Admission at University of California, San Diego is a moderately selective with an acceptance rate of 34.3%. UC San Diego follows a quarterly academic calendar. There are three quarters in the academic year at University of California San Diego- fall, winter and spring with optional summer session.
- Enrollment: UC San Diego received more than 140,000 applications for fall 2021, the second highest in the nation. It has a total enrollment of 40,616 students. UC San Diego is home to about 31,842 undergraduates and 8,641 graduate and professional students.
- Admission Requirement: To secure admission in UCSD applicants must have extraordinarily high grades. In there recent academic year, the average GPA of the accepted students at University of California San Diego was 3.82 on a 4.0 scale.
- Requirements for International Students: Along with academic scores, International applicants are required to submit the language proficiency scores like TOEFL iBT. Minimum score required for PG program is 85. For UG program a minimum score of 83 is needed
University of California San Diego Application Deadline
Admission at UC San Diego are offered for fall semester, winter semester and spring semester. However there are some optional summer session aswell. Application deadline for UG programs for both domestic and internation student is between August 1 to November 30. Mentioned below are application deadlines for some of the top programs at UC San Diego.
University of California San Diego International Student Admission
International applicants from all over the world are accepted at the University of California – San Diego. International applicants must meet general requirements for first-year and transfer students in addition to specific international requirements. Applicants who have received their high school or college education outside the U.S. must send all required documentation to the University of California San Diego including their certificates, transcripts and international baccalaureate certification and other records.
How to apply as an international student?
Step 1: Create an Account through UC Application
Step 2: Complete the UC Application and submit the basic admission requirements:
- Academic transcripts
- English Language Proficiency Requirements
- CV/ Resume
- Standardized exam scores
- Letters of Recommendation
- Work Experience
- Statement of Purpose/ Personal Statement
- Interview
- Medical Records
- Health Insurance
Step 3: Pay Admission Fees of 140 USD (for UG and PG) and Submit Your Application
English Proficiency Test Scores for University of California San Diego
Visa Process for International Students
Applicants will need to apply for an F-1 visa to study in the USA to be able to study in the U.S. Students will also need a residency permit or right of residency for studying at University of California. Apply well in advance to ensure that your request is processed in due course. As soon as applicants are admitted to the university, they must begin to arrange their paperwork to ensure it's all in order in time to arrive.
As soon as applicants receive their I20/DS-2019 document from the university, they must complete their online visa application. Applicants applying for a visa must prepare the following documents:
- A valid passport
- Recent photograph
- Medical insurance
- Form I-20 or DS 2019 documents approved by the university.
- Bank statement for financial support proof or a letter of a sponsor.
- Additional documents as required by the U.S. Embassy in their home country.
Also Check:
Country-Specific Requirements for University of California San Diego
| Country | Requirement |
|---|---|
| India | Must complete both 10th and 12th state board or CBSE examinations, with average marks above 70. |
| South Korea | Official middle and senior high school academic records/transcripts, a senior high school diploma, and completed required high school classes with above-average grades |
| Malaysia | Completed either the SPM and STPM or the SPM and at least 3 academic GCE A-Level exams |
| New Zealand | Must complete year 13 and earn at least 42 credits at NCEA Level 3. |
| Sri Lanka | Must complete the Sri Lankan GCE O and A level exams. A minimum of 3 academic A-level exams is required. |
University of California San Diego Undergraduate Admissions
University of California San Diego offers more than 170 undergraduate courses available to domestic as well as international students. The basic admission process for all the courses is the same:
Application Portal: Online Application Portal
Application Fee: 140 USD
Admission Requirements:
- Official transcripts with GPA of 3.4 or better.
- English Language Proficiency Scores
- Letters of Recommendation
- SAT/ACT scores(not mandatory)
University of California San Diego Graduate Admissions
The University of California offers more than 100 graduate degree programs offered by the 11 divisions. The basic admission process for all the courses is the same. However, most courses and study programs have different entry requirements. All graduate applicants must have a completed bachelor’s degree with a minimum 3.0 GPA or grade B and will have to submit GMAT/ GRE scores for admission in addition to other supporting documents.
Application Portal: Online Application Portal
Application Fee: 140 USD
Admission Requirements:
- Official academic records
- English Language Proficiency Score
- Letter of Recommendation
- Resume/CV
- Statement of Purpose
Mentioned below the course-specific requirements for some of the popular PG courses offered by University of California San Diego:
| Requirement | MBA | MSc. Chemical Engineering | MEng. Bioengineering | MA Mathematics | Master of Public Health |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Application Deadline | June 1 | December 16 | December 1 | December 8 | February 3 |
| GRE | Required | Not Required | Not Required | Required | Optional |
| Letters of Recommendation | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| Resume/CV | Required | Recommended | Required | Not required | Required |
| Statement of purpose | Required | 2500 word limit | 1200 word limit | 2500 word limit | approximately 1500 word limit |
The University has 6 colleges, however, students can only give a preference of the college and it is only at the discretion of the University to decide which college to assign based on student ranking. The University of California is selective in terms of admission when sending offers of place to students seeking to study in the USA.
The application review process takes up to 4 weeks. It prefers to offer admission to students who display the potential to take up studies at the graduate level and successfully complete it.The process of application review is conducted by the respective program’s faculty members.
Due consideration is given to each and every aspect of the application including academic records, recommendation letters, statement of purpose, work experience etc. and students are expected to be particularly careful in providing documents. It is the responsibility of the faculty to recommend approval or denial of an application to the graduate dean. The official notification of admission is sent by the Dean via email.
University of California San Diego FAQs
Ques. Which application portal of University of California is accessible to applicants?
Ans. New applicants at University of California shall log into the applicant portal once they receive an email with instructions about the login to create their account.
Ques. When should the transcripts be sent to the admissions office for undergraduate admission to University of California?
Ans. Undergraduate applicants for University of California do not need to submit their transcripts during the review process. However, first-year as well as transfer applicants must send their transcripts latest by July 1.
Ques. How does the University of California assign a college to students?
Ans. Applicants are asked to list out the colleges as per their preferences in their applications to the University of California. The admission office assigns suitable colleges according to the ranks of the applicants.
Ques. Can applicants apply to more than one program at University of California?
Ans. Yes, applicants can apply for more than one program at the University of California provided that they are not from the same department.
Ques. How can applicants check application status at the University of California?
Ans. Application status at University of California can be checked by logging into https://gradapply.ucsd.edu/ . Once the decision is made, the Dean shall send an email to the students for confirming their decision.
Ques. How can one apply for Application Fee Waiver at the University of California?
Ans. A fee waiver at University of California can be demanded in the "Fee Waiver Request" area of the application. In order to review the application submitted to the institute, applicants must indicate which criteria they meet and upload the corresponding documents. They will be notified by email of the status of exemption from payment.
Ques. Can I apply to more than one program in the same department or school?
Ans. Yes. You can apply to more than one program, but you may not apply to more than one program within the same department, at UC San Diego.
Ques. I am not a resident of California. Can I receive financial aid or can I establish residency?
Ans. Students from other US states are not eligible for California financial aid. However, UC will help you receive federal financial aid for which you are eligible. International students are not eligible to receive federal or state financial aid. TO be granted a visa, international students must prove sufficient funds to meet all expenses for studying in the US.
Ques. Did I take the SAT with Essay?ACT writing test. How should I report my test score at University of California, San Diego?
Ans. UC no longer collects the essay/writing scores for the SAT/ACTs. If you choose to report your test scores, you should report your highest total/composite score for a single sitting, but do not include the essay/writing score.
Ques. Does UC San Diego require international applicants to have their transcripts evaluated?
Ans. No, UC San Diego performs its own evaluation and does not accept those performed by evaluation agencies. Likewise, UC San Diego does not accept evaluation reports as the official English translation of foreign academic records. However, ICAP documents from WES can be accepted in place of official transcripts and degree certificates.
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