University of California Merced
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UC Merced Admissions 2025: Application Deadline, Requirements & Costs

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#483 in World

#128 in USA

  • Institute Icon815 acre campus
  • Estd. 2005
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UC Merced Admissions
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Below are the University of California Merced application deadlines:

  • First-year and transfer students can file their applications between Nov 1 to Nov 30, 2024
 

University of California Merced Admission Overview 2026

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University of California Merced Courses: Eligibility and Fees 2025

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University of California Merced Admission Process 2026

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Commonly asked questions
On Admissions
Q:   What are the admission requirements for UC Merced?
A: 

Below are the UC Merced admission requirements for international students:

Undergraduate requirements:

  • You must complete both year X and XII state board or CBSE examinations.

  • Applicants must have marks above 70 annd no marks below 60 is accepted.

  • Applicants must Report their subjects and marks on the International Exams page of the application, under the Test Scores tab (step 4 of 5).

  • Applicants must Graduate from secondary school and earn a certificate of completion that allows you to attend a university in your country.

  •  

English Lanuage Tests

Minimum required score

TOEFL ( PBT)

550 or better

IELTS

6.5 or better

TOEFL (iBT)

80 or better

DUOLINGO

Score of 115 or better

Graduate requirements:

  • A statement of academic purpose (SOP)

  • Applicants must have a list of all their prior colleges or universities, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. However, unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with the applicant's application.

  • Three letters of recommendation, the university also  reserve the right to verify the authenticity of any and all letters of recommendation

  • Applicants must submit their Resumes and CV 

  • A USD 155 application fee for PG applicants

  • A standardised test, although the graduate school does not have tests minimum for admission, individual departments may have minimum requirements. However, they need to give IELTS or TOEFL if the applicant is from a non-English speaking native country. However, there are other standardised examinations, such as GRE and GMAT, which are compulsory, however, might vary depending on the course the applicant chooses

Q:   Should I choose University of California, Merced over San Diego State University for Masters in Computer Science?
A: 

It totally depends on the convenience of the applicants. As UC Merced and San Diego State University for Masters in CS  are renowned institutions offering unique campus cultures and various academic programs. While they share a great reputation, there are subtle differences between the two universities. The below table compares the rankings, fees and acceptance rate of UC Merced and San Diego State University. Overall this information could be useful for students who are considering them.

Name of The University

Ranking

Acceptance Rate

1st Year Tuition Fee

UC Merced

#94 ( US News)

86 %

INR 24 L

San Diego State University

#601-800 (THE)

37%

INR 12 L - 19 L

(The comparison of fees was between the MSc courses of both the universities)

 

Q:   What are some useful tips for students starting their first semester at UC Merced?
A: 

Some of the tips for students starting their first-semester at the  University of California Merced are:

  • Students who applied for UC Merced must be humble and should interact with as many people as possible. Mainly beacause, the more people you talk to the better knowledge you get. 
  • Attend as many gathering and parties as much as you can. 
  • Applicants should avoid missing classess, as 70% of learning comes from students going to classes. 
  • Students can get invovlved with extracuricular activities, i.e joing university clubs, sports etc. This will also look good on a portfolio in the longer run. 

University of California Merced MS Admissions 2026

2 courses 18 months - 2 years
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icon
13.2L - 25.4L

iconEligibility Criteria

  • Accepting Exams: IELTS, TOEFL, Duolingo, GRE

University of California Merced Application Process 2026

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Commonly asked questions
On Application Process
Q:   Is it too late to apply to UC Merced?
A: 

The UC Merced is closed for 2024 admissions. However, The University of California application for the fall semester opens Aug. 1. First year and transfer students can file their application between Nov. 1 and 30. Below are the tentative dates for international students for the next year:

Application Deadline

Intake

First week of august

Fall

Early Nov

Transfer students

Q:   Does UC Merced require GRE?
A: 

UC Merced does not have a set score requirement. The university totally takes a holistic admissions approach, valuing every aspect of an applications for potential success. GRE scores constitute one element among many that contribute to the comprehensive assessment process. 

Q:   What are the admission requirements for UC Merced?
A: 

Below are the UC Merced admission requirements for international students:

Undergraduate requirements:

  • You must complete both year X and XII state board or CBSE examinations.

  • Applicants must have marks above 70 annd no marks below 60 is accepted.

  • Applicants must Report their subjects and marks on the International Exams page of the application, under the Test Scores tab (step 4 of 5).

  • Applicants must Graduate from secondary school and earn a certificate of completion that allows you to attend a university in your country.

  •  

English Lanuage Tests

Minimum required score

TOEFL ( PBT)

550 or better

IELTS

6.5 or better

TOEFL (iBT)

80 or better

DUOLINGO

Score of 115 or better

Graduate requirements:

  • A statement of academic purpose (SOP)

  • Applicants must have a list of all their prior colleges or universities, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. However, unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with the applicant's application.

  • Three letters of recommendation, the university also  reserve the right to verify the authenticity of any and all letters of recommendation

  • Applicants must submit their Resumes and CV 

  • A USD 155 application fee for PG applicants

  • A standardised test, although the graduate school does not have tests minimum for admission, individual departments may have minimum requirements. However, they need to give IELTS or TOEFL if the applicant is from a non-English speaking native country. However, there are other standardised examinations, such as GRE and GMAT, which are compulsory, however, might vary depending on the course the applicant chooses

University of California-Merced Admission FAQs

Q:   What are the admission requirements for UC Merced?
A: 

Below are the UC Merced admission requirements for international students:

Undergraduate requirements:

  • You must complete both year X and XII state board or CBSE examinations.

  • Applicants must have marks above 70 annd no marks below 60 is accepted.

  • Applicants must Report their subjects and marks on the International Exams page of the application, under the Test Scores tab (step 4 of 5).

  • Applicants must Graduate from secondary school and earn a certificate of completion that allows you to attend a university in your country.

  •  

English Lanuage Tests

Minimum required score

TOEFL ( PBT)

550 or better

IELTS

6.5 or better

TOEFL (iBT)

80 or better

DUOLINGO

Score of 115 or better

Graduate requirements:

  • A statement of academic purpose (SOP)

  • Applicants must have a list of all their prior colleges or universities, accompanied by unofficial transcripts from each school. However, unofficial transcripts should be uploaded with the applicant's application.

  • Three letters of recommendation, the university also  reserve the right to verify the authenticity of any and all letters of recommendation

  • Applicants must submit their Resumes and CV 

  • A USD 155 application fee for PG applicants

  • A standardised test, although the graduate school does not have tests minimum for admission, individual departments may have minimum requirements. However, they need to give IELTS or TOEFL if the applicant is from a non-English speaking native country. However, there are other standardised examinations, such as GRE and GMAT, which are compulsory, however, might vary depending on the course the applicant chooses

Q:   Does UC Merced accept Duolingo?
A: 

Yes it does accept UC Merced for international students. International students must submit a proof of English Language proficiency to be considered for Columbia University admission ( especially non-english speaking countries). Students can demonstrate that they are proficient in English by submitting the English proficiency test scores.

Want to have a good score in IELTS? then check out : Free IELTS classes  

English Lanuage Tests

Minimum required score

TOEFL ( PBT)

550 or better

IELTS

6.5 or better

TOEFL (iBT)

80 or better

DUOLINGO

Score of 115 or better

Q:   Which is better, UC Merced or UC Davis?
A: 

UC Merced and UC Davis  are renowned institutions offering unique campus cultures and various academic programs. While they share a great reputation, there are subtle differences between the two universities. The below table compares the rankings, fees and acceptance rate of UC Merced and UC Davis . Overall this information could be useful for students who are considering them.

Here is the comparison highlighting the differences between the Universities:

Name of The University

Ranking

Acceptance Rate

1st Year Tuition Fee

UC Merced

#301-350

86 %

  UG course: INR 9 L 

  PG course: INR 24 L

UC Davis

 

41%

 

(The comparison of fees was between the B.Sc course for UG and the Ms course for PG)

Q:   Should I choose University of California, Merced over San Diego State University for Masters in Computer Science?
A: 

It totally depends on the convenience of the applicants. As UC Merced and San Diego State University for Masters in CS  are renowned institutions offering unique campus cultures and various academic programs. While they share a great reputation, there are subtle differences between the two universities. The below table compares the rankings, fees and acceptance rate of UC Merced and San Diego State University. Overall this information could be useful for students who are considering them.

Name of The University

Ranking

Acceptance Rate

1st Year Tuition Fee

UC Merced

#94 ( US News)

86 %

INR 24 L

San Diego State University

#601-800 (THE)

37%

INR 12 L - 19 L

(The comparison of fees was between the MSc courses of both the universities)

 

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Tasneem Hoda

Study Abroad Expert

Tasneem Hoda is a Content Creator and Writer working for Shiksha.com. Her role includes developing and maintaining web pages for international universities at the Shiksha Study Abroad Portal, ensuring accuracy, completeness, and alignment with instit...Read Full Bio
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UC Merced
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University CityMerced, California, USA

UC Merced
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5200 Lake Rd, Merced, CA 95343, United States
Merced ( California)

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