Marine Biodiversity and Conservation

Admissions Requirements

The Marine Biodiversity and Conservation Admissions Committee reviews all applications holistically and considers the following required items:

• Statement of Purpose: In ~750 words, describe your interest in this field, demonstrated commitment to the ocean, and rationale for applying to the program. Please explain why you are applying to the MAS MBC Program and what you hope to achieve with this degree.
• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education with a preferred minimum 3.0 GPA
• Resume/CV
• Three (3) Letters of Recommendation
• College Transcripts
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): OR Duolingo English Test (DET) for international applicants only,
  • TOEFL minimum score is 85 (iBT) or 550 (PBT), or 7 IELTS
  • DET minimum score is 120 (out of 160) 
• The MBC program is committed to equity and social justice in the environmental field and are looking for applicants who share that commitment.
• The GRE is not required. You may submit GRE/GMAT results if you feel they will greatly strengthen your application
• The application asks for preliminary Capstone ideas. Applications do not need to include an endorsement of a Capstone advisor and reaching out to faculty is not expected. 

Application Process

To begin the application, all students must create a UC San Diego account:
Register at: https://connect.grad.ucsd.edu/apply 
Under "Program Selector," indicate: 
Degree Type: Master of Advanced Studies
Program Interest: Marine Biodiversity and Conservation (SI83)
Term: Summer 2026

The application for 2026-2027 is open from Sept 3rd, 2025 to January 21st, 2026. 
See below for application timeline.

The application includes an application fee of $135 for U.S. citizens and permanent residents, and $155 for international applicants that can be paid with a major credit card. Applicants may qualify for a fee waiver upon verification of need-based federal aid, financial hardship, U.S. Military Service, or graduate prep program participation.

If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact us at: mbc@ucsd.edu