Paper vs. PDF

Paper Transcripts

The Office of the Registrar prints transcripts on special security paper, seals the transcript in an envelope, and mails the transcript to the recipient name and address that you specify. You also can choose to pick up the transcript envelope or ask us to fax the transcript. The base fee is $15.00. The normal processing time for paper transcripts is four business days, and rush processing is available for an additional fee. Expedited delivery services also are available for an additional fee.

Official PDF Transcripts

Within 15 minutes after you submit your order in the student portal, the system automatically creates an official PDF copy of your transcript. The fee is $15.00. You can send it to one or more recipients in several ways: 

  • Download the PDF and send it to the recipient
  • Generate access codes and provide those access codes to your recipients, invite recipients to visit the pickup site, and track the date when each recipient downloads your transcript.
  • Enter recipient information into the ordering site: we will send access codes directly to recipients by e-mail

An official PDF transcript will be authentic and secure for a recipient regardless of which delivery method you choose. When a recipient opens an official PDF transcript in Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat, a blue banner advises that the Office of the Registrar certified the document, thus confirming that the document has not been altered. The certification serves the same purpose as printing a transcript on security paper and sealing the transcript in an envelope.

Your PDF transcript will be available for download for one year.

Prior to ordering, you may wish to confirm that your recipient is willing to receive a PDF transcript.

Note: As of June 8, 2022, AMCAS (The American Medical College Application Service) accepts UCSF's PDF transcript. AMCAS will accept a PDF only if sent by UCSF, so please opt for the third fulfillment option shown above: enter [email protected] into the ordering site, and we will send access codes directly to AMCAS by e-mail.

Questions?

E-mail or call us (415-476-8280).