Master of Science in Data Science
at UC San Diego, San Diego

2.8 /5

(4 Reviews)

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#14 in MS in USA

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Master of Science in Data Science
at
UC San Diego
Overview

International students can pursue Master of Science in Data Science at PG level at University of California - San Diego Campus. The duration of the course at the university is 18 to 24 months. The course is among the top-ranked courses in the International students must meet the entry requirements such as complete academic qualification, a valid test score in exams such as IELTS, TOEFL, GRE, PTE and Duolingo to be eligible for the course. The University of California - San Diego Campus tuition fee for international students for Master of Science in Data Science is around USD 27,864 (INR 2,674,665) for first-year. Students must manage additional costs such as:

Rent
Hostel fees
Food, books
supplies
Utilities, etc.

The average University of California - San Diego Campus cost of living is USD 4,770 (INR 457,872).

Duration	1.5 - 2 years Get Curriculum
Tuition & Fees	₹26.70 Lakh Get Fees details
International Students Admission Website	Go to Website
Official Career Service Website	Go to Website
Course Level	PG Degree

Master of Science in Data Science

Table of contents

Overview
Fees
Curriculum
Entry Requirements
Application Process
Rankings
Highlights
Scholarships

Master of Science in Data Science
at
UC San Diego
Fees

For attending the University of California - San Diego Campus for Master of Science in Data Science, students have to pay the tuition fee as well as the living expenses. The University of California - San Diego Campus Master of Science in Data Science fee structure varies for domestic and international students.

Foreign students will have to pay USD 27,864 (INR 2,674,665) for the first-year of study. Other than the annual tuition fee, they will also have to cover the living expenses (includes housing, food, transportation, books and supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses), which is around USD 4,770 (INR 457,872) for overseas students. Based on the student’s lifestyle and purchasing power, the cost of living varies.

Refer to the table below for the breakdown of expenses for the University of California - San Diego Campus Master of Science in Data Science cost of attendance:

1st year tuition fees

Fees components	Amount (for 1 year)
Tuition & fees	INR 26,69,943

Other expenses in 1st Year

Fees components	Amount (for 1 year)
Hostel & Meals	INR 4,57,064
Total approximate fees	INR 4,57,064

Calculated at the exchange rate of 1 USD = INR 95.8205 | Tuition & expenses were last updated on 11ᵗʰ June 2025

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Master of Science in Data Science
at
UC San Diego
Curriculum

For students who want to explore the University of California - San Diego Campus Master of Science in Data Science program, candidates can find the curriculum by clicking on the green button below. A list of the topics that will be covered in the course, choices for electives that improve learning chances, and other relevant course material are all included in this PDF curriculum. Additionally, it breaks down the course structure by semester, allowing students to see how their studies will advance each term. Making educated selections regarding your academic route requires the use of this material.

Master of Science in Data Science
at
UC San Diego
Entry Requirements

Requirements for 12th grade Lock Icon

No specific cutoff mentioned

Graduation Lock Icon

CGPA - 3/5
Successful applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution in the United States or from a recognized university-level academic institution abroad and at least a B average (3.0 GPA), or its equivalent.

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GPA

Percentage

CGPA

TOEFL

Marks - 85/120
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GPA

Percentage

CGPA

PTE

Marks - 65/90
NA

IELTS

Marks - 7/9
Get a Full FREE IELTS Prep Course with Shiksha Study Abroad – Limited Seats for Weekend & Weekday Batches! Register now for IELTS

GRE

No specific cutoff mentioned
GRE exam is not mandatory, Applicants may still submit valid scores if they have already taken the test

Duolingo

No specific cutoff mentioned

Which exams out of the above do I need to give?

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Master of Science in Data Science
at
UC San Diego
Application Process

Step one

Prepare documents for application

SOP

An applicant’s statement of purpose is very important and is given careful consideration in the selection process.
There is no specific word limit, but be concise and specific in preparing your statement, giving information that demonstrates your level of preparation and potential for success in graduate school.The statement of purpose must be submitted online through the UC San Diego Application for Graduate Admission.

LOR

Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. Additional letters may be submitted, however, you must submit a minimum of three (3) letters
It is important that letters of recommendation be completed by individuals who are in a position to analyze your abilities and academic promise. References generally hold an academic position. Letters from research or project advisors are also acceptable, as well as LORs from a professional/industry referee.

A resume or curriculum vitae should be uploaded to the online application under the Resume/CV section

Step two

Additional documents required

UCSD Application for Graduate Admission
Academic transcripts are required
GRE scores
Proof of English Language Proficiency scores
Copy of Passport

Step three

Start your online application

https://gradapply.ucsd.edu/

Step four

Application fees for this course

USD 140 = INR 13.4 Thousand

Mode of payment: Credit card

The Triton Registration Installment Plan (TRIP) is available for students to pay their mandatory tuition and registration fees in three monthly installments rather than in one lump sum payment
The non-refundable enrollment fee of $40 is due each quarter TRIP is used

Step five

Application deadline

Fall (Sept): 29th July

*The dates specified are tentative dates as per the previous year records. Our expert counselors can help with exact deadline date. Connect with the expert now!

Master of Science in Data Science
at
UC San Diego
Rankings

Course Ranking

University Ranking

Rank	Rank Publisher
#4	Biomedical Engineering PG US News & World Report, 2026
#9	Biological Sciences QS, 2026
#27	Life Sciences THE (Times Higher Education), 2026

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University of California - San Diego Campus
Students Ratings & Reviews

2.8/5

2 Verified Reviews Info Icon

Student Views (Based on Reviews)

0% students never faced discrimination in this university

Vibe of Campus

Stressful

Multi-dimensional

Academically oriented

Internships2.5

Part time work2

Post study jobs2

Quality of faculty3

Student Life2

Value for money2

Public transportation4

Safety5

Indian Food4

Permanent Immigration1.5

Shrivaths Shyam

M.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering - Batch of 2024

4.9

Friendly faculty and staffs.

Tips: I have become more independent and have learnt to survive but the cultural shift was easy to manage for me because of the friends I made here. I got a research assistantship in a lab and was able to pay for my expenses throughout my second year of master's. I am very satisfied with the university, course and country.

Likes (Quality of faculty): Professors are friendly and they have a variety of materials with which they teach. They are easily approachable either via email or even during their office hours and sometimes in person as well. Professors are from different countries and the diversity is big here.

Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): The chance to settle in this country is a little less given the different rules and regulations, but once an employer sponsors an H-1B visa and does your permanent residency processing you can continue to live as long as you have a job. If given the chance I would like to permanently immigrate to this country.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1000

Prepping time for classes40 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 100000

Reviewed on 31 Dec 2025Read more

Deepak Sridhar

MS in Signal and Image Processing - Batch of 2027

4.2

Good courses, faculty, research and career options make UCSD a top choice

Tips: Students should look at the cost of living and financial aid options before joining the campus as it is generally expensive to live around San Diego area. Students should clearly be prepared in choosing their track either industry or academic research and start preparing for it from day one. The courses require prior requisites and so students have to carefully look at the track they choose relevant to their interests and put in efforts to achieve their goals. Teaching assistantships are very competitive but might be available during the second year of your program. You'll have to do well on the courses and maintain good contact with the professor if you are looking to get one. Some students get TAs outside their department which is an option to consider. Courses are rigorous and the quarter system is fast-paced. So one has to adapt to this structure.

Likes (Safety): The college administration considers safety to be of utmost importance with annual safety reviews happening every year. Any safety is immediately published to make you aware of the incidents. The campus has security officers to report to even at night times. The area around campus is filled with student population, so there is no concern for safety.

Dislikes (Permanent Immigration): Due to the H1B immigration system, permanent immigration system is convoluted although it might take longer than expected. There are no specifics to the university, this is general for all US universities. Given a chance I would immigrate to this country especially considering the state-the-art work done at many companies

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1400

Prepping time for classes25 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 150000

Reviewed on 11 Feb 2024Read more

Anonymous

B.S. in Economics - Batch of 2027

2.6

San Diego is one of the safest cities in the US.

Tips: I would recommend coming abroad for Masters. I became more independent living abroad and I did not unnecessarily face any cultural shock since I came from an international school. People here definitely like to do a lot of the stuff by themselves. I like more of a sense of community.

Likes (Safety): San Diego is one of the safest cities in the US. There is campus security, but the dorms do not have security guards. There's a helpline number that can be contacted at any point of the day and the San Diego police are usually quick with the way they approach things. I have never had to use any of the services personally.

Dislikes (Post study jobs): The job market is not doing well right now and it's hard to build a network. There are career fair but no one really guides you through the process and you need to figure it out for urself. If you avail all of the university help, then it could be worthwhile but you really need to put yourself out there.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 350

Prepping time for classes3 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD 80025

Reviewed on 2 Feb 2026Read more

Anonymous

Master of Science in Computer Engineering - Batch of 2027

3.0

The college has its pros and cons.

Tips: The college is academically oriented and the social life here is very less. The quarter system moves very fast and it is hard to learn something new given the very little time we get. Students barely get time to study or do things that will make them learn and implement something new, unless you hyper specialize in a particular area.

Likes (Safety): The area around the campus is pretty much safe with very few homeless people. There's public transport like shuttle buses from student housing and campus, but the frequency of that reduces after 6 and stops after 9 or 10 PM. It's safe to walk back to the graduate student housing in the night, although I haven't heard many bad experiences doing so, it's still advisable not to walk back alone in the night and have at least another person with you.

Dislikes (Student Life): The college is not very socially active and there are barely any student gatherings or meet-ups, so it's socially dead and it's not like other colleges in the East Coast, where students get time to party and chill. This is a pretty rigorous and fast paced college, so student life takes a hit.

Total Monthly ExpenseUSD 1500

Prepping time for classes23 hours/Week

Expected Annual SalaryUSD

Reviewed on 25 Nov 2025Read more

View All 4 Reviews

Master of Science in Data Science
at
UC San Diego
Highlights

The field of Data Science spans mathematical models, computational methods, and analysis tools for navigating and understanding data and applying these skills to a broad and emerging range of application domains.
The goal of the masters program is to teach students knowledge and skills required to be successful at performing data driven tasks, and lay the foundation for future researchers who can expand the boundaries of knowledge in Data Science itself. To meet its goals, the Master of Science in Data Science (MS/DS) program consists of two components: formal courses, as well as a terminating thesis or a course-directed comprehensive examinatio
The goal of the master’s program is to teach students knowledge and skills required to be successful at performing data driven tasks, and lay the foundation for future researchers who can expand the boundaries of knowledge in Data Science itself. To meet its goals, the Master of Science in Data Science (MS-DS) program consists of two components: formal courses, as well as a terminating thesis or a course-directed comprehensive examination
A specialization requires a minimum of three courses in a specialization area:
Bioengineering
Business (Marketing)
Business (Supply Chain and Technology)
Business (Finance)
Machine Vision and Interaction Design
Computational Neuroscience
Networks