What’s your first step in setting your world on fire? As you might expect, it’s actually becoming a Blazer — applying and being admitted to UAB.
Once you’ve applied to UAB and been accepted, there are two paths to joining the Honors College.
1. Invitation. Students admitted to UAB with a minimum ACT score of 28 or redesigned SAT score of 1300 (ERW+M) and a minimum 3.5 GPA, will receive an offer by email to join the UAB Honors College.
2. Application. High school seniors who don’t meet the criteria to receive an automatic invitation can still apply to be considered for admission. A committee will review the application materials (essay, resume, transcript, and letter of recommendation) on an individual basis and send a notification when a decision is made.
Current UAB students and transfer students are eligible to apply with a 3.5 GPA and 12 or more hours of college credit. Interested UAB/transfer students should email
3. Deadlines.
Application deadline for entering freshmen – April 15
Application deadline for current UAB students or transfer students – Rolling
Acceptance offer deadline – May 1
Apply to the UAB Honors College
**Click on the white button with green letters at the bottom that says Login with BlazerID. Please do not log in using the fields at the top. Please note the application button is reserved for incoming first-year students only.**
Specialized Program Admission
1. Application. Each of UAB’s specialized honors programs — GCL, STH, and UHP — requires a separate application following acceptance into the Honors College. To be considered, you first need to accept (which is non-binding) or defer your offer from the Honors College. Once you have accepted or deferred your offer you will then be prompted to indicate your interest in a Specialized Program and complete the appropriate application.
Our specialized programs also require an interview. Students will receive more information about the interview process after submitting their application(s).
2. Deadlines.
Priority application deadline – February 1
Extended deadline, based on space availability in each program – April 15
Acceptance offer deadline – May 1
Learn More About Specialized Programs
Connect with the Honors College - Your Way
Honors College On-Campus Visit
Visiting our campus — including Honors Hall and Spencer Honors House — is one of the best ways to learn about the UAB Honors College. During this session, you’ll meet with an Honors Ambassador, a friendly and knowledgeable current student who knows college life from a student’s perspective and is ready to answer any questions you have. You'll also be welcomed by one of our dedicated honors advisors, who will share details about our honors community, honors curriculum, and admissions process.
Schedule Honors College On-Campus Visit
Honors College Virtual Information Sessions
If you prefer, we invite you to schedule a Virtual Information Session so you can learn all about the UAB Honors College from the comfort of your home. During this session, you’ll gain insight about the honors community, honors curriculum, and admissions process from an honors advisor. You’ll have the opportunity to chat with an Honors Ambassador about college life and the Honors experience. We offer sessions weekly.
Schedule Honors College Virtual Visit
For more information on scheduling an Honors College On-Campus Visit or Virtual Information Session, contact our Campus Visit Center at
Orientation and New Student Retreat
The Honors College holds events throughout the year to keep our students informed, entertained, and connected — to make sure you feel like you belong as much as we feel like you belong. At the very beginning, though, our goal is mostly to keep you from getting lost and/or lonely. Here’s how we do that.
Honors Blazer Beginnings – New Student Orientation
Navigating UAB’s campus will be a new experience if this is your first time at a college. You might not know anyone else in the Honors College upon arrival, so Honors Orientation is the perfect way to help you start life as a UAB honors student and make connections.
- Connect with other new students and current students who will be happy to help you get settled.
- Talk with your advisor to plan your personalized honors curriculum — and that all-important first-semester schedule.
- Register — early, so you can be sure to get the classes you want.
- Get an idea of the services available to make your move into the Honors College smooth, healthy, and successful.
Make sure you register for an honors session of UAB Blazer Beginnings. Students must formally accept their Honors College offer in order to make a reservation for an Honors College orientation date. Each of these dates listed below includes a mandatory honors session the evening of the first day of orientation. This will include an information session, honors advising, and an honors family dinner with faculty, staff, and current students.
| Blazer Beginnings Orientation 2024 | Honors Orientation |
|---|---|
| June 4 - 5 | June 4 at TBA (CDT) |
| June 6 - 7 | June 6 at TBA (CDT) |
| June 10 - 11 | June 10 at TBA (CDT) |
New Student Retreat
Your honors education doesn’t start in the classroom, but rather through exploration of the rich culture surrounding UAB. Over the course of three days, you will be immersed in community service in different parts of Birmingham, educational workshops led by honors faculty, and entertaining activities hosted by our Student Mentor and Retreat (SMART) Leaders.
Students gain a deeper understanding what it means to be an Honors Blazer through involvement in the New Student Experience Retreat. They explore Birmingham through “City as Text” and visit culturally and historically significant sites. Throughout the retreat, students engage with our community partners in different acts of service. By participating in academic workshops and sessions, students learn about navigating college, accessing important student resources, maintaining academic integrity, and meditation methods from honors staff. During Friday Night Fun and Saturday Night Social, students take part in fun activities such as karaoke, arts and crafts, video games, and even watch amusing films.
