Application Requirements for International Applicants
Application Fee
The nonrefundable $100.00 application fee ($125.00 for MBA & MPAc applicants only) must be paid by credit card (VISA or MasterCard) prior to submission of your application.
This fee is devoted to the administrative cost of processing an application, and is not refundable regardless of the outcome of an application.
Graduate Program Applications
Graduate programs in some areas require specific program applications or supplements in addition to the Application for Graduate Admission. As applicants are expected to be aware of all requirements, please refer to Program Information for your proposed major for specifics
Completing the Application Process
All required application materials (including transcripts) should be mailed to:
Graduate Advisor
Graduate Program in (fill in program name to which you are applying)
University of California
900 University Avenue
Riverside, CA 92521 USA
Transcripts
It is very important that all transcripts be sent directly to the graduate program to which you are applying. If they are sent to the Graduate Admissions Office, the review of your application will be delayed.
Applicants are required to submit an official copy of transcripts and degree certificates (in original language accompanied by certified English translations) from each academic institution attended after secondary school. These records should be sent directly from the Registrars Office of the academic institutions you have attended to the academic department to which you are applying. If this service is not available, applicants may also request official copies and send them in the institutions' original sealed envelopes. Official records are original documents issued by the institution which bear the actual signature of the registrar in ink and the seal of the issuing institution. Notarized documents are not acceptable.
All official academic records must be issued in the original language and accompanied by English translations prepared by the issuing institution. Specially prepared English versions are not acceptable in place of documents issued in the original language. If translations are not available from the institution itself, they may be prepared by government or official translators. For translations to be acceptable, they must bear the stamp or seal of the issuing institution or governmental agency and the original signature of the translator. They must be complete and exact word-for-word translations of the original documents, not interpretations. Grades must not be converted to a US scale. Records submitted for review may not be borrowed, photocopied, returned to you or sent elsewhere.
Please note that some US institutions have an electronic system of providing transcripts. This format is accepted for initial review purposes only. If an admitted applicant accepts our offer of admission a final official hard-copy transcript will be required from the institution's Office of the Registrar (not electronic format) before admission can be finalized.
Statement of Purpose/Personal History Statement
Applicants must submit this information directly into their online application.
The Statement of Purpose is your opportunity to state your specific interests with respect to the program to which you are applying. Your intended area of specialization, career objectives and research interests and experience are of particular 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.
Letters of Recommendation
Applicants must enter their recommenders information directly into their electronic application. Recommenders will be notified by email and provided instructions about how to submit a letter online. All letters of recommendation must be received electronically so they are attached to the appropriate applicant file for review.
Three letters of recommendation are required in support of all applications for admission. At least two of these letters should be requested from professors in your major subject. If you are currently enrolled in or have completed a graduate degree, a letter of recommendation is required from your program or thesis advisor in that program. Applicants are not permitted to inspect letters of recommendation in their UCR files. If you are admitted to UCR and enroll, you may then have access to your letters of recommendation unless you previously waived the right of access on the form.
The Graduate Record Examination
The GRE general test is required of all applicants with the exceptions noted below. Some programs also require applicants submit scores from the Subject Test of the GRE. Consult the program to which you are applying for its requirements. Although current scores are preferred, some graduate programs will accept scores from tests taken within the last five years.
GRE scores from the General Test must be submitted for fellowship consideration. We strongly advise you to be aware of the deadline for the program to which you are applying. Dates and information for computer-based testing (CBT) may be obtained by contacting the Educational Testing Service (ETS) at the address below, by calling 1-800-GRE-CALL, or by consulting the GRE Web site. Fellowship applicants should take the exam in time to meet the program deadline. Applicants should plan to take the GRE prior December to ensure the timely receipt of their test scores for admission consideration. Keep in mind that it may take up to four weeks for test scores to reach us from ETS.
Applications for the GRE can be obtained from:
Educational Testing ServicePO Box 6000
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
Exceptions to the GRE Requirement
Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts (MFA); Experimental Choreography (MFA); Visual Arts (MFA); and Education (MEd only) do not require the GRE exam. Management (MBA) applicants may submit scores from the Graduate Management Admissions Test (GMAT) or the GRE exam.
Be sure to list the GRE institution code for UCR is 4839. GRE department and major codes can be found here or by contacting prospective programs. If ETS has not assigned a major code to your proposed area of study, instruct them to send your score to your specific program.