UC Riverside is one of the ten University of California campuses, in the Inland Empire east of Los Angeles. It is best known for agriculture and plant science, entomology, engineering and business, and for ranking among the top US universities for social mobility. Choose it for a UC degree with a friendly, less competitive campus than Berkeley or UCLA.
Riverside, United States
Official website: ucr.edu
#497
No. 1 in the US (U.S. News, several years)
Top 5 in the world (Center for World University Rankings)
One of ten campuses in the world's leading public university system
$30,000 – $50,000
International students, non-resident undergraduate and master's rates
$16,000 – $22,000
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on ucr.edu before you apply.
MS Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 80
MS Electrical Engineering
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 80
MBA (School of Business)
Masters DegreeDuration
21 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 80
Master of Professional Accountancy
Masters DegreeDuration
9 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 80
MS Data Science
Masters DegreeDuration
18 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 80
BS Computer Science
Bachelors DegreeDuration
48 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 80
Part of the University of California — the world's leading public university system.
Agriculture and entomology — a citrus research station since 1907 and world-leading insect science.
Ranked No. 1 in the US for social mobility for several years.
Bourns College of Engineering — a fast-growing school strong in computer science.
Graduates join Amazon, Northrop Grumman, Kaiser Permanente, Esri and southern California's logistics and tech firms.
STEM master's graduates can work in the US for up to three years on OPT.
Engineering and CS bachelor's graduates report median starting salaries around USD 75,000-85,000.
Plant science and entomology alumni work in agri-tech, government agencies and research institutes.
Undergrad
30 Nov 2026
Postgrad
Varies by programme
The 1,900-acre campus lies at the foot of the Box Springs Mountains, with the Bell Tower at its centre, the botanic gardens on its eastern edge and the engineering buildings to the north.
Riverside is a city of about 320,000 people an hour east of Los Angeles, with lower rent than the coast, hot summers and mountains and desert within reach. A car helps.
Form I-20 issued by UC Riverside
Proof of funds for one academic year
SEVIS I-901 fee payment receipt
Completed DS-160 online application
US embassy or consulate interview
Passport valid six months beyond stay
Undergraduates apply through the University of California application, which opens 1 October and closes 30 November 2026 for fall 2027 entry; there is no early round. Graduate deadlines are set by each programme, with most engineering and computer science master's closing between 1 January and 1 March.
UC Riverside admits undergraduates for the fall quarter (late September) only. Nearly all graduate programmes are also fall entry, though a few accept winter or spring applicants. Check your programme's page, as off-cycle admission is rare.
You need an F-1 student visa. The International Students and Scholars office issues your Form I-20 once you accept the offer and submit financial documents. Then pay the SEVIS fee, complete the DS-160 and attend an interview at a US embassy or consulate.
Computer science, electrical engineering, the MBA, professional accountancy and data science attract the most international applicants. Graduate admission needs a bachelor's degree with a GPA of at least 3.0, TOEFL 80 or IELTS 7.0, and the GRE for some programmes. Undergraduate admission is holistic, with an acceptance rate around 70%.
UC Riverside offers no need-based aid to international undergraduates, so plan to fund the full non-resident cost. Graduate students can apply for teaching and research assistantships and fellowships, which often cover tuition and pay a stipend. Ask your department about funding when you apply.
