Public school34.9K

University of California - San Diego

San Diego, CA

HSITest-FreeGreek Life

Program

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewNo University App

Audition format

In-Person Only

Program profile

Ultra-SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Program

Quick links

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewNo University App

Audition format

In-Person Only

Program profile

Ultra-SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Browse programs

Quick Links

MFA Acting

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewNo University App

Audition format

In-Person Only

Program profile

Ultra-SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Quick Links

MFA Acting

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenAudition RequiredNo InterviewNo University App

Audition format

In-Person Only

Program profile

Ultra-SelectiveUnder 12 Students

Quick Links

BA Theatre

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenNo AuditionNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

Virtual Only

Program profile

Study Abroad

Quick Links

BA Dance

ProgramOfficial Program Page

Program snapshot

Admissions

No PrescreenNo AuditionNo InterviewUniversity App Required

Audition format

Virtual Only

Program profile

Study Abroad

Training

•10-15 productions annually with graduate students given casting priority

•Year-round Cabaret workshop productions for additional opportunities

•Individual attention from an extraordinary team of professionals and specialists

•Past visiting faculty includes Anne Bogart, Joseph Chaikin, Richard Foreman, and Andrei Serban

Professional Development

•Shared Theatre District with Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse

•Professional residencies at La Jolla Playhouse for MFA candidates

•Third-year showcase in both Los Angeles and New York

•Showcase attended by invited film, television, and theatre professionals

Value

•Financial support package available for MFA students

•Funds occasionally available for research, workshops, and travel to auditions and festivals

Academic info

Snapshot

3.90

Avg GPA (W)

27%

Admit Rate

school-wide

87%

Grad Rate

34.9K

Enrollment

$85K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

Average Annual Cost

$12,470

after typical aid

In-State Tuition

$16,758

before aid

Out-of-State Tuition

$50,958

before aid

Average annual cost reflects the grants and scholarships most students receive.

$0-30k$7,525

$30-48k$8,155

$48-75k$9,942

$75-110k$15,199

$110k+$28,785

View full data on College Scorecard

Program info updated May 27, 1:16 AM

Program Highlights

Training

•10-15 productions annually with graduate students given casting priority

•Year-round Cabaret workshop productions for additional opportunities

•Individual attention from an extraordinary team of professionals and specialists

•Past visiting faculty includes Anne Bogart, Joseph Chaikin, Richard Foreman, and Andrei Serban

Professional Development

•Shared Theatre District with Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse

•Professional residencies at La Jolla Playhouse for MFA candidates

•Third-year showcase in both Los Angeles and New York

•Showcase attended by invited film, television, and theatre professionals

Value

•Financial support package available for MFA students

•Funds occasionally available for research, workshops, and travel to auditions and festivals

Program Highlights

Training

•10-15 productions annually with graduate students given casting priority

•Year-round Cabaret workshop productions for additional opportunities

•Individual attention from an extraordinary team of professionals and specialists

•Past visiting faculty includes Anne Bogart, Joseph Chaikin, Richard Foreman, and Andrei Serban

Professional Development

•Shared Theatre District with Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse

•Professional residencies at La Jolla Playhouse for MFA candidates

•Third-year showcase in both Los Angeles and New York

•Showcase attended by invited film, television, and theatre professionals

Value

•Financial support package available for MFA students

•Funds occasionally available for research, workshops, and travel to auditions and festivals

Key Info

Program AppApplication

Apply

School Website

Fee

Audition Fee

$65

Audition Requirements

Monologues

TWO CONTRASTING MONOLOGUES

•Each piece no longer than 2 minutes

•At least one piece from a contemporary play

•Other piece from heightened-language work

•Choose clearly contrasting pieces showing creative range

•At least one piece should be within your age range

Additional Materials

Headshot (required)

•8x10 headshot

•Bring headshot with resume on the reverse side to the audition

Resume (required)

•Include contact information on resume

•Attach resume to reverse side of headshot

Statement of purpose (required)

•Submitted through the UC San Diego graduate application portal

Letters of recommendation (required)

•Minimum of three letters required

•Provide email addresses for each recommender

Transcript (required)

•Official records from all post-secondary institutions attended

Official Source

Good to Know

Application Logistics

•Program is not accepting applications for Fall 2026

•Applications reopen September 2026 for Fall 2027 admission

•Apply through the UC San Diego graduate application portal

•Graduate application fee is separate from the audition fee

Eligibility

•Bachelor's degree required (not necessarily in theatre)

•3.0 GPA minimum in last two years of undergraduate or post-baccalaureate work

•GRE is optional for all Theatre graduate programs

•Fall quarter entry only - no transfer credits accepted

•International applicants may submit self-tapes for the initial audition round

•Must demonstrate English language proficiency

•TOEFL iBT: 85 overall, 26 speaking | IELTS: Band 7 overall, 8 speaking

•PTE Academic: 65 overall, 84 speaking | Duolingo: 120 overall, 150 speaking

Important Notes

•$65 audition fee assessed upon sign-up

What's The Process

Audition Process

•Same-day information session and callbacks conducted after each audition day for selected candidates

•May be asked to present a third monologue and 16 bars of a song

•Faculty may also work with one or both original selections

•Roughly 16-20 finalists invited to a two-day virtual callback weekend

•Finalists audition for the full faculty, meet current students, and participate in workshops and information sessions

•Final selection made at the conclusion of the callback weekend

Audition Expectations

•7-minute in-person audition with acting faculty

•Present two contrasting monologues

•Auditions held in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco in late January/early February

•If unable to audition in person, contact Head of Acting Ursula Meyer to discuss potential options

Contact

•Graduate Program Coordinator: Cory Caswell - cpcaswell@ucsd.edu

•Head of Graduate Acting: Ursula Meyer - umeyer@ucsd.edu

Scholarship Info

Funding

•Financial support package available for all MFA students

•Scholarships and fellowships available through the Graduate Division

•Department nominates students for departmental scholarships as warranted

Academic info

Snapshot

3.90

Avg GPA (W)

27%

Admit Rate

school-wide

87%

Grad Rate

34.9K

Enrollment

$85K

Earnings

10yr after

Costs & Aid

Average Annual Cost

$12,470

after typical aid

In-State Tuition

$16,758

before aid

Out-of-State Tuition

$50,958

before aid

Average annual cost reflects the grants and scholarships most students receive.

$0-30k$7,525

$30-48k$8,155

$48-75k$9,942

$75-110k$15,199

$110k+$28,785

View full data on College Scorecard

Training

•10-15 productions annually with graduate students given casting priority

•Year-round Cabaret workshop productions for additional opportunities

•Individual attention from an extraordinary team of professionals and specialists

•Past visiting faculty includes Anne Bogart, Joseph Chaikin, Richard Foreman, and Andrei Serban

Professional Development

•Shared Theatre District with Tony Award-winning La Jolla Playhouse

•Professional residencies at La Jolla Playhouse for MFA candidates

•Third-year showcase in both Los Angeles and New York

•Showcase attended by invited film, television, and theatre professionals

Value

•Financial support package available for MFA students

•Funds occasionally available for research, workshops, and travel to auditions and festivals

Updated May 27, 1:16 AM

University of California - San Diego

Browse programs

Program Highlights

Key Info

Audition Requirements

Good to Know

What's The Process

Scholarship Info

Academic info

Program Highlights

Program Highlights

Key Info

Audition Requirements

Good to Know

What's The Process

Scholarship Info

School Info

University of California - San Diego

Browse programs

Program Highlights

Key Info

Audition Requirements

Good to Know

What's The Process

Scholarship Info

Academic info

Program Highlights

Program Highlights

Key Info

Audition Requirements

Good to Know

What's The Process

Scholarship Info

School Info