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Admissions

Admitted Students



This site will continually be updated to include significant new information. Admitted students should bookmark this page and visit throughout the summer.

 

Deferral Requests

IR/PS does not grant deferrals of admission. If a candidate cannot attend as planned, they forfeit admission and any financial support that has been offered. They then compete for admission again in the following year, though chances of admission are likely to be lower. This year only 33% of deferred applicants were ultimately offered admission. With increasing popularity of the program and increasing qualifications, it can be risky to give up a seat in the class. For these reasons, candidates (especially those admitted from the waitlist) are strongly advised to attend in the year they receive admission.

ADMITTED STUDENT DAY Wrap-up

Admitted Student Day (ASD) was held April 11th, 2008.  We had a great session with over 45 admitted students. Many also attended by remote webcast. If you missed the sessions, you can view the webcast playback at
  http://irps2.ucsd.edu/flash2/playback2.html

The Admitted Student Day agenda included:

  • Q&A session with current students
  • an explanation of the curriculum
  • a mock class session
  • student organization fair
  • lunch with faculty, alumni and current students

Click here to see pictures from admitted student day 2007.

Financial Support

The first round of merit-based fellowship offers will be made on April 1, with candidates receiving official notice by email and express package. These and all offers come with a specific expiration date. Fellowship offers not accepted by the expiration date specified are null and void. To apply for merit based fellowships, please download a PDF with instructions and then submit the online application linked from within that document.

Need based aid to U.S. citizens and permanent residents from the UC San Diego financial aid office are typically released by June. These Preliminary Award Notifications will be made by email. Fellowship offers from IR/PS may negatively affect need based offers.

Accepting Offers of Admission


The deadline to accept offers of admission and submitting your tuition deposit is May 1. In order to accept your admission to IR/PS, please follow the directions provided to you in the email sent by OGS (the Office of Graduate Studies). Please read the instructions carefully. For those whose admission to the MPIA program is "provisional based on IR/PS requirements", these requirements will be explained in your admitted student packet. They most likely are a requirement to complete the Summer Prep Program (for Economics, Quantitative Methods, or English as a Second Language). More information about Prep will be posted online once it is finalized.

Please also note that a $500.00 (U.S.), non-refundable deposit is required to secure your seat in the incoming class. We will send instructions by email about how to pay that deposit.

Summer Reading Suggestions

First year students at IR/PS were polled to create this student to student guide. Their comments about each suggestion are included also. Download the PDF file here. 

Student Handbooks

In additional to personal advising provided by IR/PS Student Services, the IR/PS Student Handbook is the primary resource for IR/PS graduate students. The handbook includes information regarding IR/PS academic policy and department resources available to students. An updated version will be distributed to incoming students during the IR/PS fall orientation and the new one will be posted here when it is available.

The UC San Diego Graduate Student Handbook is for all UCSD graduate students and contains a wealth of additional information including the following topics:

  • Sources of Information
  • First Things to Consider when Beginning Graduate Study
  • Housing, parking and transportation
  • Academic Information and Policies
  • Degree requirements, grading policies, leave policies
  • Student Conduct Code
  • Sexual Harassment Prevention and Policy
  • Conflict Resolution and Student Appeals
  • Academic Opportunities
  • Special programs, study abroad, and campus exchanges
  • Graduate Student Financial Support
  • Office for Students with Disabilities
  • University Libraries
  • Computing Services and Facilities
  • Diversity
  • Academic Related Services
  • Health and Wellness Services
  • Medical and mental health services, insurance, contact information,and locations
  • Food Services
  • Child Care
  • International Center
  • Safety
  • Arts
  • Recreation and Sports
  • Other Services and Centers
  • UCSD Principles of Community
  • Nondiscrimination Policy Statement for University of California Publications Regarding Student-Related Matters
  • Academic Calendar

Getting Around

  • UCSD Shuttles and Bus Services are widely available. More information is available online.
  • San Diego Metropolitan Transit System has an online trip planner available for your use.
  • When driving to IR/PS, park in the Pangea Parking Structure. A map of this site is online.
  • The San Diego Association of Governments sponsors a vanpool program. Details are online at www.ridelink.org.

Applying for California Residency

U.S. citizens and permanent residents ("Green Card" holders) are encouraged to apply for California residency for tuition purposes as early as possible to lower the cost of your education. Full details about eligibility and the process are online in TritonLink (search for "About Residence for Tuition Purposes") or click here. Direct all inquiries about residency to the point of contact listed at the bottom of that page.

Students with Children

A listserv just for graduate student parents on campus is available for you to join.  The address is gradparents-l@ucsd.edu  Connect with other parents, exchange info, plan meet ups! Sign up for it today!  You can get general information and sign up for the listserv at:  http://mailman.ucsd.edu/mailman/listinfo/gradparents-l. 

International Students

If you have been admitted to IR/PS and have questions regarding visas, the I-20 form or the DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility, please email Graduate Admissions at gradadmissions@ucsd.edu.

All international students are required to check-in at the UCSD International Center upon arrival to the United States. At check-in, you will need the following documents/information

  • Passport
  • I-20 (F-1 Students) or DS-2019 (J-1 Exchange Visitors)
  • I-94 arrival / departure card
  • I-797 Approval Notice (if applicable)
  • Contact information (address, phone number, and email address) in San Diego  

Additional questions regarding relocation to the United States should be addressed to the UCSD International Center (icenter@ucsd.edu or call 858.534.3730). Specific questions regarding IR/PS resources available to international students should be sent to Amanda Steidlmayer at aerandolph@ucsd.edu.

Please note that IR/PS international students do not need to attend the “Mandatory New International Student Orientation” offered by the International Center. However, you must check-in with the International Center upon arrival to the United States, and attend the IR/PS Orientation that will be held approximately two weeks before classes begin (more details will be posted later).

International Student Financial Statement

  • Once an international applicant has received an offer of admission, he/she must indicate in a financial statement the amount and source of the funds he/she will use for graduate study in the United States. This form is forwarded to international applicants upon their admission. Written evidence of sufficient financial resources must be provided before visa forms will be issued.

Questions regarding the international applicant financial statement should be addressed to OGS.