Apply to the MDes.
The first MDes cohort begins in September 2027. Key dates for the application cycle:
Application Opens
Mid-Sept 2026
Priority Deadline
December 1, 2026
Final Deadline
January 6, 2027
Offers Sent
Late March
Decision Day
April 15, 2027
Applying by the priority deadline (December 1, 2026) brings earlier consideration for fellowships. The application portal stays open until March 15, 2027; late applications are reviewed as capacity allows.
Meet the program
Virtual Info Session
Online · Zoom · [date TBA]
An hour with the program team: an overview of the MDes, how admissions works, and open Q&A. A good first step when deciding whether to apply.
Campus Open House
In person · Design and Innovation Building, La Jolla · [date TBA]
Tour the studios and makerspace, meet faculty and current researchers, and see where the learning will happen.
How to apply
Applications are submitted online. Applications received by the published deadlines receive priority. The application portal stays open until March 15, 2027, and late applications are reviewed as capacity allows.
Requirements Checklist
All applicants must submit:
• Transcripts from all degree-granting institutions (unofficial accepted for review; official required upon enrollment)
• Statement of Purpose (1,000 words maximum)
• Résumé or CV
• Two letters of recommendation (a third is welcome), submitted directly by recommenders through the application portal. Choose recommenders who know you well and can speak in specific detail about your academic or professional work.
• Design portfolio (see Portfolio Requirements below)
• English language proficiency documentation, required for non-native English speakers (see below)
GRE: Recommended but not required.
Prior design degree: Not required. Applicants do need a completed bachelor’s degree, in any field.
English proficiency: Applicants whose native language is not English must submit TOEFL or IELTS scores.
GPA: Applicants must meet the UC San Diego Graduate Division minimum of a 3.0 GPA (on a 4.0 scale) for graduate admission.
Portfolio Requirements
Your portfolio is an opportunity to show how your education or experience has prepared you for the Master of Design. It shows us not just what you’ve made, but how you think and how you work.
Format:
• Single PDF, 20 pages maximum
• Maximum file size: 20 MB
• You may include a link to an online portfolio or professional website
What to include:
Show us 3–5 projects that reflect your range and depth. Each project should communicate your process, not just your outcome; the problem you were investigating, the methods you used, the decisions you made, and what you learned. We are more interested in evidence of rigorous thinking than in polished presentation.
If you don’t have a traditional design portfolio:
The MDes admits students from many non-design backgrounds. If your background is in engineering, research, public health, policy, or another adjacent field, your portfolio might include: process documentation from technical projects, evidence of user or community research, service or systems work, writing that demonstrates design thinking, or other artifacts that show how you approach complex problems. When in doubt, show your process.
Fees & Funding
Program costs: The MDes is a self-supporting graduate professional degree program.
Financial aid: The program is committed to diversity and access for all. A limited number of student fellowships will be available, and applicants who apply by the priority deadline receive earlier consideration. As the program grows, we expect to expand financial support.
TA and GSR eligibility: Students enrolled in the MDes are not eligible for GSR positions within the program. Students may serve as teaching assistants in other UC San Diego units if hired by those units; the hiring unit would be responsible for tuition remission.
Key Dates for 2027–2028 Academic Year Admissions
➔ Degree |
Master of Design (MDes) |
➔ Program Start |
September, 2027 |
➔ Application Opens |
Mid-September 2026 |
➔ Priority Deadline |
December 1, 2026 |
➔ Final Deadline |
January 6, 2027 |
➔ Decision Notification |
March 1, 2027 |
➔ Admit Response Deadline |
April 15, 2027 |
➔ Application Fee |
$155 – $185 |
Contact / Request Info
Browse our FAQ for quick answers to most questions. Still need help? Email the program team at MDes@ucsd.edu and we’ll get back to you.
