FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the admission requirements? M.S. and Ph.D. applicants must have a GPA of 3.4 or better in technical courses. M.Eng. applicants should have competitive grades (greater than a 3.0 GPA). All applicants must submit GRE General Test scores, as well as three letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to their academic or professional competencies and to the depth of their interest in pursuing graduate study. A minimum score of 550 (paper-base), 213 (computer-base) or 80 (internet-base) on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) is required of all international applicants whose native language is not English and whose undergraduate education was conducted in a language other than English.

What degree should I have to apply to UCSD Bioengineering? By time of admission, applicants are required to have completed a B.S. and/or M.S. degree in a branch of engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, or quantitative life sciences.

I have a Biology degree and have not taken engineering courses, can I still apply? YES. By time of admission if you have a degree in a branch of engineering, natural sciences, mathematics, or quantitative life sciences you are eligible to apply. However, to be competitive, we recommend that applicants have proficiency in mathematics including two years of college mathematics (i.e., advanced calculus and differential equations), and one year each of physics, mechanics, chemistry, and biology.

I do not have GRE scores, can I still apply? The University requires that all students must have GRE scores to be considered for admission into a UCSD graduate program.

What research areas does Bioengineering have and where can I find more information? Our Department specializes in tissue engineering, biomechanics, bioinformatics and cardiovascular systems biology. For detailed research information, please go to the "Faculty & Research" section of our website.

What is the application deadline, and what is the next available term? We are only open for admission once a year for fall quarter. The next available term is Fall 2010 and the application deadline is December 15, 2009.

Can I apply electronically? YES. The application is available online at http://graduateapp.ucsd.edu.

What is the UCSD Institutional Code, Bioengineering Departmental Code and TOEFL code? The UCSD Institutional Code is 4836, the Bioengineering Departmental Code is 1603 and the TOEFL Code is 69.

What financial support does Bioengineering offer to students? The Department only offers financial support to Ph.D. students. Financial support is available in the form of fellowships, traineeships, teaching assistantships, and research assistantships. Awarding of financial support is competitive, and stipends average $25,000.00 for the academic year, plus tuition and fees (tuition being covered for the first year only). Sources of funding include University fellowships and traineeships from a National Institutes of Health (NIH) training grant and the Whitaker Foundation Development Award. The Department does not offer financial support to students at the M.S./M.Eng. level. Funds for support of international students are extremely limited, and the selection process is highly competitive. For more information on financial support, please refer to the Bioengineering Graduate Student Handbook in the "Student Information" section of our website.

I am interested in the Ph.D. program and have a B.S. Can I apply directly to the Ph.D., or do I need to apply to the M.S. first? Students with a B.S. can apply directly to the Ph.D.

I don’t know which degree option to apply to. What are the differences between the Ph.D., M.S. and M.Eng programs? The Ph.D. program is intended for students who are interested in pursing an academic and/or research/industry career. The M.S. is intended for students interested in pursuing further studies or pursuing a research/industry career. The M.Eng. is intended for students pursuing a career in industry only and not wishing to pursue further studies.

I am an international student, will it be hard for me to be admitted? Admission is extremely competitive. International students are encouraged to apply to various schools.

Can I apply to more than one graduate program at UCSD? YES. You will need to submit an application for each of the programs for which you wish to be considered. Only one application fee is required. You must submit all applications together, and each application will need to include supporting documents (i.e., each application must have a Statement of Purpose, Letters of Recommendation, etc.). It would be helpful for you to include a note in the application packet indicating that you are applying to more than one department.