UC Master of Science in Data ScienceUniversity 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 and specific about preparation and potential for graduate school.

CV or resume

Highlight academic history, relevant work, skills, publications, and honors/awards.

Recommendation letters x 3

Minimum of three letters, submitted by the application deadline.

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; UC San Diego GEPA generally requires a B average (3.0/4.0) or equivalent.
Prerequisites: Quantitative background; No specific undergraduate major required. The admissions committee typically looks for experience in numerical linear algebra, probability/statistics, and programming languages.
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; GRE not required for Fall 2027 MS and PhD applications; scores may still be included if already taken.

Historical admission data is not published.