Frequently Asked Questions


Am I eligible to apply for the SAGE Scholars Program?

To apply for the SAGE Scholars Program, you must meet the following requirements:

  1. Be a current full-time student with junior credit standing (90 units- 134.9 units completed), students can be accelerated sophomores, juniors, or seniors planing to stay a 5th year or a transfer student at UCI planning to graduate 2025 or later.
  2. Have a cumulative 3.0 GPA.
  3. File a 2023-2024 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or a 2023-2024 California Dream Act Application (under AB 130 and AB 131), and must have an EFC (Expected Family Contribution) of $10,000 or lower.
  4. Work status must meet one of the following:
    • U.S. Citizen
    • Permanent Resident Status (a “green card”) in the U.S.
    • A student with DACA Status

What is EFC and where can I find mine?

“EFC” stands for “Expected Family Contribution,” and reflects the amount of money that you and your parents would need to supplement, in conjunction with any grants or loans you may have, to fund your yearly college expenses. If your EFC is $10,000 or less, you are eligible to apply to the SAGE Scholars Program. You can view your EFC online by checking your account with the UCI Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. To view an example of an EFC please click here.

If accepted into the program, am I guaranteed a SAGE internship and scholarship?

Your acceptance into the SAGE Scholars Program does not guarantee you a SAGE internship and scholarship. While students who are admitted into the program will have opportunities to interview with SAGE sponsor companies for internship positions, we strongly recommend students to manifest the skills they acquire from their experience with SAGE into searching for outside internships, work, and/or research opportunities.

If I am the recipient of a SAGE internship, what would the work schedule be like?

You are required to work full time in the summer, 40 hours per week for 10 consecutive weeks, after your first year in the program.

Then, during the academic year following the full-time summer internship, you are required to work part-time (up to 15 hours per week) during the fall, winter, and spring quarters.

Can I apply to the SAGE Scholars Program if I am currently studying abroad or plan to study abroad?

In order to apply for the program, you must be present to participate in the virtual group interview process.

If you are admitted into the program and want to study abroad in the future: To remain active in the program, you must be a full-time student on campus at UC Irvine in order to attend the winter workshop series, and the spring quarter class during your first year in the program. Second-year SAGE students must attend class during the fall quarter.