Rankings
How every major ranking places the University of California, San Diego. Lower is better.
Strongest subjects in the QS subject rankings (2025):
Postgraduate courses by field
Number of courses and typical yearly tuition for international students.
| Field | Courses | Typical fee | Courses in Course Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engineering & technology | 18 | $28,824 | See → |
| Natural sciences | 16 | $28,824 | See → |
| Humanities & languages | 11 | $28,824 | See → |
| Computer science & data technology | 8 | $28,824 | See → |
| Arts, design & creative studies | 7 | $28,824 | See → |
| Life sciences & biotechnology | 6 | $28,824 | See → |
| Education & teaching | 5 | $28,824 | See → |
| Public health & allied health | 5 | $28,824 | See → |
| Social sciences | 5 | $28,824 | See → |
| Psychology | 4 | $28,824 | See → |
| Business & management | 3 | $47,632 | See → |
| Economics, finance & accounting | 3 | $78,950 | See → |
| Law, politics & governance | 2 | $28,824 | See → |
Costs and entry
12 publish an application deadline for international students.
Jobs after studying at the University of California, San Diego
The job market for the University of California, San Diego's biggest fields, and how graduates stay to work in the US.
Questions students ask
How much does a postgraduate course at the University of California, San Diego cost?
Typical tuition for international students is about $28,824 a year. Most courses last 2 years. Fees vary by field: economics, finance & accounting courses are typically $78,950, engineering & technology $28,824.
How is the University of California, San Diego ranked?
The University of California, San Diego is ranked #66 by QS (2026), #47 by Times Higher Education (2026) and #20 by ARWU (2025) in the world. Its strongest QS subjects include Pharmacy & Pharmacology (#7) and Biological Sciences (#11).
What IELTS score does the University of California, San Diego need for a postgraduate course?
Most postgraduate courses (12 of the 12 that list it) ask for IELTS 7 overall.
How many postgraduate courses does the University of California, San Diego offer?
93 postgraduate courses across 13 fields; the largest are engineering & technology (18), natural sciences (16) and humanities & languages (11).
Shortlisting the University of California, San Diego?
Compare its courses side by side with other universities, or let UNIFER handle your applications for one flat fee.
Updated 21 September 2026. Courses and fees from the University of California, San Diego's own course pages; fees converted to US dollars. Rankings: QS World University Rankings 2026, Times Higher Education 2026, ARWU 2025, QS subject rankings 2025.