Admitted Students
- What to Do Immediately
- Before You Arrive on Campus
- When You Arrive on Campus
- International Students
- Undocumented Student Guide
Congratulations on your UC San Diego admission! As a newly admitted international student, please complete the additional steps listed below.
Please wait at least 24 hours after accepting admission to complete this step.
International students requiring an F-1 or J-1 visa to study in the USA must request a form I-20 (certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant F-1 students) or form DS-2019 (certificate of eligibility for non-immigrant J-1 exchange visitors). The I-20 or DS-2019 is required to apply for the F-1 or J-1 visa. International students who are currently in the U.S. in F-1 or J-1 status and plan to transfer their SEVIS record to UC San Diego are also required to submit the I-20 or DS-2019 request.
For questions regarding your I-20/DS-2019 or F-1/J-1 Visa, please visit here: https://ispo.ucsd.edu/submit-request/i20-ds2019-funding.html
International Graduate Students must attend the International Student Orientation. This is in addition to the Graduate Division New Graduate Student Orientation.
English Language Requirement for International Teaching Assistants (TA)
International graduate students who are nonnative speakers of English must be certified as having requisite language skills before they can serve as teaching assistants (TAs; UC San Diego Graduate Division policy in compliance with Assembly Concurrent Resolution No. 41).
Evidence of English Language Proficiency : Certification as Teaching Assistant Cut Off Scores
Students may be certified either on the basis of their score on one of the following:
Those students with TOEFL speaking scores of 23 – 27, IELTS speaking scores of 7-8, or PTE speaking scores of 65-82 are required to take the English Language Certification Exam.
Students who do not pass the English Language Certification Exam are given the opportunity to improve their language skills.
Those students who are admitted but have a speaking TOEFL score below 23 will not be allowed to take the certification test. Students who fall into this category may acquire the required English language proficiency skills via courses offered in the English Language Institute and the English for Academic and Professional Development Program.
The Graduate Division and International Students and Programs Office (ISPO) are offering a series of webinars this summer to provide information to incoming international graduate students. Presentations will be posted here after the webinar has ended.
March 10, 2020 at 8:30am PST - Welcome to UCSD: First Steps PRESENTATION PDF
March 13, 2020 at 8:30am PST - Coronavirus: Resources for New International Students PRESENTATION PDF
March 17, 2020 at 8:30am PST - Graduate Student Housing RECORDING
April 7, 2020 at 8:30am PST - Applying for your U.S. Visa
April 14, 2020 at 8:30am PST - Student Health: Insurance & Immunization Requirements
TBA - Graduate Student Funding
May 7, 2020 at 8:30am PST - TAships and TOEFL Requirements
May 12, 2020 at 8:30am PST - Campus Safety
May 14, 2020 at 8:30am PST - Student Life/Getting Involved