of Advising to have their proficiency exam administered by an instructor outside of the University. The student is responsible for finding an eligible instructor to administer the exam.

The instructor administering the exam must be an instructor, who, although unaffiliated with a UC campus, is trained in the teaching of the language.

The L&S Executive Committee (EC) has approved the completion of the L&S Language Requirement with at least three years of non-English education starting from grade 6 or above, as verified by transcripts. 

This applies to high school language instruction for international students and bilingual secondary schools (e.g. French lycée, Spanish International Schools, Immersion Programs) attended by domestic students

Transcript review will be conducted primarily by L&S Advising with assistance from the language departments and/or an international specialist at Admissions as needed.