Frequently Asked Questions

You need at least 3 Letters of Recommendation for a complete application. There are no set guidelines from Graduate Division or the Program on who can write you a letter of recommendation. We encourage you to seek letter writers that can speak to your strengths as a scientific researcher, this usually includes laboratory or other professional experience. The best letters often come from Faculty with whom you have worked.  Letters from course instructors carry less weight. 

Unofficial transcripts from all institutions attended [since high school] should be uploaded to your application.

The following are the University issued minimum TOEFL scores (they vary upon type of TOEFL test taken):

PBT (Paper-Based Test) 550

CBT (Computer-Based Test) 213

IBT (Internet-Based Test) 85

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. 

UCSD provides on-campus housing opportunities for graduate students. There is also a variety of off-campus housing in the surrounding communities. Information on housing options can be obtained from the UCSD Housing Office.

On Campus Graduate Housing: https://hdh.ucsd.edu/arch/pages/index.html

No, applications are reviewed by an Admissions Committee. You can list Faculty you are interested in working with on your Admissions Application, but we don't recommend reaching out to Faculty at the application stage. If admitted you will have time to speak to and meet Faculty in the Program. Applicants who are admitted will rotate in 3 different faculty labs in their first year to help them select their Lab. A list of Faculty who are accepting new students into their Lab is provided quarterly to first year students to help them in selecting their Lab Rotations. We do not provide the list to applicants. 

How many International students do you accept? Are you accepting international students? We do accept international students. There’s no cap, but we are a highly competitive Program. The admissions committee reviews all applications and offers admission to the top applicants. 

Do you fund international students? International students are funded at the same level as domestic students: https://neurograd.ucsd.edu/program/benefits.html

Please check the Graduate Division website: https://grad.ucsd.edu/about/grad-data/admissions.html

They list:

• Admissions Data
• Enrollment Data
• Degrees Awarded
• Completion Rates
• Initial Placement for Alumni.

Log into your application at https://gradapply.ucsd.edu. Your Application Status page will show updates as soon as they are posted. If you are missing any part of your application and you are being considered for admission, you will be contacted.

If you think your submission didn’t go through or you are having computer problems, please email gradadmissions@ucsd.edu.