More resources for UCSD Graduate students can be found in our graduate program's official handbook or on the official UCSD Grad Life page. *Asterisks indicate BioSci grad students' personal favorites.
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Health and Wellness
Health and Wellness
All BioSci PhD students are fully covered with medical, dental, pharmacy, and vision insurance by the Student Health Insurance Plan (UCSHIP). The fees for UCSHIP are included in our tuition/fees. Coverage includes one free eye exam per year, two free dental cleanings per year, low pharmacy and medical copays, and more. You can have UCSHIP as an adjunct insurance plan or waive it if desired.
Student Health Services (SHS) on campus provides quality primary medical care, including urgent care and support services such as laboratory, pharmacy, and x-ray. Some physicians also have expertise in Gynecology, Sports Medicine, Rheumatology, Urgent Care, and Mental/ Behavioral Health.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) provides counseling, workshops, and community forums for UC San Diego students. Graduate students on UCSHIP can also schedule FREE and confidential individual, group, couples, and family psychotherapy sessions. For students who prefer counseling off campus, UCSHIP will cover sessions with a $25 copay. CAPS is located in the Student Health Services building.
CARE at the Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC) is the confidential* advocacy and education office for sexual violence and gender-based violence. CARE provides violence prevention education for the entire UCSD campus and offers free and confidential services for students, staff and faculty impacted by sexual assault, relationship violence and stalking.
Many students in our program partake in recreational classes at UCSD, particularly aerial silks, surfing lessons, scuba certifications, sports, and even ballroom dancing. These classes are reasonably priced (~$20-50 quarterly pass for all access pass).
Graduate students have free access to the two gyms on campus: RIMAC Arena and the Main Gym.
Our graduate program currently has an Intramural Volleyball team (pictured above) and many students have previously participated in other intramural sports too, such as softball, indoor soccer and basketball.
The Zone is a lounge for student well-being designed to promote healthy, balanced living to UCSD students. They offer free programs such as:
Yoga classes
Fitness assessments
Meditation
Therapy dogs de-stress events
Healthy cooking demonstrations
R&R Squad body works​
Art & Soul DIY craft workshops
The Basic Needs Center has a collection of services for both undergraduate and graduate students. Services are categorized by Food Security, Housing Stability, and Financial Wellness. Notably, the Triton Food Pantry has a variety of dried goods, canned goods, and fresh produce are available to students. Items are assigned a point value and any registered student is able to pick up 10 points worth of food per week.
teaching and academic Resources
teaching and academic Resources
All students must serve as a Graduate Instructional Apprentice (IAs) in three biology courses total: one per year from years 2-4. EBE students may teach additional courses for financial support. IAs receive mentorship from their primary course instructor and participate in a 6 week teaching seminar (BGGN 500) during their first teaching quarter to learn evidence-based teaching practices.
UAW 2865 is the union that represents all 19,000+ Academic Student Employees—Teaching Assistants, Graduate Student Instructors, Tutors, and Readers—across the University of California system. Many students from our program are involved in this Union, as general members and leaders.
TLC offers free programs and services to support teaching and enhance academic success. Many PhD students choose to enroll in free classes or workshops offered every quarter. Of note is the excellent 9 wk "Intro to College Teaching" course!
This program allows PhD students to teach a 4wk summer course as the instructor of record. It is open to PhD students that have advanced to candidacy (~3rd/4th yr). Fellows are paid for participation: $1200 for personal funds and $500 for research. NOTE: SGT Scholars teach existing courses, not courses offered for the first time.
This iconic building is the central library of the UCSD campus and named after the iconic Audrey and Theodor Seuss Geisel, the latter of whom is better known as children's author Dr. Seuss! Geisel Library hosts numerous digital media labs that provide free access to video & image editing software, 3D printers, and more. Geisel has multiple WalkStations, where you can study while on a treadmill, and free board games and jigsaw puzzles for student use.
This library, located on in the Medical School by the Health Sciences buildings, offers special services and study spaces to graduate students. BLB hosts the Graduate Study Lounge, which has quiet and comfy individual and group study spaces (keycard access required).
Commuter lounges on campus offer several cozy areas where graduate students like to hang out and study outside the lab. These lounges feature fridges, lockers, and a kitchen. The most notable one is the Price Center lounge, pictured here.
Extension offers more than 4,700 courses and a wide range of certificates, including some in Business, Leadership, Data Analysis, Digital Arts, and more. The UCSD graduate division offers a limited number of vouchers every quarter to graduate students for complimentary enrollment. Courses recently taken by UCSD BioSci grads include Intro to Adobe Illustrator and Science Writing.
International Services
International Services
ISPO's team of expert staff provides the highest levels of knowledge and expertise in advising and immigration services to international students at UC San Diego. Every quarter, they offer dozens of free workshops and programs to help international undergraduate and graduate students, on top of their advising services. Notable programs and workshops include the International Peer Coach program, English-in-Action conversation program, and the monthly Intercultural Social Hour.
Questions?
Questions?
Connect with current international students in our program on the #international-students slack channel.
Professional Development
Professional Development
BioSci grad students are encouraged to mentor undergraduates during their time at UCSD. Existing mentorship programs can help match grad students to prospective undergrads for research over the summer or during the academic year. Notable biology mentorship programs on campus include:
GrAdvantage hosts a combination of quarterly and annual events and workshops for exploring career options, networking, and skill building. Notable events include GSA Career nights and the multi-day Communicating Your Research workshop.
From years 2-4, students are required to participate and present in one of twelve distinct Graduate Research Seminar courses (BGSE205), with topical foci ranging from cancer biology to post-transcriptional gene expression. These seminars provide opportunities for practice in presentation skills in an informal and interactive setting.
As of 2019, San Diego is the third largest biotechnology hub in the United States. Companies such as Illumina, PacBio, Pfizer, Roche and more are down the street from UCSD, and several students in our program have taken advantage of their summer internships during their PhD.
Resources for students with dependents
Resources for students with dependents
The mission of the PGCA is to:
Create a supportive campus environment for UC San Diego staff, faculty, students and university affiliates who are parents, guardians and/or caregivers.
Provide opportunities for networking, community building and informational exchange.
Host educational workshops, trainings and seminars to support the personal and professional growth of parents, guardians and caregivers at UC San Diego.
Full-time care is available at the Early Childhood Education Center (ECEC) for children 3 months to 5 years old. The program is open to the children of full-time UC San Diego students, faculty and staff, as well as a limited number of non-UC San Diego affiliates. ECEC currently has 210 children enrolled.
At the Mesa Child Development Center (MCDC), full-time care is available for children 3 months to 5 years old. The program emphasizes hands-on, child-driven learning. Programs include:
Infant room (3 months to 2 years)
Toddler classroom (2–3 years)
Mixed-aged preschool classroom (3–5 years and potty trained)
Mesa Housing's Family Friendly Study Lounge is available for UC San Diego student-parents, including non-residents of Mesa. The room includes a table and white board for studying, and comfortable spaces to gather, study, and socialize. It is also equipped with a collection of puzzles, toys, play tables, and books to entertain little ones of all ages.
Other awesome student Services
Other awesome student Services
The Student Services Center is a one-stop resource located in the heart of campus. Most student business offices are located here, including Student Financial Solutions, Office of the Registrar, University Events Office, the Graduate Division and Undocumented Student Services.
The Office for Students with Disabilities provides academic support for undergraduate, graduate and professional school students with documented disabilities. The office also works with various departments and programs on campus to provide learning and internship opportunities for students.
Transportation Services organizes UCSD parking permits, shuttle services to and from campus, bicycle registrations, and more. All graduate students are eligible to participate in the Triton Commuter Club, which provides gift cards and prize incentives for students who commute to campus without a car or parking pass. Fall quarter 2020, they gave away a brand new electric bike!
Campus police primarily serve UCSD and the one-mile area surrounding, including Grad and Family housing. There are dozens of outdoor security call boxes, pictured above, across campus, where individuals can request police assistance or a safety escort.
The UC San Diego Passport Office is available to students, staff, faculty, and the greater San Diego community. Get your U.S. Passport at one of two locations on the UC San Diego campus.
The following services are available:
DS-11 passport application processing
Passport photos
Digital photo copies
Document photocopies
The Mailing Center is located at Campus Services Complex Bldg. A and provides full USPS domestic and international mail service. In addition, you can ship via UPS and FedEx. Private Mail Boxes (PMB) are available for six month and annual rentals with a photo ID. Mailing supplies are also available for purchase.
The UCSD Office of the Ombuds provides confidential, neutral, and informal dispute resolution services for the UCSD community. The office is available to assist faculty, staff, students, non-Senate academics, postdoctoral trainees, and employees of UCSD Healthcare (UCSD Medical Center and related facilities) who seek guidance with the resolution of academic or administrative issues and disputes.
Student Legal services supports UCSD students, clubs, and organizations including parents, faculty and staff. Resources include counseling, attorney referrals, and education and custom workshops.
The Price Center hosts the largest food court on campus, including restaurants like Santorini Greek Island Grill, Jamba Juice, Subway, Panda Express, Starbucks, and more. On the eastern side, you can find Zanzibar Cafe at the Loft, where you can meet friends for breakfast, lunch, or happy hour. There are many indoor and outdoor tables, picnic areas, and hammocks surrounding Price Center.
Beyond selling textbooks and office supplies, the campus Bookstore reflects the friendly and laid-back atmosphere of its students with a wide selection of apparel, gifts and tchotchkes (trinkets), board games and sport equipment, and more.
The Box Office provides ticketing services for campus events and discounted passes for area attractions, movie theaters, gift certificates, seasonal activities, harbor cruises, sporting events, and more! The Box Office is located at the plaza level of Price Center West (to the right of The Price Center Theater, which offers free showings of blockbuster movies and other entertainment).
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