Admission Requirements

The Fall 2025 application is still open for some programs. The Winter 2026 application will open on March 1, 2025 and our Spring 2026 application will open July 1, 2025. Visit our Deadlines page for more information about application deadlines.

Note: Only a few programs offer admission for Winter or Spring.

Admission Criteria

A bachelor's degree, or its equivalent, from an accredited institution. The degree must represent the completion of a program equivalent in subject matter and scholarship to that offered by the University of California. 
A minimum of a 3.0 undergraduate GPA or B-equivalent (if GPA is not on a 4.0 scale) is required. It is important to note that some programs may have a higher standard for their GPA requirement, and you should consult with the program directly for further information.
If your GPA is below 3.0, you should consult with the program directly for further information. Applications are reviewed holistically and the program can advise you on potential admission.
All applications are initially reviewed by the graduate program before a recommendation is submitted to the Graduate Division for final approval. Please visit the graduate program's website for any program-specific requirements.

Admission Requirements

Below is a breakdown of our graduate application with information about each section you are required to complete. Additional instructions are provided in the online application to assist you in providing a complete application.

We require transcripts with final grades or most recent grades (if degree is in progress) from all college-level institutions attended. We also require proof of any degree(s) awarded to you. Proof of degree conferral must be listed on the final transcript for U.S. institutions. If you have attended an institution located outside of the US, visit International Academic Records for document requirements.

We accept unofficial transcripts for the review of your application; documents uploaded to your application are considered unofficial. Do not send official transcripts electronically or by mail unless requested to do so.

All uploaded transcripts and academic records should include the following information:

Student's Name
Institution's Name
Dates of Attendance
Grades Earned
Credits/Units
Grading Scale/Legend
Degree Awarded (if applicable)

Important Notice for Prospective Students Beginning Summer/Fall 2025

Please be aware that if you accept an offer of admission, you will be required to obtain a WES Course-by-Course ICAP Evaluation for degree(s) earned from institution(s) outside the United States. New students will receive further instructions for requesting this evaluation. This new requirement affects admitted students to the 2025-2026 cohort and onward (Summer/Fall 2025, Winter 2026, Spring 2026).

We accept Test-Taker (examinee) score reports for the initial program review. Test Scores submitted may not be borrowed, photocopied, returned to you, or sent elsewhere. Do not send official scores unless requested to do so. If official test scores are requested from you, please reference school code 4839 (UCR).

GRE Requirement

While UCR's Graduate Council approved temporarily waiving the GRE requirement for the 2024-25 application cycle, some programs still require the GRE. Please verify through the individual graduate program website for confirmation.

We will accept the GRE General Test at Home version for the 2024-25 application cycle. Only the Biophysics graduate program requires the GRE Subject exam. Although current scores are preferred, some graduate programs will accept scores taken within the last five years. You can find GRE department and major codes here. If ETS has not assigned a major code to the graduate program you are interested in, select Undecided (0000). For more information on the GRE, visit ETS.

GMAT Requirement

The A. Gary Anderson School of Management (AGSM) accepts the GMAT or GRE General exam if you apply to the MPAc, MFin, MBA, MS in Business Analytics, or PhD programs. For more information on the GMAT exam, visit Graduate Management Admission Council.

All graduate applicants are required to demonstrate English proficiency for admissions consideration.

English Language Requirement Waiver Eligibility

You are eligible for an English language waiver if:

You have earned or will earn an undergraduate or advance degree at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction, or

You have earned or will earn an undergraduate or advanced degree at an institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction,e confirmed through WHED. If English is not the only language listed or if no language is listed, additional documentation may be required.

Students employed as Teaching Assistants (TA) must meet English language proficiency requirements. See https://graduate.ucr.edu/graduate-student-employment#english-language-proficiency

TOEFL

This exam must be taken within two years of the time you intend to enroll at UCR. The minimum acceptable scores are: 550 for the TOEFL paper-delivered test and 80 for the TOEFL iBT. We do not accept the TOEFL ITP+ or the TOEFL MyBest™ scores offered by ETS. The TOEFL iBT Paper Edition test is no longer offered as of January 2024, however, scores for this test are valid until January 21, 2026.

IELTS

This IELTS Academic (offered at test centers or online) must be taken within two years of the time you intend to enroll at UCR. The minimum acceptable overall score is 7 with no score less than 6 on any individual component. An unofficial Test Report Form (TRF) may be provided with your application. If admitted, you will be required to provide official scores. These scores will need to be sent directly from IELTS to UCR electronically.

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required by all academic graduate programs; submitting additional letters is discouraged.

Two of the letters should relate to academic settings that directly evaluate your performance in college-level coursework or undergraduate research. Your academic ability and potential for success in a rigorous graduate program is demonstrated through these two letters.

One letter of recommendation is required for programs within the Anderson Graduate School of Management (MPAc, MFin, MBA, PMBA, MSBA). The letter may come from an employer or professor.

All letters of recommendation must be in English.

If you wish to waive your right to inspect the letters of recommendation, mark the appropriate box below the reference information. Only admitted and enrolled applicants are permitted to inspect letters of recommendation for which they did not waive their right to access. Letters of recommendation are not released to the applicant or other third parties.

Applicants are responsible for entering their recommenders’ information directly into the online application. Recommenders will be notified via email and sent a link to a personalized portal where they are prompted to upload their recommendation letter. This notification email is sent as soon as the recommender information is confirmed within the application and is not linked to the timing of final submission.

The Statement of Purpose is your opportunity to state your specific interests regarding the program you are applying to. Your intended area of specialization, career objectives, and research interests and experience are of interest.

The Personal History Statement is your opportunity to discuss how your personal background informs your decision to pursue a graduate degree. Please include any educational, familial, cultural, economic, or social experiences, challenges, or opportunities relevant to your academic journey; how you might contribute to social or cultural diversity within your chosen field; and/or how you might serve educationally underrepresented segments of society with your degree.

Applicants will be prompted to upload these two statements directly into the online application. Each statement should not duplicate the other. A resume or CV may not be used in lieu of the written statement.

The applicant’s goals in relationship to the degree program and the research of its faculty are also considered. Please check with the graduate program for more information on what relevant experience they are looking for as well as any addition program requirements that must be provided to review the application like:

Writing Samples
Articles
Projects
Course prerequisites

Application Fees for Summer 2024-Spring 2026

A non-refundable application fee is required, and payment can be made using (Visa, MasterCard or Discover) prior to submitting your online application. As application fees vary, please review the below information to determine your required application fee.

Domestic (US Citizens, Permanent Residents, and Undocumented* Applicants)

All programs except the MPAc, MFin, Business Analytics, and MBA: $135
MPAc, MFin, Business Analytics, and MBA programs: $155

International Applicants

All programs except the MPAc, MFin, Business Analytics, and MBA: $155
MPAc, MFin, Business Analytics, and MBA programs: $180

*AB540, DACA, or both

A limited amount of Financial Hardship Fee Waivers are available to qualified domestic applicants only.

Waivers are not automatically granted and must be approved before submitting your application. Only one fee waiver is allowed per student, per application period. We cannot issue refunds for any application fees already paid.