University of California, San Diego

• Resume or CVRequired

  Submit your up-to-date resume or CV.

• TranscriptsRequired

  Upload PDF or Word copies of transcripts in the online application, or have institutions send records. If admitted, official transcripts of all prior academic work are required. International applicants only: all international transcripts require an official translation into English by a certified translator, and international applicants must submit a certified copy of their diploma. After provisional admission, holders of non-U.S. degrees must submit a Course-by-Course evaluation (WES ICAP or TEC) showing the completed degree.

• Recommendations2 letters

  Recommendations should come from individuals in a position to analyze your ability and academic promise. No academic/professional split is specified.

  All applicants must submit two recommendations; online submission is highly encouraged.

• GMAT or GRE

  The school’s official pages say this differently. Here is what each one says — check with the school before you rely on it.

  GMAT (optional)

  The GMAT/GRE requirement is optional. If you include scores, the application is incomplete and won't be reviewed until official scores are received and verified. Only a GMAT score from a single sitting is evaluated; a GMAT Superscore may be submitted as supplemental information.

  MSBA Admissions ↗

  GMAT or GRE (catalog wording: required)

  The General Catalog's MSBA 'Requirements for Admission' lists 'Either official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or official Graduate Records Exam (GRE) scores' among the admission criteria.

  Management, Rady School of (UC San Diego General Catalog) ↗

  GRE (optional)

  The GMAT/GRE requirement is optional. If you include scores, the application is incomplete and won't be reviewed until official scores are received and verified.

  MSBA Admissions ↗

  GRE or GMAT (catalog wording: required)

  The General Catalog's MSBA 'Requirements for Admission' lists 'Either official Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) or official Graduate Records Exam (GRE) scores' among the admission criteria.

  Management, Rady School of (UC San Diego General Catalog) ↗
• Duolingo English Test, IELTS Academic, PTE Academic or TOEFL iBTIf your degree wasn't taught in EnglishRequired

  Duolingo English Test: Minimum total score 120 (out of 160). Valid two years from the test date. Scores must be sent electronically from Duolingo to 'University of California – San Diego – Rady School of Management'. UC San Diego has no preference among the accepted tests (Duolingo, TOEFL, IELTS, PTE).

  IELTS Academic: University-wide minimum Band Score 7. Valid two years from the test date. Official results must be sent by the IELTS test center; unofficial Test Report Form copies are not accepted. UC San Diego has no preference among the accepted tests (Duolingo, TOEFL, IELTS, PTE).

  PTE Academic: Minimum overall score 65. Select UC San Diego as a score recipient and send a copy of scores to Rady Graduate Admissions; include your registration ID and exam date on the application. Score validity not stated. UC San Diego has no preference among the accepted tests (Duolingo, TOEFL, IELTS, PTE).

  TOEFL iBT: University-wide minimum 85 (iBT) or 4.5 on the new TOEFL scale; competitive scores for Rady are above 100. Valid two years from the test date. TOEFL MyBest scores are not accepted. UC San Diego has no preference among the accepted tests (Duolingo, TOEFL, IELTS, PTE).

  Waiver / exemption: Required of all international applicants. Exempt if you have earned or will earn a bachelor's, master's or doctoral degree with grades of B (3.0) or better from a regionally accredited U.S. college or university where English is the sole language of instruction, or from a foreign institution that instructs solely in English as shown in the IAU World Higher Education Database (WHED). No other documentation (letters, certificates, school websites) can replace WHED for the exemption.

• Live interview (by request)If invited

  The Rady Admissions Office reserves the right to request live interviews in certain cases.

• Asynchronous online interview (by invitation)Required

  After a complete application is reviewed, the admissions committee may invite you to interview. Interviews are required for admission, are by invitation only, and are completed on an online, asynchronous interviewing platform (platform not named).

Who can apply

• Bachelor's degree conferred before the program startsRequired

  The undergraduate degree must be conferred by the first day of instruction (late July); concurrent enrollment is not allowed. 3-year undergraduate degrees are accepted; equivalency to a 4-year degree is evaluated by UC San Diego Graduate Division if nominated for admission.

• College-level calculusRequired

  'A solid foundation in college-level calculus, probability, and statistics are essential'; a rigorous mathematical background is helpful but not mandatory.

• Linear algebra, econometrics, advanced statistics (recommended preparation)Optional

  Coursework in calculus, linear algebra, econometrics, and advanced statistics and probability will prepare you for the program.

• Machine-learning frameworks (TensorFlow, PyTorch)Optional

  Not always strictly required for entry, but familiarity with frameworks like TensorFlow or PyTorch makes a candidate stand out.

• Probability and statisticsRequired

  'A solid foundation in college-level calculus, probability, and statistics are essential' for understanding machine-learning and AI algorithms.

• Programming proficiency (Python, R, SQL)Required

  Candidates must demonstrate existing computational skills: demonstrated proficiency in Python, R and SQL is critical; familiarity with Java or C++ is a strong asset. Familiarity with databases (SQL/NoSQL), networking and operating systems shows that a candidate is ready to learn advanced cloud and data engineering concepts.

• STEM undergraduate degree (highly favored)Optional

  Undergraduate degrees in STEM disciplines (computer science, engineering, mathematics, physics, statistics) are highly favored; business, economics or social-science graduates are accepted if they have proven quantitative ability through extra coursework.

• Work experience (preferred, not required)Optional

  No work experience is required, but two years of professional experience in software engineering, data analytics or business intelligence roles are preferred.

• Essay 1 · RequiredProvide details regarding your experience with computational programming (for example, C++) and with statistical, econometrics and mathematical applications and tools (for example, SAS, Stata, MatLab, R, S-Plus, Mathematica).

  Provide details regarding your experience with computational programming (for example, C++) and with statistical, econometrics and mathematical applications and tools (for example, SAS, Stata, MatLab, R, S-Plus, Mathematica).

• Essay 2 · Required · 500 wordsThe Rady MSBA trains people who can lead teams and organizations through fast, disruptive technological change—work that depends as much on judgment, resilience, humility, and the ability to bring other people with you as it does on technical skill. Tell us a story about something you have done that shaped who you are: a pursuit, a role, a responsibility, or an experience that demanded sustained commitment over time and that sets you apart from other applicants with similar résumés. It does not need to relate to analytics, technology, or your career — we are far more interested in the journey than in the subject. In telling it, help us understand why you took it on and why it mattered to you; what it demanded of you; what setbacks or failures you faced and how you responded; and what it taught you about leading, collaborating with, or supporting other people. Close by telling us how that experience shows up in the way you work with a team today.

  The Rady MSBA trains people who can lead teams and organizations through fast, disruptive technological change—work that depends as much on judgment, resilience, humility, and the ability to bring other people with you as it does on technical skill. Tell us a story about something you have done that shaped who you are: a pursuit, a role, a responsibility, or an experience that demanded sustained commitment over time and that sets you apart from other applicants with similar résumés. It does not need to relate to analytics, technology, or your career — we are far more interested in the journey than in the subject. In telling it, help us understand why you took it on and why it mattered to you; what it demanded of you; what setbacks or failures you faced and how you responded; and what it taught you about leading, collaborating with, or supporting other people. Close by telling us how that experience shows up in the way you work with a team today.