March

• Register for Admitted Student Day
• Participate in an online chat with faculty, career services staff, our academic advising team and current students 
• Email Dustin Clinton to schedule a campus visit
• Attend public events at the School or city near you      

April

• Confirm acceptance
• Submit deposit by April 15
• Apply for housing
• Attend an admitted student day event  

June

• Apply online for a campus card
• Complete your Prep Program registration (if applicable)
• Register for the Prep Program
• Review computer services and laptop requirements

July

• Make plans to attend orientation
• Familiarize yourself with UC San Diego TritonLink
• Check your UC San Diego email regularly for university information
• View these sites for dates and deadlines: financial aid, enrollment and registration, academic and billing
• Review your financial aid status, view and accept awards using the Financial Aid Tool    

August

• Attend our Prep Program (if applicable)
• Work with student affairs staff on fall quarter foreign language course registration     

September

• Review the academic policy
• Sign-up on GPScareers for orientation events, foreign language exams, laptop check-in, library tours, etc.
• Attend orientation

All incoming students are required to attend orientation prior to the start of the academic year. During orientation, various School and campus representatives will encourage students to make the most of the graduate experience by providing information about the campus and its resources. Orientation also provides students an opportunity to meet classmates, talk with faculty, receive academic advising and complete language placement exams.

Orientation Schedule:

• Aug. 7: Prep Welcome
• Sept. 11: Incoming Student Orientation
• Sept. 20: Graduate Division Orientation
• Sept. 23: International Center Student Orientation (international students only)
• Sept. 28: Fall Quarter Instruction Begins

U.S. citizens and permanent residents are encouraged to apply for California residency for tuition purposes as early as possible. Full details about eligibility and the residency process are published here.

Merit-based fellowship offers are made each March and April. All offers come with a specific expiration date, and aid that is declined will be redistributed until all available aid is allocated. If you are applying for need-based aid as a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Please note that fellowship offers from the School may negatively affect need-based aid offers.

as research and teaching assistantshipss. In addition, our staff keeps a continually updated fellowship funding page.

Students who would like to work on campus to offset their graduate education expenses are encouraged to meet with the student affairs staff after they have completed one quarter of graduate study.

Technology is an integral part of the curriculum, and the School supports an extensive computer lab. All students are required to have their own laptop (notebook) computer. The cost of a computer can be included in your budget for financial aid. We recommend the purchase of a new computer with an extended warranty.

The campus is a cross platform computer environment and supports Mac and Windows computers. The specifications below outline the minimum hardware and software we recommend you purchase. Laptops may be purchased from any supplier. The UC San Diego Bookstore Computer Center sells many laptop models at very competitive prices, including special models that meet the minimum requirements listed below.

Questions? Contacts gpshelp@ucsd.edu.

Note 1: MS Office includes Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint. Microsoft Office 2016 is free for students. Be sure PowerPoint and Outlook is included with your purchase. MS Office 2011 for Mac does not include ability to run macros and add-ins that are required in some classes. Free Mac software from Solver.com can provide the same features as Excel on Windows. Not recommended for use: WordPerfect, MS Works, AppleWorks, Apple Pages, HWP and NJStar. 

Note 2: The School will supply the following free or specially licensed software and assist with installation: Mozilla Firefox, Acrobat Reader, Stuffit Expander, lab printer drivers, PrimoPDF and anti-virus software.

Note 3: Some classes will require you to purchase specialty software. See each course syllabus for specific requirements.

Note 4: To meet the UC San Diego Network Connection Minimum Standards, the operating system, anti-virus software and anti-spyware software must have current updates installed. A firewall program must be installed and activated. All accounts on the computer must have strong passwords.

Except for the campus loop shuttle and San Diego Metro bus 101, most shuttle and bus stops are approximately a 10 – 15 minute walk from our complex. Some shuttles have limited summer service during the time of our Prep Program. For more information on transportation see the UC San Diego Transportation and Parking Office website.

On-campus housing is available for single graduate students, couples and families. Please visit the graduate and professional student housing site for more information and the application process. 

There are many options available if you choose to live off campus.

View this site for international students when considering both short-term and long-term housing options.

All international students are required to register upon arrival to the U.S. Detailed information about the registration processes and the documents you need to present can be found at the UC San Diego International Center website. 

Please note that international students are also required to attend the mandatory New International Student Orientation session as well as the School’s orientation.

Once an international applicant has received an offer of admission, he/she must indicate in a financial statement the amount and source of the funds they will use for graduate study in the U.S. This form is forwarded to international applicants upon their admission. Written evidence of sufficient financial resources must be provided before visa forms will be issued. Questions regarding the international applicant financial statement should be addressed to the Graduate Division.

Parking is available with a permit in the Pangea parking structure. Please note that a parking permit is required every time you park a car on campus. Hourly and one-day parking permits are available for purchase through vending machines. There are considerable savings over the daily permit rate with pre-purchased permits, and the UC San Diego Transportation and Parking Office has a list of commuting alternatives, including public transportation.

To register for classes (WebReg) and a variety of other TritonLink online tools, you will need a personal identification (PID) number. Your PID is available on the application status page of the online application. Once you have your PID, you can create your Single Sign-On account.

All students enrolled for the current school quarter are entitled to a Triton Card. This is your official university ID card. You are issued just one active card.

TritonLink provides information for current students, including links to events, academic announcements and deadlines, and ways to get involved at UC San Diego. TritonLink is also where you will enroll in courses, submit payments, view your grades and track your degree completion. Familiarize yourself with all the TritonLink Tools.