Undergraduate Admissions

[ advanced placement credit chart (PDF) | international baccalaureate credit chart (PDF) ]
[ intersegmental general-education transfer curriculum (IGETC) ]

Admission Policy and Selection Criteria

The undergraduate admission policy at UC San Diego is designed to select a highly qualified and diverse student body. As a major public institution of higher education serving the teaching, research, and public service needs of California, UC San Diego strives to reflect the diversity of the population of the state. This undergraduate admission policy, developed by the San Diego campus in compliance with the University of California (UC) policy on undergraduate admissions, “seeks to enroll a student body that, beyond meeting the university’s eligibility requirements, demonstrates high academic achievement and exceptional personal talent, and that encompasses the broad diversity of California.”

Definition of an Undergraduate Applicant

You are an undergraduate applicant if you are a student who wishes to complete a program of studies leading to a bachelor of art degree, a bachelor of science degree, or a combination degree offered to undergraduates.

An applicant to UC San Diego is evaluated as

Minimum Requirements for Undergraduate Admission

The university’s minimum undergraduate admission requirements, which are the same for all UC campuses, are based on three principles. They are

  1. the best predictor of success in the university is high scholarship in previous work
  2. the study of certain subjects in high school gives a student good preparation for university work and reasonable freedom in choosing an area for specialized study
  3. standardized assessment tests provide a broad base for comparison and mitigate the effects of differing grading practices

Academic preparation is the principal basis for gaining admission to UC San Diego. Students are encouraged to pursue the most rigorous academic curriculum possible, including honors, Advanced Placement (AP) courses, and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) courses, in order to prepare for the university experience. High test scores are necessary in conjunction with strong performance in classes and a consistent pattern of courses. Applicants who have not had the opportunity to take AP or IB courses or who have not taken exams for these courses will not be disadvantaged.

The academic requirements for admission are minimum entrance standards. Students admitted to UC San Diego are chosen from a large number of highly competitive applicants, most of who will have greatly exceeded the minimum requirements. Selection, therefore, depends on additional factors.

Reapplication

An application for admission is effective only for the year for which it is submitted. If you are ineligible for admission, or if you are admitted and do not enroll in classes for that admission term, you must file a new application to be considered for a later year. The selection criteria in effect for the new term must be met.

If you were admitted to the university, enrolled, and paid registration fees, but did not attend, you need to contact your undergraduate college to withdraw from the university. Contact the Registrar’s Office for information on refunding your registration fees.

Second Baccalaureate/Limited Status Applicants

UC San Diego does not accept applications from students who have earned a four-year degree.

Admission as a Freshman Applicant

UC San Diego is a popular campus with a national reputation for excellence. Each year the campus receives more applications from eligible students than can be accommodated and, as a result, is highly selective. Successful applicants must exceed the minimum UC admission criteria. The campus does not admit students on the basis of academic major or choice of UC San Diego undergraduate college.

Definition of a Freshman Applicant

You are a freshman applicant if you are a student who has graduated from high school but who has not enrolled in a regular session at any accredited college-level institution. This does not include attendance at a college summer session immediately following high school graduation.

Applying as a Freshman

The requirements listed below are minimum requirements. The San Diego campus has been unable to accommodate all minimally eligible applicants. You must exceed these requirements in order to be considered for admission.

California Residents

As a public university, UC San Diego admits California residents as a majority of each year's entering class. Approximately 90 percent of UC undergraduates reside in the state of California. They reflect the diversity present in terms of their cultures, races, socioeconomic status, and geographic location throughout the state.

Details about residency can be found on web pages for the Registrar’s Office.

California residents who are in the top 9 percent of participating California high schools may also be Eligible in the Local Context (ELC). For details, see admissions or UC online.

Nonresidents

UC San Diego admits hundreds of students from all over the country and around the world.

Admission is highly competitive because of the number of applications received. All applicants must exceed UC’s minimum eligibility requirements. If you're an exceptional student, you are encouraged to apply, no matter where you live.

Definition of a Nonresident Applicant

You are a considered a nonresident applicant if you are a student who lives outside the state of California. You will be required to present a higher scholarship average than California residents in order to be eligible for admission to the university, in addition to paying the nonresident tuition fees.

An applicant who is not a resident of California may be considered for admission to the university with a grade point average of 3.40 or higher, calculated on the required high school subjects, and by achieving a correlating test score indicated in the eligibility index for nonresidents. These subjects, referred to as “a­-g,” are the same for the nonresident as for the resident.

High school Advanced Placement courses and UC-transferable college courses are considered honors courses for admission purposes for non-California resident applicants. For additional details about freshman requirements, see admissions.

Details about residency can be found online at the Registrar’s Office.

International Applicants

See admission as an international applicant, below, and refer to admissions for freshman admission for international students and international applicants.

Minimum Requirements for Freshman Applicants

To be eligible for admission to the university as a freshman you must meet the high school diploma requirement, the examination requirement, the writing requirement, and the subject requirement as described below.

High School Diploma Requirement

You must earn a diploma from a high school in order to enter the university as a freshman. The certificate of proficiency, awarded by the California State Department of Education upon successful completion of the high school proficiency examination, proficiency tests from other states, and the General-Education Development (GED) certificate, will be accepted in lieu of the regular high school diploma. Subject, examination, and writing requirements discussed in the following sections must also be met.

If you were educated outside the United States, see international diploma equivalents online.

Examination Requirement

To apply as a freshman, you must submit the following test scores:

or

All applicants for admission to UC San Diego are applying for the fall term and must take these tests no later than December of their senior year, preferably earlier. Students who take the ACT must report each test score and the composite score; scores must be from the same sitting. The verbal, mathematics, and writing scores on the SAT must be from the same sitting.

If tests are repeated, the university will accept the highest score received. See your counselor for information and registration forms or SAT (College Board) and ACT .

Although not required, applicants may also take two SAT subject tests in two different areas, chosen from the following: history, literature, mathematics (Level 2 only), science, or language other than English. If you are considering a major in engineering or the biological or physical sciences, we strongly encourage you to take the SAT Subject Test: Math Level 2 and a science test (biology E/M, chemistry, or physics) that is closely related to your intended major.

Review the UC guidelines  for the examination requirement.

Subject, high school diploma, and writing requirements discussed in this section must also be met.

Writing Requirement

As a UC undergraduate, you must demonstrate proficiency in writing by any of the following:

Check UC online for changes or updates to these requirements.

Admitted students who do not meet the Entry Level Writing requirement prior to April 1 are required to achieve a passing score on the UC Analytical Writing Placement Examination. Notice of this exam will be sent to all admitted students from the Educational Testing Service. A fee is charged for the exam.

Subject, examination, and high school diploma requirements discussed in this section must also be met.

Subject Requirements

You must complete a minimum of fifteen college-preparatory courses with at least eleven finished prior to your senior year in high school. These are called “a through g” courses (“a–g”) and include:

The approved courses for high schools in California are specific to each high school and lists are available through your high school’s counseling office.

You must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or higher, or 3.4 or higher if you are a nonresident applicant. See how to calculate your GPA.

The requirement may also be satisfied by completing college courses or earning particular scores on SAT, Advanced Placement (AP), or International Baccalaureate (IB) exams. See the UC web page for “a – g” courses.

For detailed information about the content of acceptable “a–g” courses, refer to the UC San Diego admissions site for freshman requirements.

Additional Credit

Advanced Placement   

The university grants credit for all College Board Advanced Placement Tests on which you score 3 or higher. This may be subject credit, graduation credit, or credit toward general-education or breadth requirements. Credit is expressed in quarter units. For details, see the Advanced Placement credit chart, which also shows requirements met by college.

The number of units granted for AP tests are not counted toward the maximum number of credits required for formal declaration of an undergraduate major or the maximum number of units a student may accumulate prior to graduation. Students who enter the university with AP credit do not have to declare a major earlier than other students, nor are they required to graduate earlier. Even if subject credit or credit toward specific requirements is not mentioned in the college lists, students receive university credit as described in the chart for all AP tests on which they score 3 or higher. If a student is exempt from a particular course at UC San Diego, duplication of this course does not earn academic credit.

You are encouraged to take AP tests when appropriate. Counselors should advise a student who is fluent in a language other than English to gain AP credit. AP test scores will not adversely affect a student’s chances for admission. Applicants who have not had the opportunity to take AP or IB courses, or who have not taken exams for these courses, will not be disadvantaged.

International Baccalaureate

The university grants credit for international baccalaureate exams. Only Higher Level Exams are accepted for credit by UC; Standard Level Exams are not given credit. The IB credit limit at UC San Diego is thirty units. A score of 6 on Standard Level English exam meets UC Entry Level Writing requirement but no unit credit is granted. For dance, environmental systems, theatre arts, and visual arts, course credit will be determined by the college or the department. For details, see the International Baccalaureate credit chart, which also shows requirements met by college.

College Courses

Many high schools have arrangements with nearby postsecondary institutions, allowing you to take regular courses while you are still in high school. These courses may be accepted by the university exactly as they would be if you were a full-time college student. If you are admitted to UC San Diego, you must provide a transcript of all courses taken, including college courses.

No matter how many college units you earn before graduating from high school, you will still apply as a freshman.  

Application Review Process—Freshman

The number of applicants to UC San Diego far exceeds the number of spaces available, and it has become necessary to adopt standards that are much more demanding than the minimum requirements to admit students. The San Diego campus has developed the following procedures for the selection of applicants to be admitted from its pool of eligible candidates.

All applications will be reviewed with a goal of identifying those unique individuals who have demonstrated the intellectual curiosity, tenacity, special talents, academic achievement, and commitment to community service expected of the UC San Diego graduate. Some of these are a combination of the academic record, personal characteristics, and other achievements. Academic achievement constitutes a significant portion of the overall review score and is based on a wide range of criteria including classroom performance, motivation to seek challenges, and the rigor of the curriculum within the context of high school opportunities. Applicants with the highest level of academic, personal characteristics, and achievement will be admitted in sufficient numbers to meet UC San Diego’s enrollment goals.

Detailed information about the evaluation factors can be found at admissions for the application review process.

Academic Achievement Factors

Other Factors

*Applicants who have not had the opportunity to take AP or IB courses or who have not taken exams for these courses will not be disadvantaged.

Honors Level Courses  

The University of California encourages students to take demanding advanced academic courses in all fields. Accordingly, the grades in up to four units of eleventh and twelfth grade honors courses will be counted on a scale A = 5, B = 4, C = 3, if these courses are certified by the high school and the University of California as offered at an honors level. Honors credit will also be given for up to two of these four units taken in tenth grade. Grades lower than C do not earn honors credit. Applicants who have not had the opportunity to take AP or IB courses or who have not taken exams for these courses will not be disadvantaged. UC San Diego does not employ minimum scores or cut-offs of any kind.

Admission as a Transfer Applicant

UC San Diego is a popular campus with a national reputation for excellence. Each year the campus receives more applications from eligible students than can be accommodated and, as a result, is highly selective. UC San Diego welcomes transfer students. More than 25 percent of each year’s new students on campus are transfer students. The transfer student services office provides admissions advising and a variety of programs and services for prospective transfer students.
 
In addition to satisfying UC minimum requirements, only transfer students who have completed ninety or more UC-transferable quarter units by the end of spring term are considered for admission. UC San Diego admits transfer applicants at the junior-level only; the campus does not admit students on the basis of academic major or choice of UC San Diego undergraduate college.

Priority is given to students transferring from California community colleges. We also admit students from all over the country and around the world. If you are an exceptional student, you are encouraged to apply, no matter where you live.
For more information regarding transferring to UC San Diego, contact Transfer Student Services in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.

Definition of a Transfer Applicant

You are a transfer applicant if you have graduated from high school and have been registered in another accredited college or university or in college-level extension classes, other than a summer session immediately following high school. As a transfer applicant, you may not disregard your college record and apply for admission as a freshman.

Applying as a Transfer Student

To be eligible for admission to UC San Diego as a transfer student, you must meet certain requirements. An undergraduate student can earn transfer credit upon successful completion of college-level work, which the university considers consistent with courses it offers. Such credit may be earned either before or after high school graduation. The acceptability of courses for transfer credit is determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools.

The requirements listed below are minimum requirements. The UC San Diego campus has been unable to accommodate all minimally eligible applicants. You must exceed these requirements in order to be considered for admission. You should complete lower-division major requirements for your intended field of study before enrolling at UC San Diego.

California Residents

Approximately 90 percent of UC undergraduates reside in the state of California. They reflect the diversity present in terms of their cultures, races, socioeconomic status, and geographic locations throughout the state.

Details about residency can be found online at the Registrar’s Office.

Nonresidents

As a public university, UC San Diego admits California residents as a majority of each year's entering class. We also admit hundreds of other students from all over the country and around the world.
Admission is highly competitive because of the number of applications received. All applicants must exceed the University of California's minimum eligibility requirements. If you're an exceptional student, you are encouraged to apply, no matter where you live.

Definition of a Nonresident Applicant

You are considered a nonresident applicant if you are a student who lives outside the state of California. You will be required to present a higher scholarship average than California residents in order to be eligible for admission to the university, in addition to paying the nonresident tuition fees.

Details about residency can be found online at the Registrar’s Office.

International Applicants

See admission as an international applicant below.

Minimum Requirements for Transfer Applicants

The following are minimum eligibility requirements for the University of California. Because the San Diego campus has been unable to accommodate all minimally eligible applicants, you must exceed these requirements in order to be considered for admission:

Many students who plan to earn a degree at the university find it to their advantage to complete their freshman and sophomore years at a California community college. Each community college offers a full program of courses approved for transfer credit. The university will award graduation credit for up to seventy semester (105 quarter) units of transferable course work from a community college. Courses in excess of seventy semester units will receive subject credit and may be used to satisfy university subject requirements.

More than 90 percent of UC San Diego’s transfer students come from California community colleges. To be considered a California community college (CCC) student, you must meet all four of these conditions

Applicants who have satisfactorily completed sixty transferable semester units (ninety quarter units) one full term prior to the term of admission will be considered for admission. California community college applicants must have a competitive GPA (based on the strength of the applicant pool) in UC-transferable courses. Highest priority for admission is given to upper-division transfer students from California community colleges, followed by upper-division transfer students from other UC campuses, upper-division California resident transfer students from other two-year or four-year institutions, and upper-division transfer students who are not residents of California.

If you are attending another University of California campus or California community college, most of your academic course work will probably be transferable. For more information on transfer credit from California institutions, visit ASSIST, the statewide transfer information site.

The transferability of course work taken at other institutions is determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools. Because of the number of applications received, we are unable to evaluate course work for applicants prior to admission.

Credit from Another College

The university gives unit credit to transfer students for courses they have taken at other accredited colleges and universities, including some extension courses. To be accepted for credit, the courses must be consistent with those offered at UC San Diego, as determined by the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools. Applications from students who have more than 135 quarter units (ninety semester units) of transfer credit and meet selection criteria are considered to have excess units (senior standing). UC San Diego admits transfer applicants at the junior level only.

UC San Diego does not give credit for CLEP examinations.

Transfer Agreements and Preparation Programs

UC San Diego strongly recommends you complete all lower-division preparation for your major as well as completing all lower-division breadth and general-education requirements (B/GE) prior to transfer.

UC San Diego has two transfer agreement programs and considers three preparation pathways. These allow students to fulfill all or most lower-division breadth and general-education requirements prior to transfer.

Completion of IGETC or UC reciprocity agreements will satisfy the lower-division general-education requirements at the following undergraduate colleges: Earl Warren, Thurgood Marshall, Sixth, or John Muir. For Eleanor Roosevelt or Revelle College, courses completed prior to transfer will be applied toward the college’s own lower-division requirements:

Transfer applicants should refer to the college websites for individual departments’ specific courses for GPA requirements.

Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG)

California community college (CCC) students* can participate in this guarantee program if they complete the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) requirements and submit a UC application during the filing period for fall (November 1–30). Applicants must check the UC San Diego TAG and IGETC (Intersegmental General-Education Transfer Curriculum) boxes on the UC application. TAG requirements include:

*A California community college student is defined as one who is applying for admission with junior status (sixty UC-transferable semester units or ninety UC-transferable quarter units completed by spring):

TAG does not guarantee choice of major or choice of undergraduate college. Applicants are asked to rank college choices on the UC application. Every effort will be made to place students in one of their top college choices, based on available spaces.

We strongly recommend that applicants plan their course selection to prepare for their major. Students declaring one of the designated majors that require lower-division preparation prior to admission into the major will be admitted with premajor status. For more information about major preparation course work, see the agreements by major between UC San Diego and the community colleges online at ASSIST.

This agreement is available to US citizens, permanent residents, AB540 students, international students (with domestic course work only) who meet English proficiency requirements, and former UC students in good standing (except former UC San Diego students). TAG does not apply to students with senior class standing (students with ninety or more UC transferable semester units or 135 quarter units) from accredited four-year universities and community colleges combined.

Students cannot reach senior standing with only community college units completed. A maximum of seventy UC-transferable community college semester or 105 quarter units will be accepted toward graduation. Subject credit is awarded for community college units taken beyond the seventy semester units or 105 quarter units. All UC-transferable units completed at a four-year university apply toward the limit of ninety semester units or 135 quarter units. Advanced Placement and international baccalaureate units earned prior to high school graduation do not apply to the limit of ninety semester units or 135 quarter units.

The TAG program and its requirements are reviewed each year and the information here is subject to change. Check the UC San Diego admissions site for the latest TAG updates.

UniversityLink

UniversityLink provides guaranteed admission to high school seniors who sign an agreement and successfully complete academic and program requirements at a participating community college. UniversityLink partnerships are currently established with the following colleges: Cuyamaca, East Los Angeles, Grossmont, Imperial Valley, Mira Costa, Palomar, San Diego City, San Diego Mesa, San Diego Miramar, and Southwestern.

The UniversityLink program and its requirements are reviewed each year and the information here is subject to change. Check the UC San Diego admissions site for the latest UniversityLink updates.

UC Transfer Reciprocity Agreement

Transfer students who have attended any campus of the University of California and satisfied lower-division breadth and general-education (B/GE) requirements at that campus prior to transfer may consider these requirements satisfied for the following undergraduate colleges: Earl Warren, Thurgood Marshall, Sixth, or John Muir. For Eleanor Roosevelt or Revelle College, courses completed prior to transfer will be applied toward the college’s own lower-division requirements:

Transfer students in this category should obtain a Certificate of Completion of GE Requirements from the campus at which these requirements were satisfied. This can be in the form of a letter or memo addressed to the academic advising office of your UC San Diego undergraduate college.

Articulation

UC San Diego has major preparatory agreements with California community colleges for all majors. These agreements can be found at ASSIST, which shows how course credits earned at one public California college or university can be applied when transferred to another. ASSIST is the official repository of articulation for California’s public colleges and universities and provides the most accurate and up-to-date information about student transfer in California.

IGETC (Intersegmental General-Education Transfer Curriculum Agreement)

Transfer students from California community colleges can fulfill the UC lower-division breadth and general-education (B/GE) requirements by completing the Intersegmental General-Education Transfer Curriculum (IGETC). Completion of IGETC will satisfy the lower-division B/GE requirements for the following undergraduate colleges: Earl Warren, Thurgood Marshall, Sixth, or John Muir. For Eleanor Roosevelt or Revelle College, courses completed prior to transfer will be applied toward the college’s own lower-division requirements:

Completion of the IGETC will permit a student to transfer from a community college to a campus in the University of California system without the need to take additional lower-division general-education courses after transfer.

Transfer students should obtain the IGETC Certification from their community college and submit it to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools. Students must provide this certification prior to the start of classes at UC San Diego; TAG students are required to provide IGETC certification by July 15.

It should be noted that completion of IGETC is not a requirement for transfer to UC (exception for students following the Transfer Admission Guarantee (TAG) Program), nor is it the only way to fulfill the lower-division, general-education requirements of UC prior to transfer. Depending on a student’s major and field of interest, the student may find it advantageous to take courses fulfilling the general-education requirements of the UC campus or college to which the student plans to transfer. IGETC is applicable at the following undergraduate colleges: Warren, Marshall, Sixth, or Muir. For Roosevelt or Revelle Colleges, courses completed prior to transfer will be applied toward the college’s own lower-division requirements:

Application Review Process: Transfer

The number of applicants to UC San Diego far exceeds the number of spaces available, and it has become necessary to adopt standards that are much more demanding than the minimum requirements to admit students. The San Diego campus has developed the following procedures for the selection of applicants to be admitted from its pool of eligible candidates.

All applications will be reviewed with a goal of identifying those individuals who are fully prepared to excel in the challenging academic environment at UC San Diego.

Admitted applicants will be selected primarily on the basis of academic performance, as assessed by review of the GPA in all UC-transferable courses and the total number of UC-transferable units completed one full term prior to the initial quarter of attendance at UC San Diego.

Information about the evaluation factors can be found at admissions for the application review process.

Admission as an International Applicant

UC San Diego is one of the premier universities in the world. Highly ranked faculty and academic departments prepare students for real-world challenges through cross-disciplinary studies and research in engineering, social sciences, and the arts, with the on-campus support of outstanding resources. The interaction among international students, visiting faculty from around the world, and California residents contributes to a rich educational experience for everyone.

Refer to the relevant sections in this catalog for admission as a freshman applicant or admission as a transfer applicant, and check details of requirements for freshmen and for transfer applicants online at admissions for international students. Links to information about fees and expenses, as well as more information for international students, can be found online at the International Center.

For questions concerning pre-applicant undergraduate admission for international applicants, whether at the freshman or transfer level, contact the international specialists in the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools.

Definition of an International Applicant

You are an international applicant if you are a student who holds or expects to hold any nonimmigrant visa.

Requirements

International applicants must meet the same requirements for admission, whether as a freshman or transfer student, as any other applicant. Names of documents and available courses tend to vary by country. Any questions concerning undergraduate admission of international students should be made by contacting the international specialists in the Office of Admissions and Relations with Schools.

The International Center at UC San Diego offers information, assistance, and orientation programs for newly admitted international students. Explore the international students and programs website for details and updated information for newly admitted students, current students, and prospective students. Prospective students and applicants will also find information about the application and admission process online at Admissions .

In order to facilitate the success of UC San Diego students, proficiency in the English language is required. All applicants educated outside the U.S. where the language of instruction is other than English will be screened for a level of English language proficiency. Rather than relying on a single factor for identifying English language proficiency for non-native speakers of English, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools is recommending a more comprehensive approach to assess proficiency.

Students with substandard results or placement in any of these areas may be determined to have insufficient levels of English language proficiency and may not be admitted.

In addition to an adequate English-language background, international students must have sufficient funds available to cover all fees; living and other expenses; and transportation connected with their stay in the United States (see fees and expenses).   

Application Review Process

International applications are evaluated by the same guidelines used for all freshman applications or transfer applications, with attention to the individual circumstances of an applicant’s school or records. For additional information, see the admissions site for evaluation of freshman applications or evaluation of transfer applications.

The Application Process

How to Apply for Admission

Undergraduate applications for admission are available online at the beginning of October. Use the application form to apply to any one or more of the nine undergraduate campuses in the UC system.

Selecting Campuses and Programs of Study

You may be familiar with only one or two of the university’s general campuses, possibly those nearest to your home or mentioned more frequently in the news. We encourage you to give serious consideration to the many educational experiences and programs offered by other campuses of the University of California before submitting your application. Your counselor and the staff in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools can provide you with insights that may help in your selection process.

When to Apply for Admission

You must submit your completed application during the filing period of November 1–30.

If you plan to apply for financial aid, university housing, or other special programs, your application must be submitted on time and you will need to meet any other deadlines for the specific programs.

Applications for admission to UC San Diego are accepted for enrollment beginning in fall quarter only.

Deadline to File:  November 1–30

Application Fees

The basic application fee of $70 entitles you to be considered at one campus of the university. For each additional campus you select, you must pay an extra $70 fee. These fees are nonrefundable. International nonimmigrant applicants pay an $80 application fee for each campus selected. The application fee is reviewed each year and the amounts are subject to change. Check UC Admissions for the latest updates.

UC San Diego College Choice

When filling out the UC application, you will need to rank the undergraduate colleges at UC San Diego (Revelle, John Muir, Eleanor Roosevelt, Thurgood Marshall, Earl Warren, and Sixth) in order of preference, starting with your first choice. Each college has enrollment goals that limit the number of new freshmen and transfer students, and students are not always assigned to their top college choices.

Undergraduate Colleges

You can read about UC San Diego’s six colleges at Admissions. You will also want to look at the individual college websites on these web pages.

These pages describe the educational philosophies of the six colleges at UC San Diego, including the general-education requirements. Consider listing your college preferences based on how you relate to the programmatic theme, or motto, of each college. You’ll also want to explore the extracurricular activities and support services offered. All the colleges offer programs for commuter students, opportunities to study abroad, and options for connecting with a mentor. It is important to read the colleges section of the catalog carefully, explore the websites, talk to students or alumni, and then decide which colleges might be a good match for you.

Even though you may be uncertain about your major, your application for admission must include the name of the UC San Diego college with which you want to affiliate (or Sixth College). Rank all the colleges in your order of preference, starting with your first choice. Although there are no guarantees, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions and Relations with Schools makes every effort to place students in one of their top choices, as enrollment quotas permit. Applicants who do not indicate any college preference or alternate choices, will be assigned a college.

Adding a Campus to Your Application

After you have submitted your application, if you decide to apply to additional UC campuses, submit your request in writing to the processing service before the filing deadline. Be sure to note your application ID number, additional campus(es) to which you wish to apply, major(s), major code(s), and include payment of $70 for each additional campus you select ($80 for each campus selected for international nonimmigrant applicants).

You may not substitute new campus choices for your original choices. Your request will be honored only if the additional campus(es) you choose still has/have space available. The processing service will notify you as to whether your application was accepted. Do not submit a second application form; it will not be processed.

Determining Your Grade Point Average

The scholarship standard for admission purposes is expressed by a system of grade points and grade point averages earned in courses accepted by the university. Grade points are assigned as follows: for each unit of A, four points; B, three points; C, two points; D, one point; and F, no points. For example, if you received an A in a three-unit course, you would have twelve grade points. If you received a B in another three-unit course, you would have nine grade points.

To determine your grade point average, calculate your total grade points and divide by the total number of acceptable units you have attempted. Using the examples above, divide total grade points (twenty-one) by total units attempted (six) for a grade point average of 3.5. You may repeat courses you completed with a grade lower than C (2.0).

Checklist for Applicants

  1. Submit an application on the University of California website during the November filing period. Fee may be paid by credit card, or you may ask UC application processing services to bill you by mail.
  2. You must rank UC San Diego colleges in order of preference. Be sure to sign the form.
  3. Complete your personal statement.
  4. Fill in the self-reported academic data and test information carefully and accurately.
  5. If you are a freshman applicant, take the ACT Assessment plus Writing or the SAT Reasoning Test no later than December of your senior year. Refer to the examination requirement section above for details.
  6. Do not send transcripts or other documents—your application contains sufficient information for evaluation.
  7. Applicants who are admitted to UC San Diego will be able to use the checklist on MyApplication to request official transcripts.

Notification of Admission

UC San Diego communicates with applicants and admitted students by e-mail. Make sure the e-mail address we have for you is up to date. Application decisions are posted on UC San Diego’s application status site, MyApplication. See freshmen applicants or transfer applicants, below, for timeframes.

Admitted students will also receive notification by mail, soon after decisions are posted online. After receipt of notification of admission,

All this information, as well as the process to submit your SIR and SLR, can be found online at MyApplication.   

Freshmen Applicants

If you are a freshman applicant and you filed your application on time, UC San Diego will notify you between mid-March and March 31 if you have been admitted.

All offers of admission are provisional until your test results and official final high school transcript (and college transcript, if applicable) have verified your self-reported academic data. Offers of admission will be rescinded if

  1. you have discrepancies between your official transcripts and your self-reported academic record
  2. you do not complete the “a–g” courses listed as “in progress” or “planned”
  3. you do not complete your twelfth-grade courses at the same academic level as your previous course work

Transfer Applicants

If you are a transfer applicant and you submitted your application on time, UC San Diego will notify you between mid-March and April 30 if you have been admitted.

All offers of admission are provisional until your self-reported academic record has been verified by official transcripts from all colleges attended. Offers of admission will be rescinded if

  1. you have discrepancies between your official transcripts and your self-reported academic record
  2. you omitted any college or school attended from your application
  3. you do not complete the courses listed as “in progress” or “planned”
  4. you do not maintain the specified GPA for courses “in progress” or “planned’’

Accepting the Offer of Admission

To accept UC San Diego’s offer of admission, complete and submit the Statement of Intent to Register (SIR) and the online Statement of Legal Residence (SLR). The $100 nonrefundable fee accompanying your SIR (if required at that time) is applied toward payment of the university registration fee.

Please note the deadline to return these two documents. Use MyApplication to submit both documents online. If needed, you can print out the SIR and mail it to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. If you do not submit or have your mailing postmarked before the deadline, you will be denied enrollment due to space limitations. The deadline for return of your SIR and SLR is

May 1—freshmen
June 1—transfer students

Statement of Intent to Register (SIR)

Even though you may be admitted to more than one campus of the University of California, you can return the SIR to only one campus.

Upon receipt of your SIR, the Office of Undergraduate Admissions provides information to various campus offices including the financial aid office, housing and dining services, and your college provost. You will then receive additional information from each office.

Transcripts

If you are admitted, you must arrange to have final, official transcripts sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions no later than July 15. Use the checklist on MyApplication to request transcripts from your school(s). If you attended school outside the United States, see additional information below.

Admitted Freshman: You must arrange to have an official, final high school transcript (showing your date of graduation) sent to UC San Diego. We do not review sixth- or seventh-semester transcripts; please do not send additional documentation, unless we specifically ask you to do so.
Admitted Transfer Students: You must arrange for official transcripts from all schools and colleges you attended, including high school, sent to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Transcripts must be submitted from each school, regardless of the length of attendance or whether you believe the credit is transferable; please do not send additional documentation, unless we specifically ask you to do so.

Applicants Who Have Attended School Outside the United States

In the United States, the academic record is called a transcript. In other countries, it may be called by another name—such as leaving certificate, maturity certificate, bachillerato, or baccalauréat. See the chart on the admissions website showing US high school diploma equivalents.

The Office of Undergraduate Admissions may have made a preliminary evaluation of your application based on the information you provided. Once you are admitted, however, we must receive an official academic record directly from each institution you attended, beginning with grade nine, and up to and including the school or college/university you currently attend. Each academic record must list

The university recognizes that it may be difficult to obtain foreign records in the event of political upheaval or natural disaster; however, these situations are rare. Failure to provide official records may jeopardize your enrollment at the university.

Transcripts and other documents that you submit as part of your application become the property of the university; they cannot be returned to you or forwarded in any form to another college or university.

Student Health Requirement

New students are required to complete a medical history form for Student Health Services. Information and links are sent in advance of registration, or you may obtain the form at the Student Health Center. All information provided to Student Health Services is confidential and is carefully reviewed to help provide individualized health care.

Students planning to take part in intercollegiate athletic competition should submit a physical examination form completed by your family physician. Routine physical examinations are not provided by Student Health Services.

Mandatory Health Insurance: The University of California has established mandatory health insurance as a nonacademic condition of enrollment for undergraduates. Health insurance packages will be available for year-round coverage. The cost will be factored into grants, loans, and work-study programs offered to students who receive financial assistance. Students already covered by adequate health insurance can waive the requirement. The campus-based insurance plans will not replace the primary medical care and referral services provided by Student Health Services.

Hepatitis B Immunization: The California State legislature mandates that first-time enrollees at the University of California who are eighteen years of age or younger provide proof of full immunity against Hepatitis B prior to their enrollment. If you accept UC San Diego’s offer of admission and will still be eighteen years old at the beginning of your first quarter, you will receive the Hepatitis B information by campus e-mail. The immunization consists of a series of three vaccinations, which you must start in time to complete the sequence by your second quarter of enrollment. You can review the Hepatitis B FAQs from UC San Diego’s Student Health Services. You can also receive further information through your health-care provider or county health department.

Degrees Offered and Major Choices

UC San Diego was founded on the idea of superior academics, and we continue to support the growth of academic excellence in six undergraduate colleges, five academic divisions, and five graduate and professional schools. Many departments feature an interdisciplinary approach in their programs. As an undergraduate, you choose a major field of study (See impacted majors and premajors below). You can add a second major or a minor to enhance your major.

Bachelor of arts (BA) and bachelor of science (BS) degrees are offered; some campus programs and schools offer combination bachelor’s and master’s degrees.

Restrictions on Choosing a Major

Impacted Majors

It sometimes becomes necessary to limit enrollment in certain majors. When this occurs, the affected majors will be listed on the UC San Diego website as soon as possible. The following majors are considered impacted:

Check the UC San Diego web page on impacted majors and the department websites for updated information.

Premajors

With premajor status, you must satisfy all prerequisites before admission to the major. The set of conditions, determined on a department-by-department basis and approved by the UC San Diego Committee on Educational Policy is explained in detail under the relevant department listing in this catalog.

The following majors admit students to premajor status only: engineering physics, human development, and math–computer science.

Fees and Expenses

The exact cost of attending UC San Diego will vary according to the personal tastes and financial resources of the individual. It is possible to live simply and to participate moderately in the life of the student community on a limited budget. The university can assist the student in planning a budget by indicating certain and probable expenses. For planning and budgeting purposes, sample budgets are available and are subject to change.

Financial Assistance

For information regarding student employment, loans, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid at UC San Diego, see the prospective students: finances web page and financial aid and scholarships.