University in United States
La Jolla, CA, United States
University profile
The University of California San Diego (UC San Diego) is a public research university whose main campus occupies approximately 1,200 acres of coastal woodland near the Pacific Ocean in La Jolla, California. It was founded as an experiment in 1960 and describes its mission as transforming California and a diverse global society by educating, generating knowledge and creative works, providing high-quality health care and engaging in public service.
Academic work is organised in eleven academic, professional and graduate schools: Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, the Halicioglu School of Data Science and Computing, the Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health, the Jacobs School of Engineering, Physical Sciences, the Rady School of Management, the School of Global Policy and Strategy, the School of Medicine, the Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Social Sciences, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography. More than 100 degrees and programs are offered, and undergraduate admissions lists 160+ undergraduate majors.
Every undergraduate belongs to one of eight residential colleges, each with its own general education curriculum, advisors, residential neighbourhood and traditions: Revelle, Muir, Marshall, Warren, Roosevelt, Sixth, Seventh and Eighth. Students choose any major regardless of college. About 10,000 students are in each incoming class, and 33% of the undergraduate class are transfer students.
Total campus enrollment is 45,087. The university is affiliated with UC San Diego Health, and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, founded in 1903, is part of the campus. Student life includes more than 700 student organizations, living-learning communities and a Housing, Dining and Hospitality department running residence halls, apartments and dining plans. International applicants apply on the same terms as other applicants, with additional secondary-credential and English-proficiency requirements.
The university is regionally accredited, and its accreditation information is maintained at accreditation.ucsd.edu.
International students are not eligible for federal or state financial aid. International students must prove sufficient funds for estimated expenses to obtain a visa. Private education loans are available to both domestic and international students.
A renewable scholarship for incoming first-year non-resident students with academic excellence. Awards range from $5,000 to $20,000 per year for up to four years. Eligible students are considered automatically through the UC application. Recipients must enroll full-time, maintain good academic standing and remain classified as non-residents.
Regents Scholarship (merit): $20,000 over four years for entering freshmen; open to U.S. citizens, permanent residents and California Dream Act students. Chancellor's Scholarships: up to $5,000 per year for four years for California residents who are citizens, permanent residents or Dream Act students. Chancellor's Associates Scholarship: up to $40,000 over four years for eligible San Diego or Imperial County students with financial need. All are considered through the UC application filed by November 30. Details: fas.ucsd.edu/types/scholarships.
US citizens and permanent residents file the FAFSA and eligible California residents the California Dream Act Application; priority date March 2 (school code 001317). SAT/ACT is not considered in scholarship decisions. Cost of attendance and aid: fas.ucsd.edu.
Regents Scholarship (UC San Diego) →
Chancellor's Scholarship (UC San Diego) →
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View scholarships for University of California, San Diego →Applicants apply through the University of California application, which opens August 1 and accepts submissions October 1 to November 30. Applicants complete the A-G college-preparatory pattern with a grade of C or better: history/social science 2 years, English 4, mathematics 3 (4 recommended), laboratory science 2 (3 recommended), language other than English 2 (3 recommended), visual and performing arts 1, college-preparatory elective 1; at least 11 of the 15 courses are completed before senior year. Minimum GPA in A-G courses is 3.0 for California residents and 3.4 for non-residents, including international applicants, with no grade below C. The middle 50% GPA for fall 2026 first-year admits was 4.12 to 4.28.
UC San Diego does not consider SAT or ACT scores in admissions or scholarship decisions; submitted scores may only be used as an alternative way to meet minimum requirements or for course placement. Four of eight personal insight questions (350 words each) are answered. Selective majors include Data Science, Engineering and Public Health; Arts majors allow an optional portfolio or audition. AP scores of 3, 4 or 5 earn 2, 4 or 8 units of credit; IB and A-level credit is also available through official score reports.
Transfer students enter at the junior level and must complete 60 UC-transferable semester (90 quarter) units and a 7-course pattern (2 English composition, 1 mathematical concepts and quantitative reasoning, 4 from at least two of arts and humanities, physical and biological sciences, social and behavioral sciences) with grades of C or better. Minimum GPA is 2.4 for California residents and 2.8 for non-residents. Some majors require major-preparation coursework. The fall 2026 middle 50% GPA range was 3.61 to 3.95.
International applicants meet the same first-year or transfer requirements plus a secondary-school completion certificate equivalent to a U.S. high school diploma, with excellent final results; scores are not to be converted by the applicant. English proficiency is required unless instruction was in English: TOEFL iBT 4.5 (new scale, from January 2026) or 83 for exams completed before January 2026; IELTS Academic 7; Duolingo English Test 115; AP English Language or Literature 3, 4 or 5; IB English A higher level 5, 6 or 7 or standard level 6 or 7. Transfer applicants can alternatively show grades of B or better in two transferable English composition courses. TOEFL and IELTS must be taken within two years. The international page includes country-specific lists of accepted secondary credentials, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. International students must prove sufficient funds to obtain a visa.
Applicants hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited US institution or a recognised university abroad with at least a B average (3.0 GPA) or equivalent by enrollment; some exceptional applicants with lower GPAs may be recommended. Applications require transcripts, a statement of purpose and recommenders; GRE scores are required by some programs only, and requirements vary by department. Official transcripts and a course-by-course evaluation of non-US degrees are required on admission. Applications go through the graduate admissions portal; contact [email protected].
Housing, Dining and Hospitality operates undergraduate living-learning communities, graduate and family housing, transfer housing and dining plans.
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