At the University of California San Diego, we prefer the path less traveled. And it has led us to remarkable new ways of seeing and making a difference in the world.
- #20 Ranking
- 46 Bachelors
- 2,972 Academic Staff
- 36,256 Students
- 10,514 Students (int'l)
- 17,403 Students (female)
- Public Institution Type
Bachelor's programmes
Natural Sciences & Mathematics (14)
- B.Sc. Biochemistry
- B.Sc. Bioinformatics
- B.Sc. Chemistry
- B.Sc. Environmental Chemistry
- B.Sc. General Biology
- B.Sc. Human Biology
- B.Sc. Microbiology
- B.Sc. Molecular Synthesis
- B.Sc. Neurobiology
- B.Sc. Physics
Arts, Design & Architecture (9)
- B.A. Dance
- B.A. Media
- B.A. Music
- B.A. Music Humanities
- B.A. Speculative Design
- B.A. Studio
Computer Science & IT (7)
- B.Sc. Bioinformatics
- B.Sc. Business Economics
- B.Sc. Computer Engineering
- B.A. Computer Science
- B.Sc. Data Science
- B.A. Speculative Design
Humanities (7)
- B.A. Anthropology
- B.A. Chinese Studies
- B.A. Classical Studies
- B.A. History
- B.A. Philosophy
- B.A. Study of Religion
Social Sciences (7)
- B.A. Anthropology
- B.Sc. Business Economics
- B.Sc. Cognitive Science
- B.A. Ethnic Studies
- B.A. Philosophy
- B.A. Political Science
Environmental Studies & Earth Sciences (5)
- B.Sc. Earth Sciences
- B.Sc. Environmental Chemistry
Medicine & Health (4)
- B.A. Global Health
- B.Sc. Human Biology
- B.Sc. Public Health
Engineering & Technology (3)
- B.Sc. Environmental Chemistry
- B.Sc. Structural Engineering
Agriculture & Forestry (2)
- B.Sc. Marine Biology
Business & Management (2)
- B.Sc. Business Economics
- B.A. Communication
Applied Sciences & Professions (1)
Education & Training (1)
- B.Sc. Education Sciences
About
History
The founders of the University of California San Diego had one criterion for the campus: it must be distinctive. This timeline chronicles the development of UC San Diego from the site of a military training ground and a marine research station to the innovative institution that it is today.
Education
Everything we do is dedicated to ensuring our students have the opportunity to become changemakers, equipped with the multidisciplinary tools needed to accelerate answers to our world’s most pressing issues.
Research
As a billion-dollar research enterprise situated in the heart of one of the most densely concentrated innovation hubs in the nation, UC San Diego is a unique place where fresh ideas are translated into solutions to benefit society—from climate science and the human microbiome to nanotechnology and social mobility.
Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2021
GSSA 2021
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2021. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 8 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
University Ranking
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2023
20 1
2022
21
2021
21
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2022
21 -3
2021
18
2020
18
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2023
32 2
2022
34 -1
2021
33
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2023
53 -5
2022
48 6
2021
54
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Services
Student services
Find resources and support to help you improve academic achievement, make connections on campus, and succeed as a student at UC San Diego.
Housing services
We take a proactive approach to cultivating a welcoming environment for all—because excellence is only attainable when everyone is included, respected and empowered. We invite you to engage in self-reflection and dialogue at one of our campus community centers, join our cultural celebrations and become a social justice leader.
Library services
Ranked among the nation's top public academic research libraries, the UC San Diego Library plays an integral role in advancing and supporting the university's research, teaching, and public service missions.
ICT services
Information Technology Services is UC San Diego’s central IT organization, providing information technology services to support business systems, messaging and collaboration, information security, campus infrastructure, educational technology and researcher needs.
Medical services
Student Health Service provides quality primary medical care, including urgent care and support services such as laboratory, pharmacy, and x-ray. SHS has primary care physicians who are board certified in family medicine or internal medicine. Some physicians also have additional training and expertise in gynecology, sports medicine, rheumatology, urgent care, and mental/ behavioral health.
Student Life
Campus life
Located along the sun-soaked Southern California coast, our campus is home to Nobel laureates, MacArthur fellows and National Academy members. Join us and choose to make an impact through our top-ranked undergraduate, graduate and professional programs.
Sports facilities
UC San Diego Athletics is committed to the physical, intellectual and personal development of students, enhancing the overall student life experience, and campus pride.
Student clubs
As the University and UC San Diego Athletics continue to grow and evolve, we envision ourselves as being one of the premiere NCAA athletics programs in the nation; setting the standard in all aspects of competitive success, academic excellence, ethical conduct, student-athlete experience, campus pride, the development and retention of coaches and staff, and the establishment of lifelong relationships.
Accreditation
UC San Diego is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC).
Student Reviews
Professionalism
Anonymous rated 5 out of 5 stars
The course was online so I cannot write a big review. I think the teachers were professionals in their recorded videos.
Exceptional course
Cecily Bernard rated 5 out of 5 stars
My overall experience has been exceptional to date. Although it is an online course, the faculty is very present in the classroom, the curriculum is very modern and the requirements are demanding but achievable. I would recommend this course to anyone who wishes to acquire a professional certification in the areas of Translation and Interpretation whether just to upgrade...
University Review
Anonymous rated 5 out of 5 stars
I really enjoyed the diversity of experiences available to students. There are opportunities to get involved in every field of interest.
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