New Students
- Undergraduate Students
- Graduate Students
- Exchange Students
- Summer Session Visiting Students
- F vs. J Visa Options
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Getting Started at UC San Diego
Welcome to UC San Diego! As you make plans to arrive to the U.S., UC San Diego is committed to supporting our international students as you acclimate to their academic life. The following checklist will help you embark on this new and exciting journey ahead.
ISPO understands that you may have outstanding documentation that you need to provide to UC San Diego admissions offices, or you may have questions about your admission for the upcoming term. We also understand that some students may need to consider delaying their program of study due to external or unforeseen circumstances.
Undergraduate Students: For all admissions-related questions, including deferral options/requests, please contact Undergraduate Admissions.
Graduate Students: For all admissions-related questions, including deferral options/requests, please contact Graduate Admissions and your academic department's graduate coordinator.
Learn about your transportation options to campus.
Your Form I-94 is an online arrival and departure record. It shows when you last entered the U.S., in what status, and for how long you are permitted to remain in the U.S. Visit i94.cbp.dhs.gov to generate this document upon arrival.
For more information and for resources if you are having trouble locating your I-94 record, visit ISPO's Form I-94 page.
After arrival to the U.S., complete the required Check-In for I-20/DS-2019 Activationwithin 10 days of your program start date at UC San Diego.
ISPO’s New International Student Orientation will be delivered in hybrid format with both in-person as well as online components to accommodate all of our students! For more information about orientation please visit iOrientation.ucsd.edu
Every UC San Diego student is assigned a UC San Diego email account. To activate your account, you may:
Learn about your options for commuting to campus or getting around campus and the local community by visiting UC San Diego's Transportation Services website. You can apply for your U-Pass (universal, unlimited transit pass program for students) and learn about other commuter options.
Note: UC Education Abroad Program Reciprocity and Global Exchange students are eligible for the U-Pass.
ISPO’s iStudents Newsletter is a listserv-based newsletter that provides important information to UC San Diego international students dependents temporarily residing in the U.S. The iStudents newsletter also announces critical deadlines, changes in regulations, and offers concrete advice.
International students’ UC San Diego email addresses are automatically subscribed to the ISPO listserv and all students are responsible for checking their UC San Diego email account. Please note that all important campus messaging is communicated through UC San Diego email.
Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for a chance to win free give-always, stay updated on the latest announcement and connect to our international community at UC San Diego!
Visit iWork.ucsd.edu to learn about the different types of employment opportunities international students can engage in during and after their program of study at UC San Diego.
Students who are engaged in paid employment will need to apply for a Social Security Number for tax purposes. Visit our Social Security Number information page, to learn more about Social Security Cards.
Visit our Transportation page to learn more about California driver's license.
In order to activate cell phone service in the U.S., it is helpful for customers to have a valid Social Security Number and established credit history. Customers without a Social Security Number and credit history may still activate service but may have to pay a security deposit at the time of application.
Major US cell phone service providers:
Other cell phone service providers:
For questions related to on-campus housing contracts or other issues, please use the following resources:
If you need assistance with off-campus housing, you may visit the Off-Campus Housing Office website to access an online database of available housing listings.
The International Students & Programs Office Housing Resources page also provides information regarding local host family programs, on-campus housing, short-term housing, and off-campus housing options.
All incoming students are required to complete a Tuberculosis Screening Questionnaire and Immunization Screening (including for COVID-19) by the deadlines stated on the Student Health Services (SHS) website.
If not completed and submitted prior to the deadline, a hold will be placed in your Tritonlink record, preventing you from adding or dropping classes.
For more information about these requirements, visit the main SHS website.
Explore UC San Diego through a campus tour!
Global Education at UC San Diego welcomes the spouses and children of new students and offers many programs for them including:
Two large volunteer organizations, the Friends of the International Center and the Oceanids, organize many of these activities.
Global Education can also provide assistance to meet your family’s needs such as:
There are so many ways for you to get involved virtually at UC San Diego! The Globally Engaged Tritons Calendar (ievents.ucsd.edu) feature all virtual events focusing on global engagement and our global community here at UC San Diego.
Want to learn more about campus wide events? Visit the University Centers for a calendar featuring events hosted by all different parts of campus.
The Center for Student Involvement