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School of Medicine School of Medicine
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Student Life

Housing

There are several University-owned housing options. There is a guarantee of space in the One Miramar Graduate Apartments. Other University-owned apartments are the Coast Apartments and Mesa Residential Apartments.

The University maintains an office of off-campus housing to provide rental listings and general rental information.

Transportation

A car is necessary to fully explore available educational opportunities. For personal trips, the San Diego Trolley serves the Mexican border at Tijuana, Amtrak runs trains to Los Angeles, and planes departing from the San Diego International Airport will get you to anywhere you need to go.

For more information about parking and transportation at UC San Diego, go to UC San Diego Transportation & Parking Services.

Arts & Entertainment

Although San Diego is widely recognized for the San Diego Zoo, Sea World, and its professional athletic teams (the Padres), a broad spectrum of cultural activities (art, dance, music, theater, and film from around the world) are available both on campus and in the greater San Diego community. Many of our students frequently attend plays and musicals put on by the world-famous La Jolla Playhouse located on-campus as well as concerts by the San Diego Symphony. Local nightlife centers around the bars, nightclubs, restaurants, and theaters of the downtown Gaslamp Quarter. For a typical snapshot of upcoming entertainment in San Diego, try the Union Tribune entertainment page.

The medical school sponsors its own annual literary magazine, art show, and talent show.

Recreation

Extensive sports facilities are located throughout the UCSD campus. Due to the mild climate, outdoor facilities, including tennis, basketball, and sand volleyball courts, two Olympic swimming pools, and 30 acres of athletic fields are available year-round. Indoor facilities in the state-of-the-art Recreational and Intramural Athletic Complex (RIMAC) include a 12,000 square foot weight room; a 5,000 seat arena for sports, conferences and concerts; courts for racquetball, squash, basketball, volleyball, and badminton; and many other unique facilities. An indoor climbing center is available for a small fee. The University also offers many recreation classes, organizes outdoor expeditions, and rents recreational equipment to students at very competitive prices.

The nearby Pacific Ocean, mountains, and desert provide a multitude of year-round recreational opportunities. Many of our students take advantage of our close proximity to the Pacific Ocean taking up activities like scuba diving, surfing, and sailing. Others take weekend trips to the mountains to ski, hike, camp, or climb.

San Diego is home to many beaches that our MSTP trainees routinely take advantage of. The famous Black's Beach is a stone's throw from the Salk Institute, and La Jolla Shores Beach is a very short drive from campus. Some students who live in Coast Apartments have the wonderful benefit of having an ocean view.

Healthcare

Comprehensive medical insurance and the fee for on-campus student health services are both paid for by the program. The medical insurance includes dental and vision plans. Find out more about UC SHIP - Student Health Insurance Plan.