STARS Application

Please note the STARS Application shares the Graduate Admissions Application Platform. Please disregard the notes on the page that says "UC San Diego Graduate Application Management" and "The application for the Fall 2025 admission cycle is now active. If you cannot find the program you want to apply for, please contact your department of interest directly to confirm availability. If you experience any issues with the application during this time, please send an email describing the problem to gradadmissions." Please do not contact gradadmissions. Any questions or issues you may have should be directed to urstars@ucsd.edu.

Please scroll down to the page to where is says "First-time users" so that you can

1. Create Your Account
2. Register Your Account
3. Activate Your Account (by receiving an email with a Pin)
4. Then you can begin your STARS Application

If you do not finish your application you can log in at a later date as a "Returning User". You can also check on whether your recommenders have submitted their letters and the status of your application when you log in as a "Returning User".

Eligibility

• Applicants must be 18 years of age
• Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or Permanent Residents. AB 540 or DACA students are eligible

• February 10, 2025: STARS Application Deadline
• February 10, 2025: Letters of Recommendations Deadline
  • You can add who your Letters of Recommendations will come from in the STARS Application portal once you create your application profile and before you submit your application. We recommend you add your recommenders as soon as possible. They will receive an email and submission instructions once you add them to the application portal.
  • You can track whether your recommenders have submitted your recommendations in the application portal before and after you submit your application.
• Tentatively March/April: Students will be notified about their status in the program

For questions or additional information please click here, email urstars@ucsd.edu.

• You can add who your Letters of Recommendations will come from in the STARS Application portal once you create your application profile and before you submit your application. We recommend you add your recommenders as soon as possible. They will receive an email and submission instructions once you add them to the application portal.
• You can track whether your recommenders have submitted your recommendations in the application portal before and after you submit your application.
• Letters of Recommendation may be submitted no later than a week after the applicant has submitted their STARS application.