Waiver Procedures

US citizens and permanent residents only may request a waiver of the application fee. All fee waiver requests are immediately approved provisionally, pending verification of eligibility.  Applicants must provide supporting documentation within 2 weeks of the date of submission of the application to finalize the fee waiver or the application will be put on hold.

In order to receive a fee waiver, you need to qualify in one of the following ways:

• Need-Based Financial Aid - Provide documentation of the federal need-based financial aid you have received such as a current SAR or FAFSA report.
• Financial Hardship - Provide copies of your most recent state or federal tax forms, specifically the pages that show the00 number of dependents and the adjusted gross income. Click on the Income Eligibility Guidelines link in the menu to the left to determine if you qualify.
• Graduate Prep Program Participation - UC San Diego provides a fee waiver for applicants who have participated in specific graduate programs. Note: Not all graduate preparation programs are eligible for the fee waiver. On the "Additional Information" page of the online application select the program in which you participated. Provide the name and email address of the program director. The UCSD Graduate Admissions staff will verify the graduate school preparation program information provided in your application.  If this verification cannot be completed, you will be asked to provide additional information or pay the application fee.

How to make an Application Fee Waiver Request

Note: Applicants  who qualify for an application fee waiver may make up to three applications. 

1. Complete the online application.
2. On the "Submit Application" page, click "Apply for Fee Waiver". Once the fee waiver has been requested, submit the application.
3. To finalize the request for an application fee waiver, print and complete the Application Fee Waiver Request Form and prepare the supporting documentation.
4. Documentation must be received within 2 weeks of the application submission date. You can either email the scanned request form and documentation to gradadmissions@ucsd.edu (preferred method), fax them to (858)822-5690, or mail them to: