About Medicine (MD) at University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
In the US, medicine is a graduate professional degree: the Doctor of Medicine (MD) is studied after a bachelor’s degree, followed by residency training.
At University of California, San Diego (UCSD) (QS World University Rankings 2026: #66) in San Diego, Medicine (MD) is one of the subject areas international students choose most. UC San Diego sits on the Pacific coast in La Jolla and is part of the University of California system.
Degree levels for Medicine (MD)
- MD — typical length in the US: 4 years
Program names, specialisations and exact length differ by department — check the official program page before applying.
Admission requirements for Medicine (MD) at UC San Diego
- MD: a bachelor’s degree with pre-medical coursework and the MCAT. Many US medical schools admit very few international applicants — check the school’s international policy first.
- English: TOEFL iBT around 80–100 or IELTS Academic 6.5–7.0 (requirements vary by program).
Fees and funding
University tuition (undergraduate, university-wide): Approx. $46,000 – $52,000 per year (non-resident undergraduate tuition and fees). Graduate and professional fees for Medicine (MD) are set separately by the school. Limited merit scholarships for international undergraduates; graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships.
Careers and work after graduation
F-1 graduates can apply for up to 12 months of OPT. Some programs in this field are STEM-designated — check the program’s CIP code to see if the STEM OPT extension applies.
Apply for Medicine (MD) at UC San Diego with GIEC Global
GIEC Global offers free counselling, program shortlisting, SOP guidance, application support and F-1 visa assistance for Medicine (MD) at University of California, San Diego (UCSD).
