About

The University of California, San Diego, was founded in 1960 and is considered one of the best in the world by major college and university rankings. It is a public land-grant research university that is located on the University of California's ten southernmost campuses. UC San Diego offers over 200 graduate and undergraduate degree programs, and more than 33,000 undergraduate and more than 9000 graduate students have been enrolled. It is considered the second-most applied-to institution in the US, with 12 undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools and seven undergraduate residential colleges receiving over 140,000 applications for undergraduate admissions in the fall of 2021.

Top Reasons to Study in the University of California, San Diego

Some of the reasons why people tend to choose the University of California are- 

  • The University of California, San Diego Campus structure of the university or equipped with solar panels and dozens of buildings are leed certified.
  • More than 20 programs at UC San Diego rank in the top 25 University Nations and has very prominent faculty and top-ranked programs. 
  • The Geisel library is considered the world's largest repository of the original work of theatre Geisel.
  • UC San Diego values diversity and welcomes graduate students from all over the world.
  • There are a total of 8641 graduate and professional students, 3648 doctoral students, 3144 master's students, 907 clinical residents, and 796 MD and pharmacy students.
  • The University of California’s fee structure is $22,000.
  • The University of California, San Diego's Acceptance rate is 14.3% only.

Cost of Studying at University of California, San Diego

Average tuition fee

Moderate

Interest rates as low as 7.99%
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Living expenses

Average living expenses (Bachelors)

$64,629

Average living expenses (Masters)

$52,242

Average on-campus living expenses

$19,230

Rankings for The University of California, San Diego

US News Ranking

#21

US World and News Report

The World University Rankings

#33

The World University Rankings

QS World University Rankings

#54

QS World University Rankings

More rankings for this university

University of California, San Diego, is ranked among the top universities for international students in California, United States. This university provides quality education and amazing career and learning opportunities. Next are its top international and national rankings by various reputed platforms. 

  • According to the Center for Science and Technology Studies of Lead and University 2020 report, the University of California San Diego is the 13th-best research university innovation and the 48th-best college in the world. 
  • The University of California, San Diego ranked 34th in the 2022 edition of best colleges in national universities. 
  • It ranks 13th in best colleges for veterans and 180th in best value schools.
  • University of California, San Diego Ranking is number 1 in San Diego, it made it to the top 10 public Universities in the US for several years. 
  • Furthermore, the University of California San Diego has been ranked 3rd among the nation's top public colleges according to Forbes 2021 List of America's top colleges. 
  • The University of California’s world rank is #16th position.

Admissions at The University of California, San Diego

Application Fee

$80 - $200

How to Apply at University of California, San Diego

Applicants need to submit some specific documents during the application process. These documents are listed below -

  • Scan and upload copies of transcripts for all institutions attended after High School graduation. Both the front and back sides of the transcript should be available even if it is blank.
  • The transcript should have the reason details of the applicant such as name, institution name, date of attendance, grades received, credits, and degree if applicable.
  • Statement of purpose.
  • Examination requirements.
  • Visa information.
  • Application fee: An University of California’s application fee of 140 dollars is needed.
  • Letters of recommendation.

Documents Required to Apply to University of California, San Diego

Applicants need to submit some specific documents during the application process. These documents are listed below -

  • Scan and upload copies of transcripts for all institutions attended after High School graduation. Both the front and back sides of the transcript should be available even if it is blank.
  • The transcript should have the reason details of the applicant such as name, institution name, date of attendance, grades received, credits, and degree if applicable.
  • Statement of purpose.
  • Examination requirements.
  • Visa information.
  • Application fee: An University of California’s application fee of 140 dollars is needed.
  • Letters of recommendation.
Exams Accepted By the University

The University of California welcomes applicants from all over the world and the minimum requirement to get admitted includes qualifying in some specific standard exams.The required exams are as follows:

GPA (Grade Point Average)

International students must earn a GPA of 3.4 better with no grade lower than c

English Proficiency tests

TOEFL - a minimum score of 83 is required

IELTS - a minimum score of 7 is required.

AP/IB Exams

AP Exam - a minimum score of 3,4,5 in English language/literature and composition

IB Exam - a minimum of English (Lang. A) higher level: 5,6,7 And 

English (Lang. A) standard level: 6,7 
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Courses

Find the updated list of courses available in this university

Masters in Data Science & Engineering

View Details
Jacobs School of Engineering

Application deadline

Rolling

Degree

Masters

Duration

24 Months

Tuition fee

$20,642/yr

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MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering

View Details
Jacobs School of Engineering

Application deadline

Fall, 15/12/2023

Degree

Masters

Duration

24 Months

Tuition fee

$26,802/yr

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MS in Computer Science and Engineering

View Details
Jacobs School of Engineering

Application deadline

Rolling

Degree

Masters

Duration

24 Months

Tuition fee

$26,802/yr

Admit Predictor

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View All Courses

Campus

Number of campuses the university has
1

Campus locations
California

View on Google Earth

Transportation in the city

The San Diego Airport (SAN) is about three miles away from the University of San Diego. The quickest route to get from the airport to the university is today a 16min taxi ride, which costs around $50 to $60 (3972.90 INR to 4767.57 INR). Students can also take bus shuttles or town car rides to the university or can even walk on foot. Buses take about 25 minutes and cost around 95 INR to 597 INR. A 9-minute shuttle ride will cost around 1702 INR to 2400 INR, whereas, a 9-minute town car ride will cost around 4200 to 6000 INR. Walking time is estimated at around 1 hour 46 minutes. Other nearby airports include Tijuana (19.9 miles), Santa Ana (74.3 miles), and Indio/Palm Springs (83.1 miles).

Services offered by the university

Some of the major services provided are as follows -

  • University of California’s Campus Assault Resources and Information (C.A.R.E.) is a program run by the university that offers support and education to the student community about sexual assault and sexual exploitation.
  • Facilities and opportunities for fitness are provided by the campus recreation department.
  • The USD community is served through the Centre for Health and Wellness Promotion (CHWP) through programs that are campus-wide, individual, and group services and research opportunities to improve student wellness.
  • The counseling center is responsible for improving students' psychological and physical health.
  • Participants can learn more about themselves and their interactions with others through group counseling. 
  • The LGBTQ+ community provides venues for queers and trans individuals and educates the college about inclusive tactics.
  • The University of California, San Diego Cost of living is around $15,000.

Student life

The main campus consists of 761 buildings and occupies around 1152 acres, with natural reserves occupying about 899 acres. The University of San Diego begins the autumn semester with a welcome week to introduce new students. They welcome by starting with All Campus Dance and introducing students to campus clubs and activities. The student body government holds a wide variety of events and concerts throughout the year. One of the largest and most significant events of the year is the “Sun God”, a festival that has almost 20,000 people and celebrities attending annually. 

  • Art facilities: A wide collection of art projects decorates the campus. The most famous of these is the “Sun god”.
  • Academic facilities: New buildings are added as the engineering departments expand. The Geisel library is accessible to all students exposing them to a variety of books.
  • Athletic facilities: The university is home to many sports such as Baseball, Basketball, Cross Country, Fencing, Golf, Soccer, Swimming and Diving, Tennis, Volleyball, Water polo, etc.

On campus accomodation

Only the months of July and August offer the option of on-campus living. International students will not be able to live on campus in 2022 because of COVID-19, and staff availability in 2023 has not yet been confirmed.

International students are offered two types of housing-

  • Near Campus Apartments by Anatolia -

The apartments provided by Anatolia are conveniently University of California, San Diego Address is located close to UC San Diego, shopping, and transportation options. They are completely furnished and well-equipped with everything you need.

Price range- 

4 weeks- 

2022 Shared bedroom: $1,100 (87,440.54 INR)

2022 Private bedroom: $1,975 (156,995.52 INR) 

9 weeks-

2022 Shared bedroom: $2,465  ( 195,946.30 INR)

2022 Private bedroom: $4,438  ( 352,782.83 INR)

11 weeks-

2022 Shared bedroom: $3,010  ( 239,269.11 INR)

2022 Private bedroom: $5,410  ( 430,048.47 INR)

26 weeks-

2022 Shared bedroom: $7,085  ( 5,63,196.57 INR)

2022 Private bedroom: $12,750  ( 1,013,515.35 INR)

  • Off-campus hotels: Residence Inn by Marriott La Jolla

The studio may accommodate up to three guests without incurring additional University of California, San Diego Fees.

Faculty

University Faculty:Student Ratio

1:26

University Faculty Stats

In addition to three Fields Medals, eight National Medals of Science, eight method MacArthur Fellowships, and three Pulitzer Prizes, UC San Diego academics, researchers, and graduates have received 27 Nobel Prizes. 110 members of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, 45 members of the Institution of Medicine, and 29 members of the National Academy of Engineering have been elected from the current faculty.

Opportunities

University Endowments Value

1450000000

Research opportunities at university

The University of California, San Diego, provides research opportunities with the help of a collaboration with an expert mentor. There are over 60+ final projects from like-minded students and researchers. Some of the individual research programs include

  • UCSD's annual undergraduate research conference in the arts and social sciences and humanities (CRASSH).
  • Academic internship programs.
  • California Louis Stokes Alliance for minority participation (CAMP).
  • Faculty mentor program.
  • McNair program.

Internship opportunities (Part time job opportunities)

Over a hundred internship opportunities are listed in UC San Diego's academic internship program. Students need to explore these databases to find additional opportunities that might suit their careers. The university provides customer partnerships with campus departments and programs. 

Some of the major programs include-

  • UCDC.
  • UC Centre Sacramento.
  • Other major and minor specific programs.

Placement - Companies and average salaries offered

Graduates from the University of California, San Diego are provided with top-notch placements in companies such as Amazon, Convoy, Harvard University, London School of Economics, Federal Reserve Board of Governors, etc. Graduates play an important role in both the public and private sectors. Approximately 90% of doctoral recipients from the University of California San Diego have known initial placements and are employed in a variety of positions at local, national, and worldwide companies and institutions.

Contact

Links

University Website International University Website University Brochure

Email

admissionsreply@ucsd.edu

Address

9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0021

Social media

FAQs

1. Can students apply to UC San Diego without declaring a major?
First-year students may be admitted to UC San Diego as undeclared transfer students, but transfer students must be admitted into a major and may not be admitted as undeclared.

2. How can I check my application status?
The application status must be checked by logging onto  https://gradapply.ucsd.edu/.

3. What is the UC San Diego institution code for GRE/TOEFL?
Use code 4836 to send your scores to UC San Diego.

4. Does UC San Diego give conditional admission to international students?
No international students must meet the university's minimum requirements.

5 How do I pay the application fee?
Application fees must be paid by using an acceptable credit card( visa MasterCard Discover American Express and JCB) or debit card (Visa, Master card)