San Diego

The University of San Diego is focused on student welfare. Freshmen are required to live on-campus in assigned college housing.

Traditional First-Year Housing Options

• Camino

• Founders

• Maher Hall

• Valley A

• Valley B

• Valley Apartments, such as the San Buenaventura

Housing Requirements

• A housing contract and a prepayment of USD 200 are required to self-select the rooms

• Unmarried students below 20 years require an agreement from their legal guardians

• For students above 20 years, there is an option to enter into two-year agreements

• The seats are limited; hence, the selection is on a first-come-first-served basis

• The housing portal helps students choose room conditions, appliances, etc.

Housing Expenses

The expenses vary with choices of students/residents. These depend on:

1. Choice of the housing area and room

2. Appliances and conditions

3. Meal plan

Source: University of San Diego

The super-single rooms are double or triple rooms converted to single rooms. The availability of rooms depends on the number of residents and the intake. The seats to super-single, single, and double rooms are limited.

Cost of Living

The living expenses that international students might incur during their time of education for the academic year 2020-2021 have been specified by the university as follows:

Source: University of San Diego

*1 USD = 83.15 INR

International students must keep into account these and other miscellaneous costs along with the tuition fee while preparing their overall budget.

Note:Living costs vary depending on students’ lifestyle choices. Additionally, housing and dining rates are subject to change with progressive years. To know the exact costs of on or off-campus accommodation, please check the university’s accommodations webpage.

The University of San Diego has a single huge campus sprawling across 180 acres of land located in San Diego, California. Perched on a pristine canyon, the campus is easily navigable and pedestrian-friendly. It boasts:

• Member, West Coast Conference and Pioneer Football League

• 17 NCAA Division I teams and 23 sports clubs

• Fitness training through numerous recreation clubs

• 9 each of national fraternities and sororities

• Student Life Pavilion offering amazing dining options, a full-service market, engaging student activities, etc.

• A residential campus with 93% of freshman and 43% of undergraduates

• 10 separate living areas, with options to choose from shared rooms to independent apartments

The step-by-step process to apply San Diego’s undergraduate courses has been explained by the university as follows:

Step 1: Visit the US Common Undergraduate Application Portal at apply.commonapp.org/login.

Step 2: Create an account on the Common App portal. Click on Apply for First-Year for fresh applications.

Step 3: Click on ‘first-year student’.

Step 4: Fill in your details, email ID, name, phone number, etc. Create a password according to the instructions given. The password should be noted for future reference.

Step 5: After filling in the data and checking the boxes, you can sign in and proceed with the instructions sent to your email.

Next, wait for the results.

The step-by-step process to apply as an international graduate through the San Diego application portal is as follows:

Step 1: Visit the university website and sign in if you have an existing account.

Step 2: Choose the programme and intake in which you wish to study.

Step 3: Check the details and click on ‘Continue To My Application’.

Step 4: Fill in all the sections.

Next, wait for the results.

All the courses at USD are taught in English therefore it is required to submit an IELTS score for the applicants to get admission.

English Requirements for International Students

International students coming from non-English-speaking countries, such as India, need to prove their language proficiency through either of the following standardized English exam scores:

Note: These are generic requirements for graduates and undergraduates aspiring to study at the university. Some of the courses may have higher score requirements or different academic and language requirements.

Please refer to the intended course page on the university website to check the exact limit on each course.

The requirements vary for first-year applicants and transfer applicants. Also, the application process is different for domestic and international applicants.

The eligibility criteria and language requirements for applying to different programs offered to international students at San Diego are:

Eligibility Requirements for Undergraduates

• A minimum of C grade or a 3.0 grade point average is required to be eligible for admission.

• Before senior year, applicants should also qualify for a certain number of courses, depending on their departments.

• Apart from their academic achievements, the qualities and abilities of students are assessed through the letters of recommendation and essays they submit.

• Subject Requirements: The specifications for admissions vary, depending on every subject’s requirements. The subject-specific requirements for undergraduates that can be referred to as follows:

Eligibility Requirements for Graduates and Postgraduates

Students must have an undergraduate or bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution to be a part of a graduate/postgraduate programme in the university.

• Country-Specific Requirements for Indian Students

Class 12 Board examination or plus two qualifications are essential. Transcripts from the respective university are required for admission. Students need a minimum of 3.4 grade points. It is mandatory to have the documents required for admission in English. Otherwise, they must be translated into English. Also, students should prove their proficiency in English.

• Indian Undergraduates: The general requirements can be higher, depending on specific courses. The university will not consider ACT or SAT scores till fall 2024.

• Indian Graduates/Postgraduates: Depending on the specification of each department, students have to qualify for GRE or GMAT. The university also considers the experiences and personal attributes of applicants.