Undergraduate Students

While International undergraduate students are not eligible for federal aid, other options may be available to help cover educational costs. Check these sources for more information on campus support and resources for international students:

• The International Students & Programs Office (ISPO)
• Global Education, which provides advice and resources
• Finances for international undergraduate students
• Outside agency scholarships for international students
• Scholarships on FASTWeb, a free online scholarship search
• Private Loan Programs

UC San Diego is dedicated to assisting veteran and military-connected students in achieving their higher educational goals. Depending on the type of benefits you are receiving from the Veterans Administration, UC San Diego may offer financial aid that can work in conjunction with your VA benefits.

For more information about using federal and state VA educational benefits at UC San Diego, including contact information for the Veteran Benefits office, please visit the Veterans Benefits website.

Please note: students using both military affiliated benefits and financial aid may experience revisions to their financial aid offer.

To be considered for state and institutional aid including grants, need-based scholarships, and university loans, undocumented AB540 eligible students must submit the CA Dream Act Application (CADAA) by the priority filing deadline of March 2 each year for maximum financial aid consideration.

• Before submitting the CADAA, be sure that you’ve applied for AB540 status and that your status has been approved.

The Undocumented Student Services Center is available to offer additional support. Center staff are committed to serving our undocumented students and their families through holistic services and strongly advocate for generating a sense of community for all students who are undocumented or come from mixed immigration-status families.

• FAFSA filers: Create your FSA ID at StudentAid.gov
  - Your FSA ID is your username and password for your StudentAid.gov account. You and anyone contributing to your online FAFSA form* will need an FSA ID.
  
  
• Gather the Information You Will Need to Complete the 2026-27 Financial Aid Application
  You and anyone contributing to your FAFSA or CADAA will need 2024 income tax returns (if eligible to file), records of investments and assets, Social Security Numbers*, child support information (if applicable), and other personal information. Learn more about FAFSA requirements for 2026-27 here.
  
  
• Talk with your Contributors and Learn About Consent to Direct Data Exchange
  All contributors must provide consent for Federal Student Aid (FSA) to verify their identity and to access their Federal Tax Information (FTI) from the Internal Revenue Services (IRS) regardless of the 2024 filing status. All contributors will need to answer questions about income and assets as appropriate.
  
  
• Research and Apply for Scholarships
  One of the best ways you can spend your time as you await the financial aid application is to research and apply for external scholarships. Scholarship searches and applications do take time, but every scholarship dollar received helps reduce the cost of your education and may minimize the amount of loan you borrow. Note: If you are not yet a UC student, your admissions application will act as your scholarship application for the first academic year. You are still strongly encouraged to apply for external scholarship opportunities in addition to any aid you may be offered by the institution.
  
  
• Fulfill Institutional Requirements
  Submitting your FAFSA/CADAA is the first step to financial aid consideration, but your institution may request additional documentation in order to provide a financial aid offer. Please be sure to submit any document requests by your institution's priority deadline to avoid any delays.
  
  
• Submit your FAFSA or CADAA by the March 2 priority deadline to receive 2025-26 financial aid
  offers in time to make an informed college choice!