Application Fee and Fee Waiver
Paying/Waiving the Fee
Applicants will be required to pay the application fee for each application submitted or to request a fee waiver at the end of the online application. Your application cannot be reviewed until this fee is paid.
- US Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Undocumented Applicants: $135.00
- International Applicants: $155.00
Applicants may submit multiple applications for the same term. Please note that each application must be submitted to a different department and to only one degree level (Master's or PhD) per department.
To begin a second application, complete, pay, and submit one application first. Return to the application website, and login using the same login name and password. Please do not create a new account to begin a new application.
How to Qualify for a Fee Waiver
U.S. citizens, Permanent Residents, and Undocumented students may be eligible for a waiver of the application fee. Applicants applying to multiple programs will be eligible for one fee waiver. All subsequent applications will need to be paid for. International applicants are not eligible for a waiver of the application fee.
Applicants may qualify for a Fee Waiver upon verification of one of the following:
- Need-Based Federal Aid - FAFSA report, Financial Aid Award Letter, or document posting Federal need-based aid. To qualify SAI cannot exceed $6,655.
- Financial Hardship - Most recent state or federal tax forms, exhibiting the number of dependents and the adjusted gross income or Federal 1040 forms. See the "Income Eligibility Guidelines" link for more information.
- U.S. Military Service - If you have been released or discharged from the U.S. Military, please provide a copy of your DD 214 (Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines, Navy). If you are active duty, you will be asked to identify your branch of service in the application, and are required to provide a Leave and Earnings Statement (LES) issued to you in the last 90 days.
- Graduate Prep Program Participation - UC San Diego provides a fee waiver for applicants who have participated in specific graduate programs. Note: Not all graduate preparation programs are eligible for the fee waiver. On the "Additional Information" or "Other" page of the online application select the program in which you participated. The name and business email address of the program director are required for the UCSD Graduate Admissions staff to verify your participation. If this verification cannot be completed, you will be asked to provide additional information or pay the application fee.
Please note all fee waiver requests must be submitted at least one week prior to the application deadline. Your application must be fully submitted for your fee waiver to be processed.
How to Request a Fee Waiver
- Complete the online application. The option to request a fee waiver is provided in the "Fee Waiver Request" section of your application.
- Complete the "Request Fee Waiver" tab, upload documents, and submit. After reviewing the qualifications for a fee waiver, you may indicate which criteria you meet and upload the corresponding documents for review of your request. Submit your application when you have completed it so that your fee waiver request will be reviewed. Do not pay for your application until you have received a notice of your fee waiver status.
- Check your email. You will receive an email notifying you of your fee waiver status (Approved, Denied, or Further Documentation Needed). If your fee waiver has been denied and it is after the program application deadline, you will have one day to pay for your application. Failure to pay within the allotted time will result in your application being removed from consideration.
Please note all fee waiver requests must be submitted at least one week prior to the application deadline. Your application must be fully submitted for your fee waiver request to be processed.
Please note: Application Fee Waivers can only be processed after Steps 1 and 2 for both applications have been completed.
