Regents Scholarships

The Regents Scholarship, based on academic excellence, is the most prestigious scholarship awarded to UC undergraduate students. Regents Scholars receive an honorarium of up to $8,000, paid at up to $2,000 in each of their 4 undergraduate years, plus special privileges as outlined below.

Eligibility requirements

• Entering freshman (both California residents and non-residents)
• United States citizen or permanent resident
• Demonstrated academic excellence (strength and breadth of your high school academic program, test scores, grades and other academic criteria)

How to apply

1. File your UC Application for Admissions and Scholarships by the Nov. 30 deadline.
2. File your FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) by March 2 to demonstrate financial need.
   • Read more about FAFSA.
3. You don't need to file any other paperwork.
4. UCSD notifies recipients of Regents Scholarships in March, along with the admission notice.

Awards

Entering freshmen applying for the 2008-2009 academic year without demonstrated financial need receive a 4-year honorarium of up to $8,000 (up to $2,000 per year).

Entering freshmen who have demonstrated financial need receive additional scholarship and/or grant funds to meet the financial need for 4 undergraduate academic years, excluding any non-resident tuition costs.

Your FAFSA establishes your financial need.

Regents Scholarship benefits

• UCSD college of choice at time of admission

  Regents Scholars are guaranteed admission to the college of their choice at the time of admission.

  • Read more about UCSD's Six Colleges.

• Priority enrollment appointments

  You'll enroll in your initial Fall Quarter courses at freshman orientation. But after that, Regents Scholars have priority enrollment appointment times beginning the first Winter Quarter and continuing each quarter through 4 years of attendance at UCSD.

  • View your enrollment appointment time each upcoming quarter by checking the announcements on TritonLink's home page.
  • UCSD announces enrollment appointment dates and times for the next quarter on Monday of Week 5 of the current quarter.
  • If you don't receive an enrollment time on the first day of priority enrollment, please contact the Scholarship Office, (858) 534-3263.

• Extended housing benefits for 4 years

  Regents Scholars who annually meet all housing application, contract, and payment deadlines are guaranteed campus housing for 12 consecutive academic year quarters (compared to 6 consecutive academic year quarters for non-Regents students).

  • If you move off campus for any length of time (other than breaks, summer, or the UCDC exchange program), you'll void this housing guarantee.
  • Contact the Housing Department, (858) 534-1114, if you have questions about extended housing benefits.

• Increased library privileges

  Regents Scholars receive graduate-level borrowing privileges at each of the UCSD Libraries. These privileges include extended borrowing periods (you can check out most library books for up to 90 days) and film and video borrowing privileges (VHS tapes and DVDs from the Film and Video Collection).

  • Your library account will be ready the first time you check out library materials.
  • Visit the Circulation Desk at the Social Science & Humanities Library to speak to a librarian or pick up a flyer about your library privileges.
  • Read more about UCSD library services.

• Alumni Regents Scholarship consideration

  The Alumni Regents Scholarship is awarded to Regents Scholars who've demonstrated outstanding leadership. This award supplements the standard Regents Scholarship award.

  Award: $2,500 per year for 2 or 4 years.

  • The Alumni Regents Scholarship award is guaranteed for 2 years as long as you maintain a 3.0 cumulative GPA and complete 36 units per year.
  • The award will be renewed in your junior and senior years if the academic criteria are met and you verify your continued leadership involvement while attending UCSD.
  • In addition to the monetary award, you'll be offered special access to alumni networking programs.

  How to apply:

  • After you're informed of your Regents Scholarship, the UCSD Alumni Association will invite you to submit an essay regarding your leadership experiences.
  • If selected, you'll be notified of your award in May.
  • If you don't receive the alumni award in your freshman year, you may be contacted by the Alumni Association to submit an application in subsequent years, if funding is available. Awards will be made only if funding is available.
  • Visit UCSD's Alumni Association for more information on this scholarship and how to apply for it, or call the Alumni Office at (858) 534-3901.

Questions? Contact the Scholarship Office, (858) 534-3263.