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University Of California - San Diego

California, United States
Estd. 1897
Rank: #14
public University
3 Courses Available
Facts

About University of California San Diego

The University of California, San Diego is a leading public research university situated in La Jolla, California. It was established in 1903 with an aim to provide quality education and a comprehensive learning experience to students. Some of the popular majors that the university offers are Computer Science, Economics, Molecular Biology and Biochemistry. 

It includes 6 undergraduate schools, 2 medical colleges and 3 graduate colleges. Around 8037 students are enrolled for the postgraduate degree program and that includes around 35 different courses. On the other hand, the doctoral level program includes 47 courses and 5 professional programs.University of California San Diego is known as one of the top 15 research universities worldwide, a culture of collaboration sparks discoveries that advance society and drive economic impact. Over 22700 students are enrolled for the undergraduate program. University of California – San Diego is the 7th oldest out of the 10 in the country.

University of California San Diego - Campus

The main campus of the University is located near the Pacific ocean and spreads across 1200 acres of coastal woodland in La Jolla. The University of California San Diego Campus is home to over 760 buildings that are used as administrative buildings, research centers, classrooms, medical facilities, sports facilities, laboratories, studios, libraries, etc. The campus has a remarkable training center for athletes and nine sports facilities with a 5000-seat arena. The campus has 45 Sorority and Fraternity organizations. Around 18500 students are engaged in community services on campus. 

University of California San Diego - Rankings

  • It has been ranked 45th by QS World Rankings in the field of computer science and information systems.
  • University of California –San Diego has been ranked 13th by Academic Ranking of World Universities and 16th by Center for World University Rankings.
  • Nature Index ranks University of California  San Diego 6th in the U.S. for research output by article count in 2019.
  • The University of California San Diego ranks 54 on the QS Global World Ranking 2022.
  • According to US News and World Report 2022, it ranks 8th in Top Public Schools
  • In 2020, UC San Diego was placed third among the public universities in Money's annual ranking of best colleges of America. 
  • In 2019, UC San Diego has also been ranked 11th among the best colleges that pay off the most by CNBC.

University of California San Diego - Acceptance Rate

The University of California San Diego Acceptance Rate is 38%. It is quite difficult to get into. Over 98000 students apply to the university each year whereas only 37584 students get admitted, which gives the school an overall acceptance rate of 38%. Your personal chances of getting accepted to the university totally depend on the strength of your profile. There are many other factors like the English Language Proficiency test scores, GPA and extracurricular activities, etc. that determine your chances of getting into the university.

University of California San Diego - Students

The athletics of the university is committed to the physical, intellectual and personal development of students, enhancing the overall student life experience, and campus pride. It encourages the students to focus on what excites you because having a balanced life is essential to success. There are more than 500 student-oriented clubs and organizations on the campus providing the opportunity to express you and make great connections. The University of California first year students and transfer students come from all over from California and other countries around the world. Approximately 9% of students live on campus while the remaining students live off-campus. 

The university has an enrolment of 22700 for undergraduate programs and an enrolment of over 8000 students for the postgraduate programs. Students can participate in various student organizations, leadership programs, community service initiatives and events that contribute to their personal growth and make them an experienced citizen and leader. There is a never-ending list of events and opportunities for students.

University of California San Diego - Faculty

The faculty of University of California – San Diego are very supportive and focus on improving the campus any way possible. The faculty share their wholesome experience of teaching and research, and of their amazing facilities at various platforms. The teachers at the university are very happy to contribute to the university’s welfare and students. There are around 3019 faculty members who work in University of California San Diego. They have been successful mentors for the students all these years.

University of California San Diego - Achievements and Rewards

  • It is second in the University of California system for the highest number of U.S. patents issued in 2015.
  • University of California San Diego have won a STARS gold rating for Sustainability Achievements from AASHE Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
  • In 2017, The university  was categorized as an Innovation and Economy Prosperity University by APLU(Association of Public and Land-grant University. This title is held by less than 60 universities in the United States of America. 
  • University of California San Diego has won many awards including 27 Nobel prizes and 3 Fields Medals. 
  • The current faculty members, researchers and alumni have also won 8 National Medals of Science, 8 MacArthur Fellowships and Pulitzer Prizes. 
  • The University also won the 2019 City of San Diego Recycler of the Year Award and the SANGAG 2020 Diamond Award for Flexible Commuting Alternatives.

University of California San Diego Scholarships 

The University of San Diego offers many scholarships to students. Here is a list of scholarships that is offered to students to support their studies and other expenses. 

First-year students can apply for two types scholarships:

First-year merit Scholarship 

These scholarships are solely based on the academic achievements as mentioned in your University of California admissions application.

These scholarships include:

  • Regents Scholarship 
  • Ellen and Roger Reveille Scholarship 
  • National Merit Scholarship

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First-year Restricted Scholarship 

This scholarship is awarded based on academic merit and some additional criteria like demonstrated financial need, leadership and field of interest. 

  • Regents Transfer Student Scholarship : It is another prestigious scholarship awarded to undergraduate students at the University of California. These are merit scholarships awarded on the basis of academic excellence. Students entering get a $10000 honorarium per year for each of the undergraduate years. 
  • For continuing graduates, various scholarships are offered by the college including the Afsahi Eklund '90 Family Scholarship, Alan Turing Memorial Scholarship, the Albert Parvin Scholarship, the Alice Marriott Scholarship, Alumni leadership scholarship, Visual Arts Endowment Scholarship and many more. 
  • The University offers several different donor-funded scholarships that are available across multiple research areas. 
  • International students are awarded various UC study abroad scholarships like the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program, the Frederick Douglas Global Fellowship and The Rise Germany Scholarship.

    University of California  San Diego Highlights

    Established in

    November 18, 1903

    QS Ranking 

    44

    Total International Students 

    8792

    Size of Campus

    2178 acres

    Faculty

    10915

    Valuation

    $2.3 billion 

    No. of campus

    1

    Acceptance Rate

    38%

    Website

    https://www.ucsd.edu/

    Address

    9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, United States

     


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Admissions

How to apply to the University of California San Diego?

International students from around the world are accepted at University of California San Diego. International students must fulfill basic requirements as mentioned by the university in addition to the specific international requirements. All applicants who have studied in high schools outside the USA must send the necessary documents along with their application to the University of California San Diego including the certificates and transcripts, international baccalaureate certification and any other records.

The following is the step-by-step process to apply to the University of California San Diego.

  • Students need to make their profile at https://apply.universityofcalifornia.edu/my-application/login
  • Fill out the application form through the online university portal. It contains 8 different sections. 
  • Once each section is duly filled, you can click on submit. 
  • After reviewing all the information, you are required to pay the application fee of $70 for every UC school you apply to. 
  • Submit additional materials as mentioned by the university. This will depend on the course you are applying to. 
  • Once all the requirements mentioned above are fulfilled, the university will review your application.

Eligibility for Undergraduate Programs

International first year applicants must have a high school diploma or an equivalent and should satisfy the following UCSD admission requirements:

  • International students must secure a GPA of 3.4 or better with no grade lower than C.
  • If the native language is not English, they need to submit test scores from English Language Proficiency tests like TOEFL with a minimum score of 83 or IELTS with a minimum score of 7. 

Eligibility for Post-graduate Programs

The University of California San Diego offers approximately 60 graduate courses, the admission procedure for which is the same. Students must fulfil the following requirements in order to be eligible for a postgraduate degree program. 

    • International applicants applying to a postgraduate course must hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent from an accredited institution in the USA or any other recognized university or institution abroad with an average GPA of 3 or equivalent.
    • Most UCSD departments also require students to submit their GRE scores.
  • Students need to submit their English Language Proficiency test scores of either TOEFL or IELTS if they belong to a non-English speaking country. A minimum IELTS score of 7 or a minimum TOEFL score of 83 is required. 
  • Applicants are required to submit a  Statement of Purpose. 
  • A CV/resume and 2 letters of recommendation must be submitted along with the other requirements. 

Applications required for University of California San Diego

Mention below are some of the application requirement for University of California San Diego for both UG and PG :

List of documents required for UG

Undergraduate Documents

Undergraduate Certificates (10+2)  scores

High School Transcripts

Proof of English Proficiency

IELTS: 7

TOEFL: 83 / 550

SAT/ ACT ( for first-year application )

Financial documents/ bursary funds

Letter of Recommendation (LOR)

GCSE/IGSCE Statement of Results

Statement of Purpose (SOP)

List of documents required for PG

Postgraduate Documents

Undergraduate Certificates (10+2)  scores

High School Transcripts

Bachelor’s degree certificates

Proof of English Proficiency

IELTS: 7

TOEFL: 83 / 550

SAT/ ACT ( for first-year application )

Financial documents/ bursary funds

Letter of Recommendation (LOR)

Statement of Purpose (SOP)

Masters in University of California – San Diego

The University of California San Diego offers 35 different courses at the postgraduate level. The courses are offered across various departments like Engineering & Technology, Business & Management, Natural Sciences & Mathematics, Computer Science & IT, Arts, Design and Architecture, Humanities, Medicine & Health, Social Sciences, Environmental Studies & Earth Sciences, Journalism & Media, Agriculture & Forestry and Law. The average fees for masters courses ranges between INR 23 lakh and INR 50.6 lakhs.

Bachelors in University of California San Diego

The University of California San Diego offers various undergraduate majors with specializations of your choice. The university has an enrollment of 22700 students at the undergraduate level. There are 6 undergraduate schools offering courses in different fields. The average fees for undergraduate courses is 11 lakhs. 

MBA in University of California San Diego

The University of California San Diego offers full-time MBA programs on campus with a duration of 2 years. The annual tuition fees for full-time MBA in University of California San Diego is approximately 42 lakhs per year. For executive MBA, the fees is 44.4 lakhs per year. MBA from University of California San Diego has been ranked 34th out of 1200 programs by the Global Ranking 2022. 

Requirements & Eligibility
Engineering
UG:Ielts:7Toefl:80
Science
PG:Ielts:7Toefl:80
Important Deadlines
Area of StudyPGUG
Engineering-11/Jan
Science11/Jan-
Life at University Of California - San Diego

Life at University of California San Diego

The University of California San Diego has over 550 student organizations that allow students to interact with other students coming from different parts of the world. 38 local and national Greek organizations are hosted on campus. The Fraternity and Sorority members represent 20% of the student population. The university aims to cultivate a sense of community among students, staff and community. The student body government coordinates various concerts and events for students.

Some others pointers are mentioned below : 

  • Student media is very popular at University of California San Diego, these tv stations and radio stations are run by the students, like KSDT radio station, Triton TV.
  • Each of the six residential colleges has their own student council which usually consist of the graduate students.
  • Pep band is a music band wherein students can portray their talent in the music field can become a part of it.
  • The university students release weekly newspaper called as UCSD The Guardian and also have its copy online, those who are interested in writing for media can contribute to this newspaper
  • Students have a exciting tradition of Pumpkin Drop and Watermelon Drop during the Halloween, it is one of the oldest traditions of the university.

Accommodation at University of California San Diego

The University of California San Diego offers guaranteed housing to fresher students for two years who meet the application deadlines. The housing plan  rate ranges between 12132 USD and 14591 USD. 

University of California San Diego - On-Campus Accommodation

  • There are several housing facilities specialized for undergraduate students. Transfer students are kept in other halls/apartments from the residential colleges.
  • It is seen that 40% of the students chose to live on campus in fall 2012 survey. Students share their room with 3 people commonly.
  • The university also dedicates a small portion of their housing facilities to those who prefer gender-neutral or LGBT housing.
  • The average rate of housing on campus is $11,554 to $13,000 for triple occupancy and including meal plans.
  • The basic amenities like tv, electricity, wifi, laundry are provided within the same price. 
  • Students can either choose to stay in residence halls or choose apartment housing. 
  • Meal plans are available for both resident hall and apartment housing students.
  • The University has 10 restaurants, 6 markets and 2 roaming food trucks.

University of California San Diego - Off Campus Accommodation

  • The average rent of the apartments range from $1000 to $1,200 per month.
  • The residence types are studio, 1BHK, 2BHK, 3BHK which can be shared or private
  • The basic amenities like tv, gas, electricity, wifi, laundry are provided within the same price.
  • All the apartments have central A/C and washing machines for student’s convenience.
  • Students can find apartments at websites like student.com, apartments.com
  • Students who do not wish to stay on campus can opt for off-campus accommodation.
  • These accommodations are located quite close to the university as well as local stores, grocery shops and shopping centers.

Key Attractions

University of California is a brand name. Thousands of international students come every year and the university does its best to promote cross-culture communication.

  • Price Center is an interesting location for students that consist of multiple restaurants, bookstores, movie theatre, office space for student organization etc.
  • The Che Cafe is a student co-operative that is known for its role in underground music and vegan food, Vegan students must visit this cafe.
  • Overall the university has 10 restaurants of different varieties like Mexican, vegan, Pacific Rim, and sushi. There are 6 markets as well which are open till 1 am.
  • Students can visit various beaches in San Diego during their leisure time; it is famous for its beaches.
  • Immense Balboa Park is the site of the well-known San Diego Zoo; the city also has numerous artist studios, art galleries, museums and gardens.

Career at University of California San Diego

Students graduating from University of California San Diego have a bright career ahead. The university provides various career guidance facilities for the students to choose from. It is very important for the students to know about their future plans which University of California – San Diego doesn’t fail to accomplish.

Jobs after studying at University of California San Diego

The University of California San Diego prepares students and gives the practical and relevant skills they need to succeed in the real world. The programs promote industry standards, access the most advanced technologies and equipment to ensure that graduates leave the university with opportunity for higher wages. The university prides itself as a hands-on education learning center that supports skill-building and helps student's thrive in the workforce environment. Students are qualified to work with various companies engaged in different fields after getting a degree from University of California San Diego. 

Given Below are names of some of the popular job profiles :

  • Web Developer
  • Dentist
  • Actor
  • Physician
  • Engineer
  • Financial Manager

Placements At University of California San Diego 

After completion of a degree course from University of California San Diego, students get opportunities to work with big companies through the college placement cells. Former students have been placed in big companies like Amazon, Bank of Canada, Columbia University, Freddie Mac, Google, etc. The university has tie-ups with companies from all over the world. The courses are designed in a way that prepares students for working and succeeding in securing jobs that are high-paying and offer a rewarding career. 

University of California San Diego - Notable Alumni

Many notable personalities have been a part of the University of California San Diego.

Some of them include:

  • Angela Davis: known for establishment of Critical Resistance and political activism.
  • Kuan Chung-ming: Taiwanese former minister of the National Development Council, professor of finance at National Taiwan University. 
  • Mike Judge: Emmy award winner and creator of King of the Hill Beavis and Butt-head and Silicon Valley.
  • Billy Beane: owner of Oakland Athletics and former professional MLB athlete.

Colleges related to University of California San Diego

The following colleges are a part of the University of California San Diego:

  • Reveille
  • John Muir
  • Thurgood
  • Marshall
  • Earl Warren
  • Eleanor Roosevelt 
  • Sixth and Seventh College
Living Costs
Accomodation1354 usd/month
Food400 usd/month
Entertainment300 usd/month
Utility117 usd/month
Travel72 usd/month
Miscellaneous200 usd/month
Coke/Soda1 usd/month
McDonalds7 usd/month
Colleges at University Of California - San Diego
Revelle College

Revelle College is a graduate school in the University Of California - San Diego located in Diego, United States.

Sixth College

The newest addition to the colleges of the University, it is a modern-age learning facility offering interdisciplinary courses in Culture, Art and Technology.

Eleanor Roosevelt College

Eleanor Roosevelt College is graduate school San University Of California - San Diego located in Diego, United Kingdom.

John Muir College

John Muir College is graduate school at University Of California - San Diego located in Diego, United States.

Thurgood Marshall College

Thurgood Marshall College is graduate school san University Of California - San Diego located in Diego, United Kingdom.

Earl Warren College

Earl Warren College is graduate school San University Of California - San Diego located in Diego, United Kingdom.

Contact Details
WEBSITEhttps://ucsd.edu/
ADDRESS9500 Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
About the Author
RA
Rachit Agrawal
Study Abroad Expert & Co-Founder @ AdmitKard
Rachit believes in the power of education and has studied from the top institutes of IIIT Allahabad, IIM Calcutta, and Francois Rabelias in France. He has worked as Software Developer with Microsoft and Adobe. Post his MBA, he worked with the world's # 1 consulting firm, The Boston Consulting Group across multiple geographies US, South-East Asia and Europe.
Visit the University Of California - San Diego as if you were there!