ucr personal statement requirements

School of Public Policy

Solutions for the Region, Solutions for the World

Admission Requirements

The MPP Admissions Committee uses a holistic approach when reviewing a candidate’s file for admission. Our holistic approach includes multiple indicators such as the candidate’s past academic performance and professional profile, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. The committee also considers leadership and work experience, internships, and volunteerism, but it is not required for admission. The committee carefully reviews and considers all of these indicators in selecting successful candidates. 

Application Requirements

To apply, you must complete an online application through the UCR Graduate Division website . Applications for Fall 2024  are now open (more information available on the Graduate Division website). You will be required to provide:

• Students with less than a 3.0 GPA are still encouraged to apply
• 3 letters of recommendation
• The personal statement and statement of purpose are an opportunity for the admissions committee to learn about your interest in public policy, goals for the future, and how your experience (e.g., personal, work, volunteer, leadership) has prepared you for the MPP program. Each statement should be about two pages in length, double spaced, and included as attachments.
• Courses in Statistics, Economics, and Political Science are strongly recommended, but not required 
• GRE is not required
• TOEFL or IELTS scores - for international students only

Download the Graduate Application Guide to assist you in submitting a complete graduate application.

Important Dates

• Applications are accepted on a rolling basis for fall. January 5th, 2023 is the priority deadline to be considered for funding.
• GRE not required
• Info Sessions

Attend admissions events such as college fairs and information sessions where you can learn more about our MPP program:

• Recruitment Fairs

Apply for the MPP program via the UCR Graduate Division website

FAQ: Admissions & Application

Applicants should have a minimum 3.0 GPA in their last two years of coursework (Junior & Senior years). The admissions committee uses a holistic review in determining an applicant’s eligibility for admission. Students that may be slightly lower than the 3.0 GPA are still encouraged to apply as the committee will also take into consideration: letters of recommendations, personal statement, statement of history, reasons for pursuing public policy, and prior work/volunteer/internship/research experience.

No. Students are strongly encouraged to complete a course in Statistics, Economics, and Political Science to be better prepared for program curriculum.

No. If you have taken the exam, students are encouraged to submit their scores as part of the admissions review process.

Statement of Purpose: Goals and Qualifications

The statement of purpose allows you to address specific interests with respect to the program to which you are applying. The following information should be included in this statement:

• Explain how your interest in public policy developed. Why are you wanting to pursue an MPP?
• Think about what you would like to do post-graduation. Do you want to work in a non-profit? Do you see yourself working for the public sector whether it be with an elected official, city, county, state government, or working with a special district? What do you see yourself doing?
• Talk about, and provide examples of policy issues, that you are passionate about and why?

Statement of Personal History

In an essay, discuss how your experiences — personal, work, volunteer, leadership, — have prepared you for the MPP program. Have there been any issues that have adversely impacted your academic performance?

Please note that the Personal History Statement should not duplicate the Statement of Purpose.

Applications for the fall term will be available online on October 1. The priority filing deadline (to be considered for a higher funding package) is January 5th . The program will continue to accept applications after January 5th on a rolling basis. Please connect with the Program Coordinator to inquire about the deadline, post-January 5th.

https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp/tuition-and-fees

While many Master programs typically do not provide funding to students, we are able to provide a small amount of funding to students being considered for admission. The average financial package is approximately $12,000 + one quarter of employment. Financial packages can take one of three forms.

• Fellowship support
• Employment-based aid: Teaching Assistant or Graduate Student Researcher
• A combination of the above: Fellowship + employment

While we can provide some form of financial support, students are still taking out loans. For more information on graduate student loans please visit the Financial Aid website.

Students will need to provide the name and contact information for a minimum of three recommenders, one of which needs to be a faculty member. Students may list more than three recommenders, however three is the minimum.

Your recommenders will receive an email asking for them to upload their letter of recommendation. Please ensure that your recommenders email address is correct. If your recommender indicates they did not receive the email, please have them check their Junk folder

Students will need to upload their unofficial transcripts and a copy of their resume.

International students, please see the documents (transcripts, degree certificates, and English-translations) that need to be submitted at the time of application submission.

Students will need to contact the Graduate Division to request an application fee waiver. Please visit the Fee Waiver page for additional information.

All students whose first language is not English and who have not earned a bachelor’s degree equivalent, at an institution where English is not the language of instruction are required to submit TOEFL or IELTS exam scores. Please visit the Graduate Admissions website for score minimums.

https://graduate.ucr.edu/apply

FAQ: Program and Campus Information

The MPP program is designed to be completed in two-years. Students will take 12 units (3 courses)/quarter for a total of 72 units.

No. Students need to be enrolled full-time (three courses/quarter).

No. The degree program is fully in-person.

Through Spring 2025, courses are taught Monday through Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m..

Beginning in Fall 2025, courses will be taught Monday through Friday, mostly during the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m..

https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp/alumni

The MPP program does not have concentrations. Students are encouraged to take their elective courses from a broad variety of areas: environmental policy, urban policy, health policy, education policy, and social justice and policy.

https://housing.ucr.edu/

https://spp.ucr.edu/mpp/capstone-projects

https://spp.ucr.edu/student-success/internship-program

Prospective Student Chats

Have questions on the admissions process, application, MPP program? Book an appointment to speak to our Student Affairs Coordinator to have all your questions answered. Appointments are booked in 20-minute increments and will be held via Zoom. Book your appointment today via Zoom Scheduler ! 

For More Information

Please contact [email protected] .

Department of Philosophy

Application to the Ph.D. Program in Philosophy

To apply to the Ph.D. program, you will need to complete the official  UCR Graduate School Application . This is the application that serves as the official application to the Philosophy Department’s Graduate Program.

Applications completed by January 5th will receive first consideration for admission. An application is not complete until all supplemental materials have been received. We will continue to accept applications after this deadline (see FAQs below.)

If you have questions concerning an application to our Ph.D. program, please contact  Michael Nelson  or  Perla Fabelo .

Frequently Asked Questions About the Application Process

When is the application deadline.

Applications received by January 5th will receive first consideration. An application is not complete until all supplemental materials have been received.

Application Fee and Application Fee Waivers

The application fee is $120 for domestic applicants, $140 for international applicants. Fee waivers are available for domestic applicants with financial need.

Please apply early, fee waivers are limited. For information, click  here .

What supplemental materials are required?

• Transcripts from colleges or universities attended (Send unofficial transcripts during the application review process; admitted applicants will be required to send official transcripts)
• A writing sample (10–15 pages long, including notes and bibliography, double spaced, 1-inch margins and 12-point font)
• A statement of purpose (1–2 pages long)
• A personal statement (1–2 pages long)
• Three letters of recommendation

Test Scores The graduate program does not require GRE scores.  The admissions committee will not view or evaluate GRE scores when reviewing graduate applications.  Please do not submit GRE scores as part of a graduate application, they will not be considered.

TOEFL or IELTS scores If you are an international student and your degree is not from a university where the primary language of instruction is English, you must submit either TOEFL or IELTS scores.  More information for international students can be found here .

What should the Statement of Purpose, Personal Statement, and Writing Sample include?

The Statement of Purpose should describe your philosophical interests and experience and your fit with our department. Your Personal Statement should describe obstacles that you have faced and overcome that may be relevant to our assessment of your file. The Writing Sample should show your best work to date.  It should be 10-15 pages.  If your writing sample is not representative of what you describe as your interests in your Statement of Purpose, you should include a narrative in your Statement of Purpose briefly explaining why.

Where should the application materials be sent?

The electronic forms need to be submitted online. Whenever possible, the supplemental materials should be uploaded electronically to the online application. If they cannot be securely submitted, confidential or official documents may be sent by mail to:

Department of Philosophy Attn: Graduate Student Services Advisor 1604 HMNSS University of California, Riverside Riverside, CA 92521

Is it possible to apply to the M.A. program only?

We do not accept students interested in a terminal M.A. program. Thus, the application should be for admission to the Ph.D. program.

Career Center

Connect • Inspire • Empower

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Helpful Tips for Graduate Applications

You have decided what you want to study. You know which five schools have the best program for you. So how do you apply? Every graduate program has a different set of forms and different deadlines. Even within the same "system" things may be different. UC Irvine's Creative Writing Program may have different requirements from UC Riverside's. Simply put, you should know the differences and ALWAYS FOLLOW DIRECTIONS. The most common elements in graduate and professional applications are:

• An institutional application form
• A Personal statement which is sometimes part of the App Form, our Academic Resource Center will help with this.
• An application fee (Many schools will waive on request)
• A Financial Aid application (Most schools now use the online FAFSA )
• A personal or telephone interview is common for doctoral programs, but not required by most Master's programs. (Remember, you can always use Career Center resources to prepare for this step.)
• Transcripts and Test Scores

Getting Help

We strongly recommend that you seek specific advice from faculty mentors and current PhD students in your department. These are the people that know first hand what specific academic departments are seeking. Those seeking assistance with health-related programs should connect with the Health Professions Advising Program on campus, as they have many years of experience dealing with medical, dental, pharmacy, and other allied health programs.

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Students & Alumni: Click to Log into Handshake via CAS or (netid)@ucr.edu Account

Computer Engineering

WE ENGINEER EXCELLENCE

Graduate Admissions

Now accepting applications for fall 2024.

Admission Criteria for the M.S. Degree

• 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.  Although we welcome promising students from all disciplines, entering students must have a substantial background in both electrical engineering and computer science.
• A minimum of 3.2 GPA (on a 4.00 scale) in the undergraduate junior and senior years, and at least 3.5 in any graduate study. These averages are considered the minimum requirements; the actual standard for admission is set by the current pool of applicants and is generally higher.
• All applications are initially reviewed by the graduate program before a recommendation is submitted to the Graduate Division for final approval.

Admission Deadlines

Postal Address

Attn: MS in Computer Engineering Program Winston Chung Hall, Room 351 University of California Riverside CA 92521, USA

*Please include your application number and reference Computer Engineering program on the envelope of any documents sent to the department.

CEN Contact Information

Email:  [email protected]  Phone: (951) 827-5639 Fax: (951) 827-4643

Graduate Admission Office

Admissions 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. 

• Academic Background Requirements
• English Language Requirement
• GRE Score - Optional
• Letters of Recommendation
• Transcripts
• Statement of Purpose, Personal History Statement and Relevant Experience
• Application Fee
• EE 100A:  Electronic Circuits I
• CS 153: Design of Operating Systems
• CS 161:  Design and Architecture of Computer Systems
• CS/EE 120A:  Logic Design
• Interned-Based (iBT) - 80
• Home Version (iBT) - 80
• Paper-Based test (PBT) - 550

The IELTS exam is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. We accept the IELTS Indicator for the 2022 -23 and 2023-24 application cycles. This exam must be taken within two years of the time you intend to enroll at UCR. Please request an official Test Report Form (TRF) of your IELTS exam score. Remember to order the TRF from the test center where you took the test and ask the administrator to send the electronic score to UCR. For more information about registering for this exam or to locate the office of any test center, visit IELTS

GRE score submission is Optional

GRE UCR code: 4839 GRE Department code: 1201

For more information on the GRE, visit ETS .

Unofficial transcripts are required for the admission committee to review your application. Upload UNOFFICIAL transcripts of all academic institutions you have attended after high school to your application. Official transcripts will be required when applicants are admitted to the program and subsequently accept the offer.

If you attended an institution located outside of the U.S., visit  International Academic Records  for additional document requirements.

Applicants must submit these essays directly into their online application. Please note that each essay should not duplicate the other. 

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 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. 

Please also submit your curriculum vitae/resume and include any relevant experience (publications, research, internships, etc.).

Domestic Applicants: $135 International Applicants: $155

* Fee Waivers are available to qualified domestic applicants only .

Your Student Resource Hub

Graduate Admissions

UCR offers over 50 academic and professional graduate programs that will challenge and prepare you for whatever path you will take after graduate school. A complete list of graduate programs offered provides more information about each program as well as access to the program and college websites. We encourage you to review these pages then contact the program and faculty to make sure that the graduate program would be the right fit for you.

Graduate Programs

Find information on Admissions Requirements including:

• Academic Degrees and Requirements
• Test Scores
• English Language Requirement
• Letters of Requirement
• Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement
• Relevant Experience
• Application Fee

Funding Sources

There are a variety of resources for funding graduate education, both internal to the University and external. Becoming familiar with the available sources of funding can help you navigate the variety of sources available.

Contact Information

Grad division.

University Office Building Tel:  (951) 827-4302 Email:   [email protected]

Data Science

Ms in computational data science application requirements, application deadlines.

Application Requirements

1.  application.

Complete the  Online Application  for graduate admission

2.  Application Fee

*Fee Waivers are available to qualified domestic applicants only

3.  Transcript

4.  graduate record examination (gre).

The GRE is required for admission consideration. Please submit your score to UCR using the GRE codes below.

Please allow a minimum of 3-4 weeks for a test score to be reported to our campus. Please note that the online application status for the GRE is updated automatically as the score is received electronically from ETS. The online application will only show a GRE score as 'received' if it has been successfully transmitted electronically from ETS; this is done automatically at the Graduate Division level. If an applicant has ordered a GRE score to be sent to UCR and it is not yet reflected in the online application, ETS should be contacted to determine if all information entered by the applicant was correct (the score may need to be sent again) .

  5.  English Language Requirement

The IELTS exam is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP: IELTS Australia, and the University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations. We accept the IELTS Indicator for the 2022 -23 and 2023-24 application cycles. This exam must be taken within two years of the time you intend to enroll at UCR. Please request an official Test Report Form (TRF) of your IELTS exam score. Remember to order the TRF from the test center where you took the test and ask the administrator to send the electronic score to UCR.  For more information about registering for this exam or to locate the office of any test center, visit IELTS .

Minimum IELTS score:  7 overall total score The minimum score in each individual component must be 6 or above

  6.  Letters of Recommendation

Applicants enter their recommenders' information directly into our online application. Recommenders are notified electronically and provided instructions on how to submit a letter online. All letters of recommendation must be received electronically so they are attached to the applicant's file for review.   A minimum of three letters of recommendation are required for admission. At least two of these letters must be from professors in your major subject. If you have a M.S. degree, one letter must be from your M.S. advisor.  The most important aspect of letters of recommendation is that they are completed by individuals who can analyze your academic ability and potential for success in a rigorous graduate program. All letters of recommendation must be in English .

  7.  Statement of Purpose, Personal History Statement and Relevant Experience

Postal address.

Attn:  M.S. in Computational Data Science Program Winston Chung Hall, Room 351 University of California Riverside CA 92521, USA

*Please include your application number and reference Computational Data Science program on the envelope of any documents sent to the department.

CDS Contact Information

Email: [email protected] Phone: (951) 827-5639 Fax: (951) 827-4643

Graduate Admission Office

Department of History

Graduate admissions.

The Department of History accepts applications for the MA in History, MA in History through the Public History Program, and the Ph.D. in History.  Students entering the Ph.D. program without an MA may also earn an MA in History.  Admission is offered for Fall only and we do not allow deferred admission. Priority consideration for Fall 2023 admission will be given to applications submitted by Friday, December 9.  We encourage prospective students to start an e-mail dialogue with one or two  faculty  members in the area of research interest.

Application Requirements

To apply, you must complete an online application through the  UCR Graduate Division website .  You will be required to provide:

• 3 Letters of Recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• Personal History Statement
• TOEFL or IELTS Scores - for International Students Only
• Unofficial Transcripts for all institutions attended beyond high school ( upload digital copies of unofficial transcripts that you have access to through your student accounts or scans of original transcripts in your possession to your application )
• Writing Sample

For more information, contact the  Graduate Student Affairs Officer .

Frequently Asked Questions

Enrollment Services departments are open for in-person and virtual services.  Please check the  Enrollment Services Update  page for hours, service offerings, and contact methods.

The Office of the Registrar

What is the statement of legal residence (slr).

The SLR is how you declare your residency status when you first come to UCR (as a freshman, transfer or graduate student) or when you return after a significant break (longer than three quarters). You submit it along with your Statement of Intent to Register.

Additional documentation may be required to prove your status. You have until the end of the applicable term to provide it. Freshmen and transfer students who have submitted their Statement of Intent to Register will be able to access the SLR via their MyUCR account. Graduate students will receive a packet from Graduate Admissions.

See  Residency for Tuition and Fee Purposes  for more details.

Graduate Division

Promoting Graduate Education

Returning & Continuing Students

Check with your graduate program for eligibility requirements and program details prior to submitting an online application for any of the returning or continuing application options.

Leave of Absence

To request a leave of absence from graduate studies for 1 - 3 quarters, log into R'Grad to access the Leave of Absence form.

Continuing Students

For those applying for Add a Major or Change of Major, you will use the new graduate application system . For those applying for a Change of Degree Objective, select the appropriate type below to find out how to apply.

Currently enrolled UCR graduate students can request to add another major with the approval of the new program and, importantly, their current program (i.e., Computer Science PHD adding a Statistics MS). Please note that coursework used to obtain one degree cannot be used towards degree requirements in another degree.

Apply using our new online application system . Students who entered their first quarter of graduate study at UCR before Summer 2023 must select the Create an account link to apply.

Complete all sections of the application as noted below. Please contact the  Graduate Admissions Office  for assistance if you cannot select your desired term or program. 

• Personal Information  – complete all required fields.
• General Information  - complete all required fields.
• Program Details  - complete all required fields.
• Program Specific Questions  – skip.
• Academic History  – add all institutions attended, including your graduate-level attendance at UCR. Your graduate program staff coordinator will upload transcripts from your previous application. You may use R’Web to upload an unofficial graduate transcript.
• Testing Requirements  – skip.
• Test Scores  – skip.
• Upload Score Report  – skip.
• References  – our system does require you to enter contact information for three recommenders, but we only need a letter from the Graduate Advisor of your current program addressing the impact the additional major may have on your current degree program. Contact the program you would like to add to inquire if additional letters are required. Do not use letter(s) of recommendation written for the program you are in currently. If no additional letters are required, you may enter your Program Staff Coordinator's contact information for the remaining required recommenders. The Program Staff Coordinator DOES NOT need to provide a letter of recommendation.
• Please state your specific interests with respect to the program to which you are applying. Your intended area of specialization, career objective and research interests and experience are of particular interest to why you are adding a major. ALL applicants are required to submit this form.
• Review –  address any issues noted in this section. You only need to address the Required Field or Error items. The Warning items are optional fields.
• You may submit your application WITHOUT submitting payment. Please ensure that you notify your graduate program of your submission as they must request that the Graduate Admissions Office waive the application fee to begin the review process.

Currently enrolled UCR graduate students can request to change to another major with approval from the new program. Be aware that any financial support that you have received for your current major will not automatically apply to the new major. Please note that coursework used to obtain one degree cannot be used towards degree requirements in another degree. 

If changing your major includes changing your degree objective to Ph.D., you may be eligible for new cohort funding. See the Applying for New Cohort Funding section to see if you qualify and how to apply.

Apply using our new online application system . Students who entered their first quarter of graduate study at UCR before Summer 2023 will need to select the Create an account link to apply.

• References  – our system does require you to enter contact information for three recommenders, but we require you to provide a minimum of one letter of recommendation from the research or program advisor of the new major. Contact the program you would like to add to inquire if additional letters are required. Do not use letter(s) of recommendation written for the program you are in currently. If no additional letters are required, you may enter your Program Staff Coordinator's contact information for the remaining required recommenders. The Program Staff Coordinator DOES NOT need to provide a letter of recommendation.
• Please state your specific interests with respect to the program to which you are applying. Your intended area of specialization, career objective and research interests and experience are of particular interest to why you are changing your major. ALL applicants are required to submit this form.

To change your degree objective from PhD to Master's within the same major, i.e. Ph.D. in Economics to M.A. in Economics , complete the Change of Degree Objective petition with the Graduate Academic Affairs Office in Graduate Division.

To change your degree objective from Master's to PhD within the same major, i.e. M.A. in Art History to Ph.D. in Art History , you will apply using our new graduate application system . Students who entered their first quarter of graduate study at UCR before Summer 2023 will need to select the Create an account link to apply.

• References  – our system does require you to enter contact information for three recommenders, but we only need a letter from your research or program advisor supporting your change of degree objective. You may enter your Program Staff Coordinator's contact information for the remaining two required recommenders. The Program Staff Coordinator DOES NOT need to provide a letter of recommendation.
• Please state your specific interests with respect to the new degree objective you are pursuing. Your intended area of specialization, career objective and research interests and experience are of particular interest to why you are wanting to pursue a Ph.D. degree. ALL applicants are required to submit this form.

A student pursuing a master's degree who didn't receive any central fellowship funding in their initial offer may be eligible to apply for new cohort funding when changing to a Ph.D., whether the same major or a new one. We encourage you to talk to your program about funding eligibility. If you qualify for new cohort funding, you must submit a standard application through our new graduate application system . Students who entered their first quarter of graduate study at UCR before Summer 2023 must select the Create an account link to apply.

• References  – complete all required fields.
• Supporting Materials –  complete all required fields.
• Pay the required application fee.

Please visit the Deadlines page and see the All Students deadlines chart under Returning and Continuing Students .

Returning Graduate Students

For those applying for readmission, which program you select will determine the type of graduate app required. Select the appropriate option below to find out which application you will use. A new application fee is required to apply.

Students who were enrolled in a graduate program for one complete quarter or more and have withdrawn from the program can apply for re-admittance into that same graduate program . Readmission is not required for students returning from an official leave of absence. If you plan to use filing fee status the same quarter as readmission to the program, you must complete and submit the filing fee petition . You must also indicate your intent to return on filing fee status in your Statement of Purpose.  

To apply for readmission, you must submit a standard application by accessing our new graduate application system . If your first quarter is Spring 2023 or older, you must create a new identity to complete your application.

Complete all sections of the application as noted below. Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office for assistance if you cannot select your desired term or program. 

• References  – our system does require you to enter contact information for three recommenders, but we require you to provide a minimum of one letter of recommendation from the research or program advisor supporting your return to the graduate program you attended previously. Contact the program you would like to add to inquire if additional letters are required. Do not use letter(s) of recommendation written for your initial application to UCR. If no additional letters are required, you may enter your Program Staff Coordinator's contact information for the remaining required recommenders. The Program Staff Coordinator DOES NOT need to provide a letter of recommendation.
• Supporting Materials – upload a Statement of Purpose that provides details in support of your readmission and  describes your plan for completion of the degree . You may also upload the same statement to the Applicant Statement of Personal History section since a personal history statement is not required. If the graduate program requires other supplemental documents, you may add them via the link found in this section.

A returning student who has either completed a graduate degree or withdrew from that program AND is applying to a new graduate program would need to submit a new application.  You must submit a standard application by accessing our new graduate application system to apply for readmission. You must create a new identity to complete your application if your first quarter is Spring 2023 or older.

Complete all sections of the application as noted below. Please contact the Graduate Admissions Office for assistance if you cannot select your desired term or program. 

• Academic History  – add all institutions attended, including your graduate-level attendance at UCR. If you do not have copies of those transcripts, please contact the graduate Staff Program Coordinator for assistance. You may use R’Web to upload an unofficial graduate transcript.
• Testing Requirements  – please review to see if the new program has requirements you must meet.
• Test Scores  – complete all required fields only if you are required to provide a new test score.
• Upload Score Report  – upload only if you are required to provide a new test score.
• References  – complete all required fields. Do not use letter(s) of recommendation written for your initial application to UCR.
• Supporting Materials – complete all required fields.

Contact Info

For assistance, see which department below may be able to assist you.

Graduate Program

Program Contact Information

• Eligibility Requirements
• Support Materials
• Application Status

Graduate Admissions

951-827-3313 (option 2) [email protected]

• Online Application Requirements and System
• Issues Accepting Offer
• Student Status Issues (Re-Admits)

Graduate Academic Affairs

Application Approver & Policy Questions

Kara Oswood

951-827-3387 [email protected]

• Readmission

Trina Elerts

951-827-3315 [email protected]

• Add or Change Major
• Change Degree Objective (PhD to Master's -OR- Master's to PhD)

International Students and Scholars Office

951-827-4113 [email protected]

• Required Verification of Support Requirements
• Issuing or Updating I-20 or DS-2019 Form

Visit UCR Return to Campus website - Take the  COVID Screening Check  survey

Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

We Engineer Excellence

Domestic Applicants (U.S. Citizen)

A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from an accredited institution or its equivalent in any areas of engineering or in the related areas of Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Material Sciences and Computer Sciences. The degree must represent the completion of a program equivalent both in the distribution of academic subject matter and scholarship achievement comparable to that offered at the University of California.

• Mathematics (Calculus, differential equations and complex variables)
• Circuits and electronics
• Signals and systems
• Communication and signal processing, logic design, digital systems and microsystems
• Control systems; and at least one major high-level programming language and associated programming techniques area

Specific equivalent courses are described in the latest  UCR General Catalog

GAANN Fellowship

Domestic Ph.D. applicants may be eligible for GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) fellowship for pursuing research in areas of Internet-of-Things networks, autonomous systems, large-scale camera networks, renewable energy and smart grids, and robust control and navigation of robots. The nominal time to completion of a Ph.D. degree is five years. The Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering commits to providing five years of support for every GAANN fellow. In the first two years, GAANN Fellows will be supported by a combination of GAANN funds, central fellowships, and teaching assistant appointments. From years 3 to 5, students will be supported by their faculty advisors’ research funds and/or by teaching assistant appointments.

Application Checklist

Checklist Components

Application fee.

The $120.00 application fee for U.S. citizens and permanent residents must be paid by credit card (VISA or MasterCard) prior to the submission of your application. Fee waivers are available to qualified domestic applicants only.

Supplementary Fellowship Application

All domestic applicants are encouraged to submit the Supplementary Fellowship Information form in order to be considered for all awards for which they might qualify. This optional form is for domestic applicants who wish to be considered for merit-based, diversity fellowships.

Ph.D. applicants only : We strongly encourage domestic Ph.D. applicants to complete a 2021-2022  FAFSA based on the 2020 tax year to be considered for GAANN (Graduate Assistance in Areas of National Need) fellowship as part of your application to the Ph.D. program.

Transcripts

Transcripts with most recent grades or final grades (if degree has been awarded) from all academic institutions you have attended since high school (secondary school) is required. Whenever possible,  provide a transcript key that includes a grading scale .

Please note: UNOFFICIAL transcripts are accepted and encouraged for the initial program review. All transcripts uploaded to the online application system are considered unofficial.  Official transcripts will be required only if you are admitted and accept our offer.

All uploaded transcripts should include the following information:

• Student's Name
• Institution's Name
• Dates of Attendance
• Grades Available (at the time applying)
• Credits/Units
• Grading Scale/Legend
• Degree Awarded (if applicable)

The graduate application system accepts PDF or DOCX files, and only one attachment per institution. We highly recommend uploading transcripts before submitting your application to avoid potentially significant delays in the review of your application. If you need to provide updated transcripts, you may email them to  [email protected] (be sure to use your Application ID as the subject line).

Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)

The GRE general test is now optional for all applicants seeking admission to Fall 2021 thru Spring 2023 . 

Applicants may report a GRE score but it is not required to complete an application.  We require only Test-Taker score reports for the initial program review . If you accept our offer, we will request official scores at that time. Test Scores submitted may not be borrowed, photocopied, returned to you or sent elsewhere.

GRE Institution code: 4839

• GRE Department Code: 1203

We will accept the GRE General Test At-Home version for applicants seeking admission to Fall 2021 thru Spring 2023.

Letters of Recommendation

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. Letters of Recommendation must be submitted online and uploaded to your online application.

Note: Recommender's personal email accounts are not permitted.

Applicants must submit these essays directly into their online application.  Please note that each essay should not duplicate the other.  We also do not accept a personal resume or curriculum vitae as a response to either essay . 

Statement of Purpose

The statement of purpose must be submitted with your online application.  Please state your specific interests on the Statement of Purpose form with respect to the research area of specialization to which you are interested within our program, special qualifications, awards, career objectives and research goals and experience are of particular interest. Please submit this form during your online application.

Personal History Statement

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. This must be entered directly in to the application or uploaded.

Admissions Office

Graduate admissions and outreach officer, mailing documents.

• GRE and TOEFL Institution Code: 4839
• TOEFL Department Code: 66
• International Students and Scholars Office
• Graduate Division
• Cost of Attendance
• UCR Housing
• Academic Calendar
• Funding Resources

Graduate Application Deadlines

*Fall Applicants:

To be considered for fellowship funding, the online application must be submitted by this date. Applicants may submit an incomplete application in order to meet this deadline and follow up with pending application materials after submitting. Applications submitted after the fellowship consideration deadline will be considered for financial support based on remaining funding availability.

Department of Anthropology

Prospective Graduate Students Information

Our graduate program will transform you into a professional anthropologist skilled in research, teaching, policy, and administration.

You will be part of a vibrant and welcoming intellectual community. 

Our faculty consists of active research scholars with solid records of publication, conducting original research, obtaining extramural grants, and placing graduate students in regional, national, and international labor markets. 

All prospective students wishing to pursue a post-baccalaureate degree in Anthropology must apply to the Ph.D. program. UCR Anthropology does not take students who only intend to pursue a MA/MS degree. Admitted applicants may obtain a MA/MS degree upon satisfactory completion of first-year coursework and exams.

UCR Anthropology graduate students also have the option to enroll in an interdisciplinary  designated emphasis  (DE).  Typically this is done in the second year of graduate study.  DE programs which include Anthropology courses are  Critical Southeast Asian Studies ,  Medical and Health Humanities ( Detailed Requirements  and  Catalog Description ),  Middle East and Islamic Studies ,  Latin American and Latino Studies , and  Speculative Fictions and Cultures of Science .  In addition, Anthropology graduate students have enrolled in the  Designated Emphasis in Public Policy .

The Anthropology Department is also developing an emphasis on the Global Black Diaspora, detailed  here .

How to Apply

• Meet general UCR requirements.  See the details here .  For applicants in 2023, the GRE is not required.  
• This is a brief statement about your research interests, experience, and area of specialization and also why you chose UCR’s graduate program in anthropology. 
• It should include awards, prizes, and honors, as well as any other pertinent work, field, or academic publication experience related to your goals.
• Specify your potential advisor and explain why you chose that faculty member in the statement.
• The statement should be up to two pages long (single space, font size no less than 11, 1” margin). Please upload your statement as a separate document as the online box limits you to only 3,000 characters (about one page).   
• This is a brief statement (limit of 3,000 characters including spaces) about how your personal background informed 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.
• Please include 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.  
• Upload them directly to the application website. If you send them to the Graduate Admissions Office, your application will be delayed. 
• If the highest degree you earned is from a foreign institution, please see the  Required Academic Records from International Institutions .  
• For U.S. schools, a GPA of 3.2 or higher is considered acceptable for graduate admission.  
• Letters should be written by people familiar with your potential for achieving academic and professional excellence.
• You will enter your recommender’s information directly in your application. They will be notified via email and given instructions on how to submit a letter. All letters of recommendation must be received electronically so they are attached to the applicant's file for review.
• Submitting more than three letters does not improve your standing as an applicant.  
• Published papers with you as the first author, a master’s thesis, an honor’s thesis, or other independent research papers are acceptable. 
• You will upload these in the application (do not send them to the Department of Anthropology).

Please note: In addition to the above criteria, we consider the extent to which your interests coincide with the interests and strengths of our faculty. We provide research-oriented training and encourage a strong mentoring relationship between you and your faculty advisor. As such, shared interests matter. 

• Applications for Fall 2023 are now open. Submit your official  UCR Graduate School Application . The  UCR Graduate Division  can provide more information about the official application procedure.
• We admit only during the fall quarter.
• The deadline for admission is December 10 ( this is not a postmark date ; your application and all supplementary materials must be received by December 10). 
• Only complete applications will be considered. 
• You will be notified of your admission status in late March.

Get Funding

See fellowships and grants for graduate students, get help .

Derick Fay Associate Professor and Graduate Advisor (951) 827-6483 [email protected] Tiara Caldwell Graduate Affairs Assistant (951) 827-5145 [email protected]

Contact the UCR Graduate Division   See CHASS research labs and centers

Center for Undergraduate Research and Engaged Learning

Distinguish Yourself

Application Resources

'Prestigious Awards' are exceptionally competitive and require significant investments of time and effort in order to craft applications, write essays, enhance resumes, and practice interviews. Students are urged to seek advice from the Director of Center for Undergraduate Research and Engaged Learning, as well as from faculty, advisors, and other campus resources regarding the preparation of competitive applications. The major components that will be required for competitive awards and applications for admission to graduate/professional programs are listed below.

Click the tabs below for application resources:

• Organization

Students are encouraged take time to research award opportunities as early as possible to understand the requirements and allow enough time to build strong applications (resume, personal statement, and essays).

• These types of workshops are often offered by the UCR Career Center and Center for Undergraduate Research and Engaged Learning.
• Workshops offer valuable information that will help you enhance your profile.
• Focus should be placed on research, community service, internships, and education abroad experiences
• A record of strong academic performance and leadership in activities outside of the classroom will be necessary to gain positive outcomes when applying to scholarships/fellowships
• Faculty and advisors are good resources for involvement in scholarships/fellowships
• Take into consideration other commitments - (GREs, midterm, work)
• Begin working on essays well in advance to allow time for editing and feedback
• Winning essays will take multiple revisions
• Be considerate of your time and others who are helping you - give them time to make edits
• Speak to advisors who will provide support during the process

Attention to detail is an important skill in putting an application together. 

• Read all of the fine print for each program of interest and understand the deadlines and required materials. 
• Make note of all deadlines, including any institutional deadlines that may precede the organization’s deadlines.
• Application deadlines are strictly enforced.  Planning ahead to meet the deadline a day or two before the published deadline will help to deal with any unexpected glitches.  A time line for completing each application should be developed and strictly followed, a good resource is the  NPSA Planning Guide .
• Remember to be considerate of people's time, especially when requesting a letter of recommendation, or support in reading your draft essays.
• Online/paper applications
• Essays: personal statement, project proposal/plan of study, others
• Read the application requirements – most awards require official transcripts from all schools ever attended, even if the grades are listed on the UCR transcript
• It is a good idea to have a few copies of sealed transcripts on hand
• Letters of recommendation
• Deadlines are strictly enforced.  It is the applicant's responsibility to follow up with the letter writers to ensure timely submission

Undergraduate research provides an opportunity for students to apply what they have learned in the classroom to real world issues under the supervision of a faculty mentor.

• Use UCR’s  Undergraduate Research Portal  to find current faculty-led research opportunities
• Talk to faculty about volunteer opportunities in on-going research projects
• Look at the departmental faculty webpages to identify and contact faculty involved in the research interest area
• A thesis project in  University Honors
• Departmental capstone project
• Academic Internship
• Study Abroad experience
• Undergraduate Research, Scholarship, and Creative Activity Symposium
• Undergraduate Research Journal
• Utilize your faculty for identifying additional opportunities

Letters of recommendation are crucial for successful award and admission applications. A strong letter of recommendation goes beyond the standard language of praise for academic achievement. Strong letters must include specific distinguishing remarks that testify to a student’s unique capacity to carry out their proposed plans, leadership capacity, specific achievements, and potential. Earning a strong letter of recommendation comes from developing a strong relationship with a professor, often over several years, before the letter of recommendation is needed.  Tips on earning a strong letter of recommendation include:

• Discuss your long term goals and seek advice on how to achieve them
• Be inquisitive and ask for recommended readings to further your knowledge
• Enroll in a series of courses with specific professors, so that the professors can develop a solid academic basis for offering a strong endorsement
• Volunteer in ongoing research projects sponsored by a professor - this provides a great opportunity to get to know the professor, and demonstrate your skills and development as a researcher
• As a courtesy, professors should be provided at least 2-3 weeks’ notice when requesting a letter of recommendation
• Draft personal statement, and any other required essays
• Information on the opportunity you are applying to the award’s mission statement and a link to the award website criteria
• Your resume (that has already been reviewed and edited)
• Transcripts (can be unofficial, so they can see your course history
• Sample of your work (if appropriate)
• Recommended highlights and talking points you want them to consider including in the letter 
• Deadline for when the letter needs to mailed or uploaded
• Any special instructions, particularly for awards that require a campus endorsement

Thank You Notes

It is important to demonstrate your appreciation for the support you receive during your application process by sending a personalized thank you card. This small gesture of appreciation will ensure that faculty, staff, letter writers, etc. know that you followed through with the application. Remember to keep them informed of your progress in the competition.

The personal statement should make a strong case for why the award and the student are a good fit. A personal statement articulates why the award would benefit from the student’s selection and participation in intellectual/scientific/arts community of recipients. It should be written in a manner that captures the reader’s attention and makes them excited to get to know you and helps the reader identify with your background and experience.

• Make a specific and compelling presentation of who you are, including where you have come from, what you have accomplished, your future goals, and how those components fit with the award’s purpose.  Read " Helping Students Tell Their Stories " from the Chronicle of Higher Education.
• The Center for Undergraduate Research and Engaged Learning (CUREL) has writing support staff to help refine your essays.  After working with the CUREL Director on your essay drafts, schedule an appointment with writing support staff here
• Allow time for editing several drafts of the document.  Great essays take several drafts and months to develop
• Do not be shy about asking friends, faculty, advisors, alums of the award, or people in the career field for their advice 

Prestigious Scholarships and Awards

Student Services Bldg. 2nd FL Tel:  (951) 827-7389 Email:  [email protected]

Meetings available Fridays, 8-11am Schedule an appointment here.

Sign-up for our mailing list !

First-year requirements

• Subject requirement (A-G)
• GPA requirement
• Admission by exception
• English language proficiency
• UC graduation requirements

Additional information for

• California residents
• Out-of-state students
• Home-schooled students

Transfer requirements

• Understanding UC transfer
• Preparing to transfer
• UC transfer programs
• Transfer planning tools

International applicants

• Applying for admission
• English language proficiency (TOEFL/IELTS)
• Passports & visas
• Living accommodations
• Health care & insurance

AP & Exam credits

Applying as a first year

• Filling out the application
• Dates & deadlines

Personal insight questions

• How applications are reviewed
• After you apply

Applying as a transfer

Types of aid

• Grants & scholarships
• Jobs & work-study
• California DREAM Loan Program
• Middle Class Scholarship Program
• Blue and Gold Opportunity Plan
• Native American Opportunity Plan  
• Who can get financial aid
• How aid works
• Estimate your aid

Apply for financial aid

• Tuition & cost of attendance
• Glossary & resources
• Santa Barbara
• Campus program & support services
• Check majors
• Freshman admit data
• Transfer admit data
• Native American Opportunity Plan
• Apply for aid
• You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
• Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
• Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you. However, you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.

Keep in mind

• All questions are equal. All are given equal consideration in the application review process, which means there is no advantage or disadvantage to choosing certain questions over others.
• There is no right or wrong way to answer these questions. It’s about getting to know your personality, background, interests and achievements in your own unique voice.  
• Use the additional comments field if there are issues you'd like to address that you didn't have the opportunity to discuss elsewhere on the application. This shouldn't be an essay, but rather a place to note unusual circumstances or anything that might be unclear in other parts of the application. 

Questions & guidance

Remember, the personal insight questions are just that—personal. Which means you should use our guidance for each question just as a suggestion in case you need help. The important thing is expressing who you are, what matters to you and what you want to share with UC. 

1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time. Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?

Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn't necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family? 2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side. Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?

How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career? 3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time? Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you're proud of, this is the time to share it.You don't necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?

Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule? 4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced. Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that's geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.

If you choose to write about educational barriers you've faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today? 5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement? Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you've faced and what you've learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?

If you're currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family? 6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom. Things to consider:  Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can't get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.

Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?

7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place? Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?

Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community? 8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California? Things to consider:  If there's anything you want us to know about you but didn't find a question or place in the application to tell us, now's your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?

From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don't be afraid to brag a little.

Writing tips

Start early..

Give yourself plenty of time for preparation, careful composition and revisions.

Write persuasively.

Making a list of accomplishments, activities, awards or work will lessen the impact of your words. Expand on a topic by using specific, concrete examples to support the points you want to make.

Use “I” statements.

Talk about yourself so that we can get to know your personality, talents, accomplishments and potential for success on a UC campus. Use “I” and “my” statements in your responses.

Proofread and edit.

Although you will not be evaluated on grammar, spelling or sentence structure, you should proofread your work and make sure your writing is clear. Grammatical and spelling errors can be distracting to the reader and get in the way of what you’re trying to communicate.

Solicit feedback.

Your answers should reflect your own ideas and be written by you alone, but others — family, teachers and friends can offer valuable suggestions. Ask advice of whomever you like, but do not plagiarize from sources in print or online and do not use anyone's words, published or unpublished, but your own.

Copy and paste.

Once you are satisfied with your answers, save them in plain text (ASCII) and paste them into the space provided in the application. Proofread once more to make sure no odd characters or line breaks have appeared.

This is one of many pieces of information we consider in reviewing your application. Your responses can only add value to the application. An admission decision will not be based on this section alone.

Need more help?

Download our worksheets:

• English [PDF]
• Spanish [PDF]

Computer Science and Engineering

WE ENGINEER EXCELLENCE

International Graduate Applicants

Overview of admissions.

Our department is seeking candidates who can contribute to their academic or professional fields through teaching, research, and/or professional practice. Admission offers are based on several factors, including the academic degrees and record, statement of purpose, personal history statement, letters of recommendation, test scores, and relevant experience. The appropriateness of your goals to the degree program to which you are applying and their relationship to the research interests of its faculty are also considered. In general, a 3.2 GPA on a 4.0 scale in the last two years of upper-division undergraduate work is desirable and applicants with a master’s degree are expected to have a GPA of 3.5 or above.

Application Deadlines - Fall 2024

• January 5 :  Application deadline for fellowship consideration for PhD applicants*
• March 1 :  General application deadline

How to Apply

1. application.

Complete the  online application  for graduate admission

2. Application Fee

$155 non-refundable application fee. VISA or MasterCard only

* Fee Waivers   are available to qualified domestic applicants   only .

3. Official Transcripts

You are required to upload UNOFFICIAL transcripts for all academic institutions you have attended after high school to your application or email them to  [email protected] . We only require UNOFFICIAL transcripts for the review of your application. DO NOT send official transcripts electronically or by mail. All transcripts and academic documents uploaded to the online application system are considered unofficial. Official transcripts will be required when applicants are admitted to the program and subsequently accept the offer.

Applicants who attended an institution located outside the U.S., please visit the  Required Academic Records from International Institutions  page for detailed document requirements.

4. Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

MS applicants - the GRE is required for admission consideration. Please submit your score to UCR using the GRE codes below.

GRE UCR code:   4839 GRE Department code: 0402   Computer Sciences

Educational Testing Service  (ETS) Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m. - 9:45 p.m. EST Telephone: 609-771-7670

PhD applicants - the GRE is optional. PhD applicants are encouraged to include additional material that will help the admission committee evaluate their math preparation. (However, applicants who took GREs are still required to submit them.)

The GRE General Test at Home version is being accepted for the 2024-25 application cycles.  The test must be taken within the last five (5) years before the desired date of admission.

Please allow a minimum of 3-4 weeks for a test score to be reported to our campus. Please note that the online application status for the GRE is updated automatically as the score is received electronically from ETS. The online application will only show a GRE score as 'received' if it has been successfully transmitted electronically from ETS; this is done automatically at the Graduate Division level. If an applicant has ordered a GRE score to be sent to UCR and it is not yet reflected in the online application, ETS should be contacted to determine if all information entered by the applicant was correct (the score report may need to be sent again)

5. TOEFL or IELTS Scores

TOEFL or IELTS scores must be submitted by students whose native language is not English and who do not have a bachelor's or graduate degree from an institution where English is the exclusive language of instruction. 

For students who have taken the TOEFL or IELTS exam, the requirements are listed below.

The scores cannot be more than two years old from the date of matriculation.

Minimum TOEFL Score

Official scores must be submitted directly from ETS to UCR. Request that ETS send your score electronically to UCR.

UCR code: 4839 Computer Sciences iBT code: 78

The Educational Testing Service homepage is  https://www.ets.org/ Hours: Monday-Friday, between 8:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m. Telephone: 609-771-7100

Please allow a minimum of 3-4 weeks for a test score to be reported to our campus. The online application status for the TOEFL is updated automatically as the score is received electronically from ETS. The online application will only show a TOEFL score as 'received' if it has been successfully transmitted electronically from ETS; this is done automatically at the Graduate Division level. If an applicant has ordered a TOEFL score to be sent to UCR and it is not yet reflected in the online application, ETS should be contacted to determine if all information entered by the applicant was correct (the score may need to be sent again).

Minimum IELTS score: 7 overall total score

The minimum overall IELTS score is 7 with a score no lower than 6 on any individual component. This exam must be taken within two years of the time you intend to enroll at UCR. Please request an official Test Report Form (TRF) of your IELTS. Remember to order the TRF from the test center where you took the test and ask the administrator to send the official TRF to:

Graduate Admissions Office Graduate Division University Office Building University of California Riverside, CA 92521, USA

For more information about registering for this exam or to locate the office of any test center, consult the IELTS website.

Note: Before performing duties as a Teaching Assistant, any student whose native language is not English must pass an oral English language competency exam upon arrival at UCR. This includes not only international students but also any student whose first language is not English.

6. Letters of Recommendation

Applicants will be able to enter their recommenders' information directly into our online application. Recommenders will be notified electronically and provided instructions on how to submit a letter online. All letters of recommendation must be received electronically so they are attached to the applicant's file for review.   Graduate programs require three (3) letters of recommendation. Submitting more than three letters does not improve your standing as an applicant. Preferably, all letters should be requested from professors in your major subject. The most important aspect of letters of recommendation is that they be completed by individuals who are able to analyze your academic ability and potential for success in a rigorous graduate program. If you wish to submit letters from employers, the CS department will consider two professional letters as long as one letter is from an academic professor.  All letters of recommendation must be in English . If you have been enrolled in a previous graduate program, it is required that one letter be from your research or program advisor in that graduate program.

Applicants using Interfolio's online portfolio service can have their letters uploaded to our online application using Interfolio's "Web Delivery" Method. To do so, please follow the step-by-step instructions located within the Reference Information section of the online application.    If you wish to waive your right to inspect the letters of recommendation, mark the appropriate box below the reference information. Only enrolled UCR students are permitted to inspect letters of recommendation for which they did not waive their right to access. Letters of recommendation cannot be released to the applicant and cannot be forwarded elsewhere.

All electronic letters uploaded to an application MUST be from an official, company, or university affiliated e-mail address. RECOMMENDER PERSONAL E-MAIL ACCOUNTS ARE NOT PERMITTED.

7. International Applicant Confidential Financial Statement

International applicants will be required to submit the International Applicant Confidential Financial Statement once admitted to the program. Additional instructions will be sent to admitted applicants by the Graduate Division.

8. Financial Support and Fees

Fellowship packages are offered to PhD applicants only. For a multiple-year fellowship package, applicants must apply by January 5, 2023.

Fellowship support is not available for International M.S. applicants. For full consideration of financial support, an application must be received by January 31, 2023. International student applications may be considered for fellowship opportunities after this deadline, pending funding availability but are encouraged to apply by this date. Non-immigrant students cannot establish California residency and should expect to pay nonresident tuition every quarter in addition to all other assessed fees. Current quarterly fees can be found here . Admitted self-supported foreign students must provide the university with evidence of the ability to pay all required fees and expenses for the duration of their graduate program.

Note : Received documents cannot be returned to applicants and become property of the university. Copies of received documents cannot be provided as well.

Admissions Process

The primary objective of the admissions process is the selection of those students most likely to complete their chosen graduate programs with distinction. After consultation between the program and the Graduate Division, the final authority to admit rests with the Graduate Division Dean. Applicants are initially reviewed and rated based on their overall undergraduate and, where appropriate, post-baccalaureate GPAs. However, the evaluation process is intended to be flexible, and departments take a variety of other factors into consideration, including GRE or other test scores, GPA in the major subject, letters of recommendation, and the reputation of the degree-granting program or institution. Soon after the department forwards its recommendation to the Graduate Division, the applicant is notified in writing (first, via e-mail) of the Dean's decision. If admission is offered with work still in progress, official transcripts reflecting the satisfactory completion of this work and the awarding of the degree (where appropriate) must be submitted as soon as possible. An offer of admission is valid for a specific quarter only; admission may not be deferred to a later quarter. Accepted students who wish to be admitted for a subsequent quarter must reapply and, if additional coursework has been completed, submit updated transcripts. Please note that all applicants must submit a new application and application fee if reapplying for a later quarter.

The Computer Science and Engineering master and PhD programs receive a large number of applications and meeting all admission criteria do not guarantee admission to our graduate program. Admission is offered to candidates with the highest qualifications. UCR views as a high priority the enrollment of men and women from different backgrounds and from different demographic and ethnic groups.

Contact Information

Graduate admissions office.

Graduate Division University Office Building University of California Riverside, CA 92521, USA Tel: (951)-827-4302 Fax: (951) 827-2238 Email: [email protected] For additional information, please check the  Graduate Division website .

CS Admissions

Department of Computer Science and Engineering Winston Chung Hall, Room 351 Bourns College of Engineering Riverside, CA 92521-0429 Tel: (951) 827-5639 Fax: (951) 827-9345 Email:  [email protected]

ENG | ESP   

School of Education

Educators are liberators because knowledge is transformative.

Writing Center

Soe writing support.

The School of Education (SOE) offers writing support to undergraduate Education, Society and Human Development (ESHD) majors in the form of one-on-one appointments and quarterly workshops.  SOE's Writing Support team has experience working with students from diverse backgrounds and supporting them in further building writing competency. No matter what level students are at, SOE Writing Support can help students build the necessary skills they need to improve as writers. We believe in the power of writing for change—to raise marginalized voices, bring awareness to social issues and participate in civic engagement.

One-on-one appointments can address any writing-related concerns including, but not necessarily limited to: understanding prompts, brainstorming, research skills, reading skills, developing thesis statements, creating an outline, revising a draft and overall academic time-management skills. Workshops address how to adhere to writing styles e.g., MLA/APA format, research best practices, how to incorporate research in a paper and more.

We are committed to developing content specifically for ESHD majors and can help students expand not only their knowledge of the field of education, but their ability to communicate such knowledge compellingly and effectively. We also work closely with students struggling in their English coursework to develop individualized support plans to ensure our students complete their Entry-Level Writing Requirement (ELWR) and English Composition coursework in a timely manner. SOE Writing Support services are specifically for ESHD majors and are offered in addition to the Academic Resource Center’s (ARC) services which are available to the entire undergraduate community. SOE Writing Support is a supportive service which not only supplements the tutoring services offered at the ARC, but partners with the ARC to develop workshops for ESHD majors.

Meet Our Team

Writing center director.

Bryan Asdel is the Writing Center Director for the School of Education at UC Riverside. Previously, he was Associate Dean of Academic Support Services at Barstow Community College. Bryan holds an MFA in Creative Writing with a concentration in poetry from Arizona State University. He has taught at community colleges, universities, and the Arizona State Prison Complex. He serves as a poetry editor for  Iron City Magazine , a literary journal dedicated to creative expressions by and for the incarcerated. Passionate about making writing education engaging, accessible, and equitable, Bryan is committed to helping students of all backgrounds realize their potential and make meaningful contributions to their communities through the transformative power of language. 

Graduate Writing Mentor

Eric Davidson is the Graduate Writing Mentor at the SOE Writing Center. He is a Ph.D. candidate at UCR studying Higher Education Administration and Policy, and earned his M.A. in Higher Education and B.A. in Political Science - International Relations from the University of Arizona. His scholarship examines the philosophy and political economy of higher education through the lenses of sport, alternative culture, internationalization, and postcolonial thought. He is also an Instructor for SOE courses and a Research Associate at the UCR Center for Athletes' Rights and Equity. In his work with the Writing Center, he aims to foster each student’s intellectual growth by providing them with a collaborative space to advance their agency and voice through writing.

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UCR - SOP, personal history statement character limit

So I’ve been trying so hard to not think about this since weeks but the anxiety is eating me alive. When I was applying to the MS CS program at UCR, I was asked to upload my SOP as well as a personal history statement. The limit was mentioned as “3000 characters”. But i misread that as “3000 words”. 🥲 I was so relieved back then because my SOP was nearly 1200 words long (crossed the word limit for NEU) and personal history statement was 800-900 words. A couple of days later my friend decided to apply to UCR too and he texted me about how the character limit was so less and 3k characters would roughly equal 500 words which is wayyyy to less. I was COMPLETELY SHOCKED. I cross checked the limit again and it so clearly said “3000 characters”😭😭😭 I’d submitted my application by then already. Is this limit very important or can it be overlooked?🥲 UCR is my only hope now.

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Donald Trump says he's 'entitled to personal attacks' on Kamala Harris

BEDMINSTER, New Jersey -- Former President Donald Trump said Thursday he thinks he's "entitled to personal attacks" on his Democratic rival, saying he's "very angry" at Vice President Kamala Harris because of the criminal charges he faces.

Trump was responding to a question about whether his campaign needs more discipline during a news conference at his New Jersey golf club, where he looked to saddle Harris with the unpopular economic record of President Joe Bide n.

"As far as the personal attacks, I'm very angry at her because of what she's done to the country. I'm very angry at her that she would weaponize the justice system against me and other people, very angry at her. I think I'm entitled to personal attacks," Trump said.

"I don't have a lot of respect for her intelligence and I think she'll be a terrible president," he added.

Trump stuck close to his scripted economic message for more than half an hour, reading from a binder in front of him in a news conference at his New Jersey golf club. Later, he veered into familiar stories he enjoys telling at his rallies. A day earlier, he had struggled to make a sustained case for his economic policies during a meandering speech that his campaign had billed as a major policy address.

"Kamala Harris is a radical California liberal who broke the economy, broke the border and broke the world, frankly," Trump told reporters.

Trump was flanked by popular grocery store items, including instant coffee, sugary breakfast cereals and pastries, laid out on tables as he highlighted the cost of everything from food to car insurance to housing. At one point, as he talked about the 2020 election he lost, he noticed a box of cereal.

"I haven't seen Cheerios in a long time," Trump said. "I'm going to take then back to my cottage."

The event came one day after the Labor Department announced year-over-year inflation had reached its lowest level in more than three years in July - the latest sign that the worst price spike in four decades is fading.

MORE | Biden, Harris greeted by chants of 'Thank you, Joe' at 1st joint event since he exited race

But consumers are still feeling the impact of higher prices - something Trump's campaign is banking on to motivate voters this fall.

Harris is planning her own economic policy speech Friday in North Carolina, promising to push for a federal ban on price gouging on groceries.

A small crowd of Trump supporters watched his news conference from the periphery, occasionally cheering him on. But without a crowd of thousands to please with red meat attacks on his enemies, Trump stuck closer to his prepared remarks.

Hours before the news conference, Trump's campaign leaders announced they were expanding his staff, bringing a number of former aides and outside advisers formally into the fold. Corey Lewandowski, Taylor Budowich, Alex Pfeiffer, Alex Bruesewitz and Tim Murtaugh will advise the campaign's senior leadership.

Lewandowski was Trump's first campaign manager during his 2016 campaign. Budowich and Pfeiffer are moving over from MAGA Inc., a pro-Trump super PAC. Bruesewitz produces pro-Trump content for a large social media following. And Murtaugh was the communications director for Trump's 2020 campaign.

Summer has traditionally been the time for shakeups in Trump's two prior campaigns. This year's change comes weeks after the campaign itself was transformed by President Joe Biden's decision to end his reelection campaign and endorse Harris.

Trump gave his top advisers a vote of confidence Thursday, writing on his social media platform that his management team headed by Chris LaCivita and Susie Wiles is "THE BEST."

Trump spoke to the press as he steps up his criticism of Harris for not holding a news conference or sitting down for interviews since Biden made way for her.

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Brief State Non-Medical Exemptions from School Immunization Requirements

All 50 states and Washington D.C. have laws requiring certain vaccines for students to attend school. Many states align their vaccine requirements with recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices . All states allow exemptions from school immunization requirements for children who are unable to receive vaccines for medical reasons. State laws vary regarding non-medical exemptions, for religious or personal reasons. Personal exemptions are also referred to as "philosophical exemptions" by some states.

Thirty states and Washington D.C. allow exemptions for people who have religious objections to immunizations. Thirteen 13 states allow exemptions for either religious or personal reasons. Two states, Louisiana and Minnesota, do not specify whether the non-medical exemption must be for religious or personal reasons. Five states do not allow any type of non-medical exemption.

The map below indicates each state's non-medical exemption policy. The map also links to the statutes for each state regarding school vaccine requirements and exemptions. Below the map is a table which provides more information about state exemption laws including exemption exceptions, requirements to obtain a non-medical exemption and information on states that have removed certain exemption policies.

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Map Source: Adapted from the LexisNexis StateNet Database and the Immunization Action Coalition.

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