Arriving on Campus
Once you arrive on campus be sure to take care of all your academic and financial matters. Contact your Graduate Coordinator or the Office of Graduate Studies for assistance.
Registration
Enrollment and registration materials for new graduate students will be available in your academic department. Detailed information on enrollment and registration procedures is provided in the Schedule of Classes, which can be accessed on the web through tritonlink.ucsd.edu.
Check with your department for possible changes in the Schedule of Classes before registering. The UCSD General Catalog contains detailed course descriptions and is available at the UCSD Bookstore and online at www.ucsd.edu/catalog. After registering (paying fees), students obtain a photo I.D. card from Student Business Services, 3rd Floor Student Service Center, (858) 822-4SBS. Additional information is also available at sbs.ucsd.edu.
Establishing Residency
Students seeking classification as a resident for tuition purposes must have established residence in California for more than one year immediately preceding the residence determination date for the term during which s/he proposes to attend the University. The student must have relinquished any previous residence. The residency deputy is the only person authorized to advise on residency matters. Additional information is available at the . Inquiries should be directed to the Residence Deputy at the Office of the Registrar residencedeputy@ucsd.edu, (858) 534-4586.
Indications of your intent to make California your permanent residence can include the following: registering to vote and voting in California elections; designating California as your permanent address on all school and employment records, including military records if you are in the military; obtaining a California driver's license or, if you do not drive, a California Identification Card; obtaining California vehicle registration; paying California income taxes as a resident, including taxes on income earned outside California from the date you establish residence; establishing a California residence in which you keep your personal belongings; and licensing for professional practice in California. Your intent will be questioned if you return to your former state of residence when the University is not in session. Documentary evidence is required and all relevant indications will be considered in determining your classification.
Automobile Registration
If you are considering becoming a California resident, you must register your vehicle. If the car is registered in your name and you are a resident of the state in which you purchased it, license plates will generally continue to be valid until the expiration date, but for no longer than one year from the date first used in California. This is true even though the license plate may be valid for more than one year in your home state. For further information on vehicle registration contact the Department of Motor Vehicles at (800) 777-0133 or visit their web site at www.dmv.ca.gov.
Driver's License
If you drive a vehicle and plan to establish residency in California, you must obtain a California driver's license within ten days after your arrival in San Diego. Proof of Auto Insurance is also required in San Diego. For Department of Motor Vehicle locations and information call the DMV of San Diego County at (800) 777-0133 or visit their website at www.dmv.ca.gov.
Voting
To register, U.S. citizens must be at least eighteen years of age and a resident of San Diego County for one day or more with a permanent address. For further information on voting contact the Registrar of Voters at (858) 565-5800 or visit their web site at www.sdvote.com. Students who plan to establish California residency should first consult with the residency deputy in the UCSD Office of the Registrar prior to making arrangements to vote by absentee ballot in their home state. Students are strongly encouraged to actively participate in the community; voting is one way to do so.
International Center
If you are neither a U.S. citizen nor a Permanent Resident of the United States, please pay an early visit to the UCSD International Center located between Mandeville Lane and Library Walk. The International Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
As soon as they arrive, all international students, professors, and researchers are required to do two things:
- Check In - Bring your passport, I-94 card, I-20 or DS-2019, and any other related document(s) so that you can complete check in. (F-1 and J-1 students must check in before SEVIS registration can be completed.)
- Attend Orientation - All new international graduate students are required to attend a mandatory orientation session. To register for orientation, please visit http://isso.ucsd.edu/students/admitted.html. (Weekly orientation sessions are also held for international professors and researchers.)
New international graduate students, particularly those coming from other U.S. institutions, need to check in or complete the necessary transfer process at the International Center before they can receive funds from UCSD. For more information contact the International Center at (858) 534-3730, or visit their web site: isso.ucsd.edu.
