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University & Professional Studies (UPS)

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University & Professional Studies

Who should take this program?

If you are a high-achieving university student or professional who would like to take a full-time schedule of credit-bearing classes at UC San Diego or UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies while studying alongside American university students, the University and Professional Studies (UPS) program might be right for you. With UPS, it is possible to study at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels, across nearly all the departments at UC San Diego.

In fall, winter, and spring quarters, you can take a full-time program (12 units) consisting of UC San Diego and/or UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies courses for university credit. The following are examples of some of the subjects that previous University and Professional Studies students have studied:

Academic Writing
Aerospace Engineering
Anthropology
Bioengineering
Biology
Business (graduate international business courses through the School of Global Policy and Strategy, and many other course options through the Division of Extended Studies)
Chemistry
Communications
Computer Science
Electrical Engineering
Geophysics
History
International Relations
Literature
Marine Biology
Mathematics
Mechanical Engineering
Molecular Biology
Music
Oceanography
Physics
Political Science
Psychology
Spanish
Stem Cell Biology
Theatre/Dance
Visual Arts
and many more

For a complete list of all UC San Diego courses, please search tritonlink.ucsd.edu. For UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies course offerings, please see extension.ucsd.edu. Enrollment in all classes is on a space-available basis and requires instructor and/or departmental approval.

Note: UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies courses in Master of Advanced Studies programs, business courses at the Rady School of Management, or any courses in the School of Medicine or Pharmacy are not permitted for enrollment through UPS. Availability of graduate-level courses in other departments is strictly controlled for prerequisites. In 2023/24, undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Economics are minimally available.

Dates

2023

January 4 - March 25
March 28 - June 16
June 28 - September 8
September 19 - December 16

2024

January 3 - March 23
March 27 - June 14
June 26 - September 14
September 19 - December 14

View a complete list of all program dates.

Admission Requirements

We carefully review the background and qualifications of each applicant to ensure that those admitted to the University and Professional Studies (UPS) program will have a successful experience. The minimum acceptance requirements are listed below.

Track 1	Track 2	Track 3
English Proficiency Level	English Proficiency Level	English Proficiency Level
TOEFL iBT: 79 IELTS: 6.5 CEFR: B2/C1 Cambridge Scaled Score: 180-C1 Advanced Duolingo English Test (DET): 110 Pearson Test of English (PTE): 58 TOEIC: Listening - 445, Reading - 420, Speaking -170, Writing - 165	TOEFL iBT: 83 IELTS: 7.0 CEFR: B2/C1 Cambridge Scaled Score: 180-C1 Advanced Duolingo English Test (DET): 115 Pearson Test of English (PTE): 65 TOEIC: Listening - 445, Reading - 420, Speaking -170, Writing - 165	TOEFL iBT: 95 IELTS: 7.0 CEFR: C1 Cambridge Scaled Score: 190-C1 Advanced Duolingo English Test (DET): 115 Pearson Test of English (PTE): 65 TOEIC: Listening - 490, Reading - 455, Speaking -180, Writing - 180
Course Description	Course Description	Course Description
Maximum of 4 main campus credits (including all subjects available for all tracks) 3 units of for-credit English language course(s). 5 credits in Extension courses (Business, Engineering, Computer Science, etc.)	Maximum of 8 main campus credits (including all subjects available for all tracks) 4 credits of Extension courses (Business, Engineering, Computer Science, etc.)	12 units of main campus or Extension courses

Additional Admission Requirements for all tracks

A copy of transcripts in English for the two most recent years of academic studies. Transcripts must clearly indicate excellent academic achievement – top 10% in his/her school.
UPS Course List Form of 12-15 courses per quarter, organized by quarter, that you would like to take at UC San Diego or UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies. Students must use the UPS Course List Form to submit their selections. UC San Diego courses are listed at tritonlink.ucsd.edu. For a list of all of UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies course offerings please see extension.ucsd.edu.
A one-page statement explaining your reasons for choosing UC San Diego for your study abroad experience.
All enrolled students are required to complete an online pre-arrival orientation before starting the UPS program.
Once admitted into the program, students must maintain above-average final grades in all coursework (“B” or better).

Application Deadline

All programs close when they are full. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-serve basis until all available seats are taken by the most qualified applicants. Acceptance deadline is 3 weeks before the program start-date.

All enrolled students are required to complete an online pre-arrival orientation before starting the University and Professional Studies program.

Program Schedule

12-13 weeks each quarter
Monday – Friday (occasional Saturday workshops)
Schedule varies depending on classes chosen

Note: Participating in this educational program does not provide preference in admission to the University of California (UC) degree programs. Students interested in applying to UC degree programs should refer to the UC Admissions website or the websites of other UC campuses they wish to attend for details about their admissions processes.

Cost (in U.S. dollars)

2023 & 2024

Application Fee: $225 (nonrefundable)
Tuition: $8,000
International Student Service Fee: $400 per quarter
UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies medical insurance: $715 per quarter
Books/Materials: Approximately $200-$800 per quarter (Payment CANNOT be made in advance. Books and materials must be purchased upon arrival at UC San Diego.)