UC Master of Science in Computer EngineeringUniversity of California, San Diego · La Jolla, California, United States

Program Overview

Dates and tuition are specific to the 2027 intake

Please check the official program website (link below) for specific writing guidelines

Statement of purpose

No specific word limit; be concise. Address past CS/CE accomplishments, qualifications, and graduate-school goals.

Recommendation letters x 3

Minimum of three letters. Academic recommenders preferred; research/project advisors and professional/industry referees are also accepted.

Unofficial transcript(s)

From all post-secondary institutions attended. Official transcripts typically required only if admitted.

Academic: Bachelor's degree with GPA 3.0/4.0; At least a B average (3.0 GPA) or equivalent required.
Prerequisites: Relevant academic background; Bachelor's in computer science, computer engineering, electrical engineering, or mathematics preferred. Other disciplines considered with equivalent minimum CSE coursework.
IELTS: 7.0 overall; University-wide GEPA Band Score 7 minimum.
TOEFL: New scale: 4.5 overall | Old scale: 85 overall; University-wide GEPA minimum for the new iBT scale.; University-wide GEPA minimum (previous iBT scale). Some programs may set a higher threshold.
GRE: Optional; CSE stated GRE is not required for PhD and MS applications for Fall 2026; applicants may still submit valid scores.

Historical admission data is not published.