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Applying

Beginning your online application is simple, and you may return to add further application materials before submitting your final application. The online application also includes a step-by-step guide to help keep your application on track. The drop-down menus will answer your questions and walk you through the process.

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Should you need to update your application after submitting, please contact our admissions staff directly.

GPS adheres to all University of California policies and procedures regarding nondiscrimination and affirmative action. For more information, please visit the UC San Diego Graduate Division.

Deadlines

The application and supporting online materials must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on the day of the deadline. Hard copy materials must be postmarked by the deadline. If the date should occur on a weekend or holiday, the next business day will apply.

 Program  Early Notification  Deadline
 MIA  Dec. 4  Jan. 15*
 MPP  Dec. 4  Jan. 15*
 MCEPA  Dec. 4  Jan. 15*
 MAS-IA  Oct. 30  Jan. 15
 Ph.D.  N/A  Dec. 1

*All materials must be received by Jan. 15 to be considered for fellowship funding. Applications received after the deadline will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the class is full. If you have any questions, please reach out to us at gps-apply@ucsd.edu(858) 534-5914, or schedule a 1:1 appointment with us.
 Please note the deadline for the joint Ph.D. program differs from the deadline for the Ph.D. in political science.

 Program  Application Opens  Deadline
 BA/MIA**  Jan. 3  April 10
 BA/MPP  Jan. 3  April 10

**To confirm your eligibility for the BA/MIA program, please meet with an academic advisor from the ISP program by submitting an advising request form.

BA/MIA, BA/MIA-PS and BA/MPP Specific

Essays
Personal Statement
  • Your statement of purpose and professional objectives in international affairs and/or research interests.
  • How your background has prepared you to pursue these objectives.
Optional Statement/Supplemental Essay
  • This is an opportunity for you to discuss a matter that is not already addressed elsewhere in your application, and that you feel will help the admissions committee to understand challenges you have overcome or other circumstances that affected your successes. (250 word limit)

Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Upload a PDF version of your current professional resume or curriculum vitae.

Two Letters of Recommendation
For our bachelors/masters five-year degree programs, your referees are required only to complete the ranking rubric. The letter of recommendation is optional. At least one recommendation should be from a person can speak to your ability to succeed in an academic setting.

All letters of recommendation must be in English and submitted directly by the recommender. Those making the recommendations can submit them directly to the online application system or mail them in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender. The recommendation must include complete contact information for the recommender. 

Transcripts
Applicants may either submit official academic transcript(s) by mail in an unopened envelope sealed by the university's registrar or upload copies of transcripts in the online application system.

Admissions Interview
Invitations to participate in admissions interviews are sent after essays, resume, the completed online application and fees are received.

MIA and MPP Specific

Admission Specific Requirements
Applicants must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Essays
Personal Statement

  • Your statement of purpose and professional objectives in international affairs and/or research interests
  • How your background has prepared you to pursue these objectives
Optional Statement/Supplemental Essay
  • This is an opportunity for you to discuss a matter that is not already addressed elsewhere in your application and that you feel will help the admissions committee to understand challenges you have overcome or other circumstances that affected your successes. (250 word limit)

Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Upload a PDF version of your current professional resume or curriculum vitae.

Three Letters of Recommendation
The Admissions Committee would like to see at least one recommendation from a person who can speak to your ability to succeed in an academic setting and one recommendation from a person who can speak to your ability to succeed in a professional setting. The third letter can come from a source of your choosing.

All letters of recommendation must be in English and submitted directly by the recommender. Those making the recommendations can submit them directly to the online application system or mail them in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender. The recommendation must include complete contact information for the recommender.

Transcripts
Applicants may either submit official academic transcript(s) by mail in an unopened envelope sealed by the university's registrar or upload copies of transcripts in the online application system.

Standardized Test
The standardized tests are optional. You may submit scores for either GRE or GMAT, but neither is mandatory.

Demonstrate proficiency in the English language
Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is required for all international applicants whose native language is not English. This can be achieved by taking and receiving passing scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), IELTS, or Pearson's Test of English-Academic (PTE-Academic) exam. The School requires minimum scores of: TOEFL 90 iBT or 550 PBT, IELTS band 7.0, or PTE-Academic overall 65.

Non-native English language speakers may be exempt from this requirement if they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either:

  • A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction

OR

  • A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. You may verify whether your institution meets this requirement by looking up your institution in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If English is not the sole language of instruction listed, if no language is listed at all, or if the institution does not appear on the WHED website, you are required to submit English proficiency exam scores. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) may be used in place of WHED as a means to obtain an exemption from the English proficiency requirement. 

MCEPA Specific

Admission Specific Requirements
Applicants must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Essays
Personal Statement

  • Your statement of purpose and professional objectives in international affairs and/or research interests
  • How your background has prepared you to pursue these objectives
Optional Statement/Supplemental Essay
  • This is an opportunity for you to discuss a matter that is not already addressed elsewhere in your application and that you feel will help the admissions committee to understand challenges you have overcome or other circumstances that affected your successes. (250 word limit)

Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Upload a PDF version of your current professional resume or curriculum vitae.

Three Letters of Recommendation
The Admissions Committee would like to see at least one recommendation from a person who can speak to your ability to succeed in an academic setting and one recommendation from a person who can speak to your ability to succeed in a professional setting. The third letter can come from a source of your choosing.

All letters of recommendation must be in English and submitted directly by the recommender. Those making the recommendations can submit them directly to the online application system or mail them in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender. The recommendation must include complete contact information for the recommender.

Transcripts
Applicants may either submit official academic transcript(s) by mail in an unopened envelope sealed by the university's registrar or upload copies of transcripts in the online application system.

Standardized Test
The standardized tests are optional. You may submit scores for either GRE or GMAT, but neither is mandatory.

Demonstrate proficiency in the English language
Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is required for all international applicants whose native language is not English. This can be achieved by taking and receiving passing scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), IELTS, or Pearson's Test of English-Academic (PTE-Academic) exam. The School requires minimum scores of: TOEFL 90 iBT or 550 PBT, IELTS band 7.0, or PTE-Academic overall 65.

Non-native English language speakers may be exempt from this requirement if they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either:

  • A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction

OR

  • A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. You may verify whether your institution meets this requirement by looking up your institution in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If English is not the sole language of instruction listed, if no language is listed at all, or if the institution does not appear on the WHED website, you are required to submit English proficiency exam scores. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) may be used in place of WHED as a means to obtain an exemption from the English proficiency requirement.

Additional proficiency in Mandarin Chinese
Applicants must also have a minimum of two years of university-level Mandarin Chinese study or its equivalent. Students should be comfortable reading and speaking in Mandarin.

MAS-IA Specific

Admission Specific Requirements
Applicants must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

Applicants must have a minimum of five years of professional experience and relevant international experience. The requirements for international experience may be met in a number of ways, including:

  • Foreign work experience or work experience with a multinational enterprise, government entity or NGO with foreign operations.
  • Extended residency abroad.
  • Other relevant international experience considered on a case-by-case basis.
Personal Statement
  • Your statement of purpose and professional objectives in international affairs and/or research interests.
  • How your background has prepared you to pursue these objectives.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Upload a PDF version of your current professional resume or curriculum vitae.

One Letter of Recommendation
Letters of recommendation must be in English and submitted directly by the recommender. Those making the recommendation must upload their letter directly to the online application system or mail the letter of recommendation in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender.

Standardized Tests
We do not require nor consider GRE or GMAT scores.

Admissions Interview
Once you have started the application process, our staff will reach out to schedule a time for your virtual or in-person interview.

Demonstrate proficiency in the English language
Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is required for all international applicants whose native language is not English. This can be achieved by taking and receiving passing scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), IELTS, or Pearson's Test of English-Academic (PTE-Academic) exam. The School requires minimum scores of: TOEFL 85 iBT or 550 PBT; IELTS band 7.0; or PTE-Academic overall 65.

Non-native English language speakers may be exempt from this requirement if they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either:

  • A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction

OR

  • A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. You may verify whether your institution meets this requirement by looking up your institution in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If English is not the sole language of instruction listed, if no language is listed at all, or if the institution does not appear on the WHED website, you are required to submit English proficiency exam scores. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) may be used in place of WHED as a means to obtain an exemption from the English proficiency requirement. 

Transcripts
Applicants may either submit official academic transcript(s) by mail in an unopened envelope sealed by the university's registrar or upload copies of transcripts in the online application system.

Ph.D. Application

Admission Specific Requirements
Applicants must have earned a four-year bachelor’s degree or its equivalent from an institution of comparable standing to the University of California with a minimum grade-point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.

For International applicants, the U.S. GPA equivalencies will be determined. Applicants with strong quantitative coursework in their undergraduate degree are encouraged to apply.

The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is required for international applicants whose native language is not English and who have not studied full-time for one uninterrupted year at a university-level institution in a country where English is the official language.

Personal Statement
  • Your statement of purpose and professional objectives in international affairs and/or research interests.
  • How your background has prepared you to pursue these objectives.

Resume/Curriculum Vitae
Upload a PDF version of your current professional resume or curriculum vitae.

Three Letters of Recommendation
The Admissions Committee would like to see at least one recommendation from a person who can speak to your ability to succeed in an academic setting and one recommendation from a person who can speak to your ability to succeed in a professional setting. The third letter can come from a source of your choosing.

All letters of recommendation must be in English and submitted directly by the recommender. Those making the recommendations can submit them directly to the online application system or mail them in a sealed envelope signed across the flap by the recommender. The recommendation must include complete contact information for the recommender.

Standardized Test
Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

Transcripts
Applicants may either submit official academic transcript(s) by mail in an unopened envelope sealed by the university's registrar or upload copies of transcripts in the online application system.

Demonstrate proficiency in the English language
Demonstrated proficiency in the English language is required for all international applicants whose native language is not English. This can be achieved by taking and receiving passing scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The School requires minimum scores of: paper based (600), computer based (250) and Internet based (100).

Non-native English language speakers may be exempt from this requirement if they have earned or will be earning a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree from either:

  • A regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction

OR

  • A foreign college or university which provides instruction solely in English. You may verify whether your institution meets this requirement by looking up your institution in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). If English is not the sole language of instruction listed, if no language is listed at all, or if the institution does not appear on the WHED website, you are required to submit English proficiency exam scores. No other documentation (e.g. letters, language certificates, school websites) may be used in place of WHED as a means to obtain an exemption from the English proficiency requirement.

Application Fee

U.S. Citizens, Permanent Residents and Undocumented Applicants: $135.00
International Applicants: $155.00

More information is available through the Graduate Division.

International Applications

An international applicant is neither a U.S. citizen nor a U.S. permanent resident at the time an application is submitted. Visit the Graduate Division for detailed application requirements.

An international student whose postsecondary education is completed outside the United States must hold the equivalent to a U.S. baccalaureate degree, granted by a non-U.S. university or university-level institution.

International Academic Records

  • Official records (transcripts and diplomas) bearing the signature of the registrar or other responsible academic officer, and the seal of the issuing institution are required in all applications.
  • True copies, facsimiles, or photo-static copies will be accepted if they have been personally signed and stamped by an educational official who certifies that they are exact copies of the original document.
  • Academic records must be in the language of the institution and an official English translation must accompany official documents written in other languages.
  • International academic records must show all courses attended each year, examinations passed, seminars completed, and grades or marks received at all institution where formal records are maintained.
  • Official evidence of degree conferral must also be supplied, together with evidence of rank in class if available.

Please note that properly certified and signed copies should be sent instead of irreplaceable original documents.

See additional degree specific application requirements.

Mailing Supplemental Materials

It is the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that all materials are received by the deadline.
 
GPS Office of Admissions
UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive #0519
La Jolla, CA 92093-0519

Reapplying

Applicants who were not offered admission may reapply in subsequent years. Files are kept for one year. Please contact us to notify of your intent to reapply and to confirm your application materials are still on file.

All individuals reapplying must submit a new application, pay the application fee and adhere to any new requirements. Certain materials, such as test scores, transcripts and letters of reference may be used again. Please keep in mind it is the responsibility of the applicant to verify test scores have not expired and that letters of reference are up to date.