Learn More About Registration

REGISTRATION TIME TICKET

All incoming first year students will register for their first semester courses during the summer and will have a randomly assigned registration time (exact timeframe is TBD). This is what we called your "Registration Time Ticket".

• You can add, enroll, or adjust classes during your assigned registration time.
• Registration remains open 24 hours a day after your assigned registration time.

Read more about Registration Time Ticket here.

• For a quick explanation, watch our helpful video: Fall 2026 First Year Registration – Start Here videos (video #2).

SMART START REGISTRATION

Fall 2026 first year admits can opt-in for the Smart Start registration. 

• incoming transfer students and student althetes are currently not eligible

* IMPORTANT * To participate in Smart Start, Fall 2026 first years must sign up for New Student Orientation by the deadline.

Smart Start will block enroll Fall 2026 first years in 8-16 units for the first semester (only) based on declared major.

• Courses are also determined by student's placecment exams, AP, IB scores, and transfer credits.
• It is critical to have all academic records submitted on time to ensure, student is placed into the proper courses.
• First year admitted are still responsible for ensuring they are in 14-16 units for the first semester.

Read more about First Year Smart Start.

REGISTRATION PREPARATION 

For more information visit our Fall 2026 First Year Registration page 

• Check your UC Merced email daily.
  • Log in to your email at connect.ucmerced.edu. Select the email icon.
  • Registration information will be sent to your UC Merced email in April, May, and June

• Check your declared major (first year admits only) 
  • Confirm if you are in the correct major or need to change major.
    • See Step 8 in the Next Steps tab on the admitted students site.
    • You can only submit the major change for once during the summer. 
  • For a quick explanation, watch our helpful video: Fall 2026 First Year Registration – Start Here videos (video #1).

• Take placement exams by the May 31, the priority deadline.
  • See Step 6 in the Next Steps tab on the admitted students site.
  • There are 4 placement exams (math, chemistry, writing, computer science & engineering)
    • Which exams do you need?  See the new Placement Exams site.
  • For a quick explanation, watch our helpful video: Fall 2026 First Year Registration – Start Here videos (video #7).

• Send official copies of your high school transcript (must include date of graduation) and college transcripts for college courses taken in high school to UC Merced before July 1.
  • See Step 13 in the Next Steps tab on the admitted students site.
  • For a quick explanation, watch our helpful video: Fall 2026 First Year Registration – Start Here videos (video #6).

• Send official copies of your test scores (AP, IB, ACT, SAT) to UC Merced before July 15.
  • For a quick explanation, watch our helpful video: Fall 2026 First Year Registration – Start Here videos (video #5).

As a condition of your admission, you must be enrolled in at least a course before August 1.