The University of California , San Diego offers admission to those applicants who have the highest potential for graduate study and who, with the benefit of graduate education, are most likely to contribute substantially to society and to their academic or professional fields through teaching, research, or professional practice. Because the academic and professional community benefits from a diverse membership, and because the educational experience is enhanced by a diverse student body, the university views as a high priority the enrollment of men and women from different social and economic backgrounds and from different cultural and demographic groups. Successful efforts at overcoming socio-economic, educational, or physical disadvantages are viewed, in combination with other factors, as indicators of future performance.

The graduate admission process provides a great deal of autonomy to individual degree-granting programs. The faculty in each program reviews the applications and recommends admission or denial to the graduate dean. Admission decisions are based on the quality of the applicant's academic degrees and record, the statement of purpose, letters of recommendation from professors or others familiar with the applicant's academic work, performance in aptitude and achievement tests as appropriate, relevant work experience, preparation in the proposed field of study, the fit between the applicant's goals and the program, and between the applicant's research interests and those of the program's faculty. Some programs have additional admission criteria that applicants must meet.

By the time they enroll, successful applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution in the United States or from a recognized university-level academic institution abroad. At least a B average or its equivalent is normally required for admission. Satisfaction of minimal standards does not, however, guarantee admission, since the number of qualified applicants far exceeds the number of places available. As a consequence, many well-qualified applicants cannot be accommodated.