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 (upper-division undergraduate business courses through the Rady School of Management, graduate international business courses through the School of Global Policy and Strategy, and many other course options through Extension)
- 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, graduate 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 2022, undergraduate and graduate courses in the Department of Economics are not available.
Dates
2022
- March 21 - June 10
- June 22 - September 3
- September 15 - December 10
2023
- January 4 - March 25
- March 28 - June 16
- June 28 - September 8
- September 19 - December 16
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.
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Track 1
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Track 2
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Track 3
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English Proficiency Level
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English Proficiency Level
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English Proficiency Level
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- 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
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- 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
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- 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
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Course Description
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Course Description
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Course Description
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Maximum of 4 main campus credits (including all subjects available for all tracks)
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3 credits in either Oral Presentations or Academic Writing & Research
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5 credits in Extension courses (Business, Engineering, Computer Science, etc.)
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Maximum of 8 main campus credits (including all subjects available for all tracks)
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4 credits of Extension courses (Business, Engineering, Computer Science, etc.)
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- 12 units of main campus or Extension courses
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Additional Admission Requirements for all tracks
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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.
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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.
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A one-page statement explaining your reasons for choosing UC San Diego for your study abroad experience.
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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 process.
Cost (in U.S. dollars)
2022
- Application Fee: $200 (nonrefundable)
- Tuition: $7,800
- International Student Service Fee: $380 per quarter
- UC San Diego Division of Extended Studies medical insurance: $585 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.)
2023
- 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.)
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For a complete list of all programs, please visit our Courses and Programs page.